A new found appreciation for Red Dot, Unique, and LP Magnum Primers.

[ShooterAZ]

This is for the lowly 30-30 Winchester. I am using the Lee C309-170F, and I beagled the mold to cast at slightly over .311, so I could size and gas check to .311(Thanks Cast Boolits!) Then a dose of either 8 grains of Red Dot, or 9 grains of Unique (Thanks again Cast Boolits!) over a CCI LP Magnum primer(of which I bought 2K by mistake). Both loads are amazingly accurate in my new to me Model 94 saddle ring carbine.

This combo will serve me well for quite a while, as my powder goes a long way. I shot a jackrabbit yesterday with the Unique load, and the FP boolit turned him inside out. I'm not sure if the loads have enough oomph to hunt deer with, but targets and small game better watch out cuz here I come. Hats off to Cast Boolits for making this knowledge available to me. One more really good reason to READ THE STICKIES!

[jonp]

If you would like to save some more money try switching Promo for the Red Dot on an equal weight basis. I just bought 8lbs from 3rd Generation for $95.
Glad your having luck!

BTW: I graduated from NAU a number of years ago with a BS Biology (Fish and Wildlife Mgt) and love Flagstaff

[ShooterAZ]

Thanks jonp, I will look into that. For now, I will be using up my 3/4 full 8lb jug of Red Dot. And same here, NAU grad in Biology.

[fecmech]

A friend has a Savage 99 in 30-30 that he wanted to shoot in our reduced range(100 yd) silhouette which requires cast bullets. I gave him some 311041's and told him to load 8 grs of red dot so he wouldn't pockmark our soft steel targets. Helped him sight it in to hit about 2" low while holding the back of the ram. I told him to 6'Oclock the chickens & pigs, center hold the turkeys and hold the back of the ram. He shot a 34/40 offhand with 9 turkeys! He was one happy camper. It's looking like I may have another convert to the cast boolit religion.

[Whizzer]

I too have loaded that boolit/loading (except 150 grainers over Unique) and found it a delight to shoot, and cheap enough. The gas check is about the most expensive component. I'm playing around with Hi-Tek's Supercoat in a Kahr PM9 auto with polygonal barrel that leads pretty badly with cast Water dropped WW and Recluse Lube. I think the Supercoat might just work in my Marlin 30-30 also.

Due to the recent gun insanity, I can't seem to score any reasonably priced Promo (or Red Dot for that matter) but I have Unique in abundance. But Promo would be perfect for Mouse Pharte Loads, I'ma thinkin'.

[uscra112]

Blue Dot works, too. A tad faster than 2400, it has given me some very pleasing results.

[jdgabbard]

I'm learning to like RedDot too... Only played with pistol loads. But I'm going to branch out to rifle loads soon too.

[ShooterAZ]

I've been using the Red Dot for 12 ga loads until now. I never had much luck with it handguns though. I know some here have. 8 lbs of Red Dot at 8 grains per load is gonna go a long, long ways. Very good economy right there.

[dverna]

I have always been puzzled by Red Dot. It is a very old powder but until I came onto this site, never saw many loads listed for it for pistol ammo. I have about 8 kegs of Promo (same as Red Dot) - I shoot a fair bit of trap - LOL. I am going to do some testing of Promo with cast bullets and see how it goes.

I expect it may have metering issues with light target loads in 9mm and .38's - maybe why it never had much of a following. One of my projects is plinking loads for the .30/30 and it may be a very inexpensive option.

[bikerbeans]

I use red dot, unique & 700x with the GMDR load data and have had good luck with cast boolits in the 30-30 and 45-70.

BB

[mroliver77]

The Lee "soupcan" or c-309-113f is great using the fast powders in the 30-30. I use Titewad these days.
73880

[fecmech]

I ran the 8.5/RD/311041 over the chrono yesterday and got 1273 FPS out of my peep sighted savage 340. The 10 shot group was just under 1.5"(50 yds) with 8 of those under an inch. I also shot 8.5 grs of Herco with unchecked 311291's for a 1.75" 10 shot 50 yd group. That load ran 1262 FPS with a 39 ES and 11SD for 10 shots. Nothing like 180 gr .22's!
A machinist friend is plain basing my 311041 mold for me, I'm itching to try it with some of the low vel plinker loads.

[billurbank]

No one has mentioned filler with these small quantities of powder. Is there no need for it?

[fecmech]

No one has mentioned filler with these small quantities of powder. Is there no need for it?
Not that I can see.

[captaint]

I'm a big fan of Red Dot, going back about 30 years and 12ga. loads. Found some pistol loads published for RD and I was off and running. I have launched many, many, 45ACP, 9mm and 38Spec boolits with RD over the years. A guy at the range told me one day, "man, you can shoot just about anything (pistol) with 4 grains of RD". He was correct. I never forgot that. One of my go to powders. Mike

[Walter Laich]

I'm in the one trick pony camp. Use RD for all rifle, pistol and shotgun loads. That's .32 L, .32 Mag, .38 Sp, .357, .45 APC, .45 Colt (LC) in both rifle and pistol and 12 ga shotgun.

It's a bit dirty but nothing cleaning the firearms won't solve.

[rintinglen]

Red Dot is a "secret weapon" for 44 Special and 45 colt cartridges. I have almost always got my best accuracy using it in those cartridges.

[Greg]

Walter-

Can I ask the boolit weight(s) and starting loads for the 32 S&W long ?




I'm in the one trick pony camp. Use RD for all rifle, pistol and shotgun loads. That's .32 L, .32 Mag, .38 Sp, .357, .45 APC, .45 Colt (LC) in both rifle and pistol and 12 ga shotgun.

It's a bit dirty but nothing cleaning the firearms won't solve.

[Greg]

rintinGlen

Can I ask the boolit weight(s) and starting loads for the 44 Special ?




Red Dot is a "secret weapon" for 44 Special and 45 colt cartridges. I have almost always got my best accuracy using it in those cartridges.

[Bjornb]

+1 on the substituting Promo for Red Dot. Just ordered another 8 lb. jug from Powder Valley. $90.50. Excellent results with cast boolits in all my 30. cal rifles. Even got an ancient Spanish Mauser (the Guardia rebarreled to .308) shooting good groups with the 311291.