Favorite Red Dot loads?

[Lead Freak]

I'm having a hard time finding very many published handgun loads using Red Dot. I'm having excellent results with Unique and Bullseye for my 9mm, .38 spl, and .40 S&W cast loads, but would like to try a few Red Dot loads. Suggestions?

[Wally]

9mm Luger 115~120 grain cast 4.0 Red Dot

.38 Special 110~130 grain cast 4.0 Red Dot

.40 S & W 155 SWC grain cast 5.0 Red Dot

In the .38 Special it is preferably as it iis30% fluffier than is Bullesye--but kike Bullseye be wary of double charging.

[bowenrd]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Red Dot works great in 12 GA, I never had any luck using it in handgun. My $.02

[Rangefinder]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Red Dot works great in 12 GA, I never had any luck using it in handgun. My $.02

If we held to that notion, we'd all still be using Black Powder and RB's. Just MY $0.02...


38 Special: 158gr SWC 3gr. Red Dot

40S&W: 175gr SWC 4.4gr. Red Dot

[Rocky Raab]

44 Special/240: 6.0 RD

45 Colt/250: 6.5 RD

Let us not forget the classic Ed Harris load for rifles: 13 RD LINK (http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/TheLoad.html)

[blaser.306]

.38 spec. 148 gr wad cutter ( target load ), 2.3 gr red dot @ 730 fps 14 600 psi . Directly from the Hodgdon #27 load manual. I load this for my wifes Gp 100 and it shoots very accurately with next to no recoil . Not to mention that you get 3043 loads from a lb of powder !

[MT Gianni]

32 Long 2.5 gr Red Dot 90-100 gr SWC is an excellent load from Glen.

44 mag plinker 6.5 gr Red Dot 240 gr it is great to load 44 & 45 and keep the powder dispenser set the same.

[runfiverun]

hmm, it appears to be in the bullseye, titegroup, burn speed.

[uscra112]

A little faster than Bullseye. I find that .32 Long load to be just about perfect in my rifles. Quiet, too. Haven't use R.D. in pistol carts yet. May try that 9mm load shortly as I just obtained a supply of 115 grainers from smokemjoe.

[bowenrd]

If we held to that notion, we'd all still be using Black Powder and RB's. Just MY $0.02...


38 Special: 158gr SWC 3gr. Red Dot

40S&W: 175gr SWC 4.4gr. Red Dot

My muzzle loader does just fine with BP and RB, thank you!

[ShooterAZ]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Red Dot works great in 12 GA, I never had any luck using it in handgun. My $.02

Same Here!!!

[rockrat]

41 special 6.1 gr 230gr boolit

[BAGTIC]

It is my powder of choice in RB loads in straight cases.

[captaint]

45ACP 4.1grs Red Dot - 200 gr boolit.

[Bullwolf]

------------------------------------------
Cast Lead pistol loads that use Red Dot
------------------------------------------
9mm ----- Lyman 356402 (120gr.) and 3.5gr. of Red Dot.
.38 s&w---147gr. LWC and 2.7gr. of Red Dot.. NOTE: This load is for solid frame revolvers only.
.38 s&w-- 158gr. LSWC and 2.4gr. of Red Dot. NOTE: This load is for solid frame revolvers only.
.38 spl --- Lyman 358311 (150gr.) and 3.0gr. of Red Dot.
.357mag- 148gr. HB-WC start 3.0gr. - 3.4gr. MAX of Red Dot.
.357mag -Lyman 358311 (150gr.) and 6.0gr. of Red Dot.
.40 s&w-- Lee TL401-175-SWC (175gr.)start 4.0gr. - 5.0gr. of Red Dot.
.44 spl --- Lee C240-429SWC (-240gr.) start 4.5gr. - 6.0gr. MAX of Red Dot.
.44 mag-- Lee C240-429SWC (-240gr.) start 6.0gr. - 6.5gr. MAX of Red Dot.
.45 acp -- RCBS 45-230-RN, (225gr.) or Lee TL452-230-2R. start 4.7gr. - 5.1gr. MAX of Red Dot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: The above loads were safe in my guns, use them at your own risk. You should always reduce, and work up your loads safely. Always double, and even triple check your load data from more than one source! Misprints and mistakes do happen.

-----------------------------------
A FEW LEAD ROUND BALL LOADS
-----------------------------------
.38 spl---Tumble lube 000 buck shot ball (70gr.) in Alox, size to .358 w/a Lee die, load with 2.0gr. of Red Dot.
.44 spl---Use a .433 diameter (120gr.) lead round ball, and 2.2gr. of Red Dot.
.45 ar----Auto Rim. Use a .454 diameter (141gr.) lead round ball, and 3.0gr. of Red Dot.
.45colt---Use a .454 diameter (141gr.) lead round ball, and 3.2gr. of Red Dot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These reduced lead round ball loads are pretty mild, and quiet too, but they often do not shoot to the same point of aim that normal loads do.

Disclaimer: Always be positive that your boolit has exited the barrel, and beware of squibs when shooting reduced lead round ball loads. Even more so when firing them in longer barreled guns, and rifles!


Does anyone else have any more lead round ball loads (especially Red Dot ones) that they would like to share?



- Bullwolf

[Rocky Raab]

runfiverun, if you look through load manuals, you will find that there are almost a dozen fast powders with nearly interchangeable load data. Bullseye, Clays, RedDot, GreenDot, American Select, 700X, Nitro 100, Acc#2, TiteGroup, Solo 1000 and probably one or two more. Charge weights are within a few tenths of one another with the same bullet.

Below maximum. you can be confident using ANY of them at the same charge weight.

[yovinny]

Alliant should list plenty of Red dot loads in their current load guide.
If not, I could photo copy the pistol section out of one of the older ones I have for you.
Otherwise try here;


http://www.alliantpowder.com/default.aspx

[Casper29]

I loaded up 40 s&w using red dot, bullseye, unique, hp 38 I used the same loads for red dot hp 38 and bullseye and from 4.0 to 4.8 for these three, they all performed well, but I liked bulls eye the best at 4.8 grains.

[zxcvbob]

No need to copy anything; here it is from the horse's mouth http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalogs/2004AlliantPowderSM.pdf

Red Dot (actually, I use Promo) gives me the best accuracy in everything I load. But I usually use something a little slower-burning to get higher velocity. Usually, but not always.

[rintinglen]

44 Special, 429-421 5.0 grains is a mild, but very accurate combination. I shot thousands upon thousands of 38 Special358-432 148 grainers over 4.0 grains of Red-Dot, and even more 144 grain Cramer 16H Wadcutters over 2.8 grains of Red-Dot. Accuracy of the Wadcutter load was not quite as good as with Bullseye, but I could buy the Red Dot for just about $4.00 a pound in 8 lb tubes, while the Bullseye was running $7.00 a lb.

[rond]

My standard .45 ACP load is 5 gr. of Red Dot behind a 200 gr. boolit.

[evan price]

Alliant PROMO powder- loads to Red Dot data by weight not volume. $89 for 8 pounds right now on the shelf at my local gun store. They do 10% off Alliant powder sometimes and that's when I buy it.

All these loads are PROMO however like I say above, it is RED DOT data, by weight.

44 Magnum, Lee TL-429-240-SWC loaded with the very last TL groove as the roll crimp groove with 8.0 grains of PROMO and a CCI LPM primer in range brass. About 1000 fps, very accurate.

32 S&W Long, Lee 311-93-1R boolit with the top lube groove used as the roll crimp groove over 2.5 grains of PROMO and a Wolf SP primer. Very nice, very accurate.

9mm Luger, Lee 358-105-SWC, 1.025" OAL. Sized .357" and ALOX. 4.8 grains PROMO powder, Wolf SP primer, range nickel brass. Clean, accurate, nice load.

380 Auto, Lee 358-105-SWC, 2.7 grains of PROMO, OAL of .940" in range brass. Works great.

[lbaize3]

A load I got from the RCBS cast boolit manual was for 32-20. A 115 grain boolit pushed by 3.9 grains of Red Dot. I believe that 4.0 grains is max. That load was used by my wife for Cowboy action shooting and it was great. The fired brass was as clean and pretty as it was before firing. The load was very accurate in both pistol and rifle. She could knock down steel targets that others could not with those light loaded 38s. It is a load I continue to use when I could use much faster ones.

[rsrocket1]

You need to specify bullet weights.

For 158g 38sp, I found that 2.5g Red Dot shoots a tiny bit stronger than 22LR.
For 40S&W, 2.8g Red Dot under a 180g TC lead bullet fully cycles the action and shoots very light. The only thing to watch out for is the cases fly up about 1 foot and tend to land on your head. No problem so long as you're wearing a hat and eye protection.

I only use Red Dot for light loads. It builds up pressure quickly and seals off the case. You can almost get up to mid range loads with Red Dot, but you also run the risk of too much pressure before you get up to a decent speed.

If I want any more velocity, I go to Bullseye, Unique or Power Pistol.

[saz]

The "Dan Walker Load"
45 Colt- 6.5grs under a 255gr boolit

45ACP- 4.0grs under any 200gr boolit
Both are boringly accurate

[BossHoss]

44 mag plinker 6.5 gr Red Dot 240 gr it is great to load 44 & 45 and keep the powder dispenser set the same.


Ditto , my favorite loads for both.

2 different feels, same charge. Accurate, clean.

[runfiverun]

The "Dan Walker Load"
45 Colt- 6.5grs under a 255gr boolit

45ACP- 4.0grs under any 200gr boolit
Both are boringly accurate

i have shot some of dans [he made em] red dot loads in his 45 colt revolver.
used some of mine in his revolver too.
both are very nice.
b,t,w, he won't sell the revolver.:groner:

[35remington]

Red Dot gets more speed with less powder than most nearly any other selection in 45 ACP save maybe Clays, and it has more "top end" than Clays is allowed.

It is capable of reduced to standard velocities or noticeably more in this caliber at standard pressure levels. So with most bullets it is a "do it all powder" in 45 ACP.

I use 5 to 5.2 grains under an HG 68 pattern SWC for 930 to 960 fps, or 4 grains for 780 to 800 fps. The lighter load will cycle a five inch 1911 with standard 16 lb. spring every time.

4.7 to 4.8 grains is my "heavy ball" load with the Lee 230-2R, which duplicates the faster lots of military ball I've shot at 855 fps. 4.5 grains with the same bullet is a hair faster than the WWB 230 FMJ factory loads.

5 grains with 230 FMJ at 1.265" substantially duplicates military ball.

Promo is a fine cheap substitute. FWIW my last lot of Promo bulked exactly the same, and threw the same weight through my measures at the same settings and cavity sizes as Red Dot did. Go figure. Its velocity in this 8 lb. lot was about 20 fps slower than my most recent lot (8 lb. jug, have a lot left) of Red Dot.

Close enough for government work.

[saz]

35 Remington,
A friend of mine turned me on to Red Dot a couple years ago and I LOVE IT!
It has almost taken the place of my beloved Uniuqe- almost......

[Calamity Jake]

My CAS load in 45C is 255 boolit and 4.0 RD

All my 12G is loaded with RD