Green Dot in Handguns

[Blintersifrid]

So, it looks like I have another option when next I go a'huntin' for powder.

It's nice to have choices, but I'd rather be able to find powder...

'Sifrid

[Bucking the Tiger]

I love Green Dot. I have used 3.5 gr for 158gr SWC in .38 Special for years: No recoil, low noise fun!
The Lee 1st edition"Modern Reloading" has the following data for Green Dot:
32 ACP 71gr jacketed 2.3gr 810fps .984" overall length
32 S&W Long 98gr lead 2.0gr to 2.2gr 725fps 1.265" overall length
32 H&R magnum 85gr jacketed 3.2gr to 3.5gr 1035fps 1.320" overall length
" 90gr lead 2.9gr to 3.3gr 1050fps 1.180" overall length
" 98gr lead 3.2gr to 3.5gr 1010fps 1.320" overall length
9mm 115gr jacketed 4.5gr to 4.7gr 1150fps 1.120" overall length
" 125gr jacketed 4.7gr to 5.2gr 1150fps 1.150" overall length
" 147gr jacketed 3.3gr to 3.7gr 930fps 1.140" overall length
.38 special 125gr jacketed 3.8gr to 4.3gr 985fps 1.440" overall length
" 148gr wadcutter 2.6gr to 2.9gr 800fps 1.180" overall length
" 158gr lead 3.2gr to 3.5gr 870fps 1.420" overall length
.357 Magnum 125gr jacketed 6.6gr to 7.3gr 1415fps 1.570" overall length
" 148gr wadcutter 4.6gr to 5.1gr 1310fps 1.330" overall length
" 158gr lead 5.4gr to 6.0gr 1240fps 1.580" overall length
" 200gr lead 4.5gr to 5.0gr 1015fps 1.575" overall length
Ken Water's "Pet Loads" has the following Green Dot data:
32S&W long 91gr lead(Lyman #313249) 2.7gr 884fps 1.240" overall length
" 112gr lead(Lyman 3118) 2.4gr 773fps 1.274" overall length

[Green Frog]

I don't spend much time in this particular part of the Forum, but the idea of using Green Dot for revolvers caught my eye. I'd love to hear from anybody who has been using it in 327 Fed Mag loads? I'm shooting them from the Ruger BH (8-shooter) and my custom K-frame stainless, so they don't have to be "starting" loads... I want to at least be in the mid-range to start taking advantage of the cartridge's potential. Any tested round data will be greatly appreciated. (no j-word bullets will be used... looking more toward heavy end cast bullets.)

TIA ~ Froggie

[plainsman456]

I have a good friend that gave me an 8 pound can of GD as well as a few others left over from his sporting clays shooting days.

I think it came to about 16 pounds of various powders.

Sure helps to be friendly.

[PS Paul]

Gosh, it seems like GD is a "new discovery" for a lot of us? he he. Has become one of my favorite "target grade" .45 Colt powders and use it in .357 mag frequently for reduced-power loads.

It's a winner, to be sure......

[Green Frog]

"Back in the day" I used it for 12 & 20 ga, and in a pinch would use it for light 38 Spl target loads, but I really had no idea that I could use it for the variety of pistol and revolver rounds discussed here. I think I've still got some stashed in the reloading cabinet back behind near-empty cans of Unique and Bullseye.

Froggie

[Blintersifrid]

I love Green Dot. I have used 3.5 gr for 158gr SWC in .38 Special for years: No recoil, low noise fun!
The Lee 1st edition"Modern Reloading" has the following data for Green Dot:
32 ACP 71gr jacketed 2.3gr 810fps .984" overall length
32 S&W Long 98gr lead 2.0gr to 2.2gr 725fps 1.265" overall length
32 H&R magnum 85gr jacketed 3.2gr to 3.5gr 1035fps 1.320" overall length
" 90gr lead 2.9gr to 3.3gr 1050fps 1.180" overall length
" 98gr lead 3.2gr to 3.5gr 1010fps 1.320" overall length
9mm 115gr jacketed 4.5gr to 4.7gr 1150fps 1.120" overall length
" 125gr jacketed 4.7gr to 5.2gr 1150fps 1.150" overall length
" 147gr jacketed 3.3gr to 3.7gr 930fps 1.140" overall length
.38 special 125gr jacketed 3.8gr to 4.3gr 985fps 1.440" overall length
" 148gr wadcutter 2.6gr to 2.9gr 800fps 1.180" overall length
" 158gr lead 3.2gr to 3.5gr 870fps 1.420" overall length
.357 Magnum 125gr jacketed 6.6gr to 7.3gr 1415fps 1.570" overall length
" 148gr wadcutter 4.6gr to 5.1gr 1310fps 1.330" overall length
" 158gr lead 5.4gr to 6.0gr 1240fps 1.580" overall length
" 200gr lead 4.5gr to 5.0gr 1015fps 1.575" overall length
Ken Water's "Pet Loads" has the following Green Dot data:
32S&W long 91gr lead(Lyman #313249) 2.7gr 884fps 1.240" overall length
" 112gr lead(Lyman 3118) 2.4gr 773fps 1.274" overall length

IIRC, the Modern Reloading 2nd Edition also gives a number of green dot loads. I'm not near my copy at the moment, so I can't post 'em here, but I recall seeing a few.

'Sifrid

[wlc]

Well, I'll be trying some of the suggestions on this thread. LGS had a pound of GD yesterday. Now they don't.

[ballistim]

I've recently used GD with both of my new group buy molds from MiHec in 9mm and .45 ACP and am very pleased with the results. GD was available when "ammogate" emptied the local shelves while I waited for BE & Unique that I ordered to arrive, and also picked up an 8 pounder of Promo just before that so I was able to weather the storm already having primers and cases. I really am liking this powder choice in handgun loads and probably would never have tried it if not for the shortage. I have 5 lbs. on hand so should be good for a while. Next up will be trying it in the .30 caliber rifles to see how it works in place of RD (or Promo) for "the load".

[LeftyDon]

some time ago, I friend was looking for some Clays for 16 gauge reloading, couldn't find it anywhere and I told him that Green Dot was listed for a lot of 16 gauge loads and was available in 4 lb jugs and so we each bought one and split the hazmat fee. I'm using mine for 357 and other pistol loads. But do have a 16 gauge Lee load all stored in case I want to make a few 16 gauge shells up.

correction on size of jugs from 8 lb to 4 lb - total of 8 lbs ordered.

[FergusonTO35]

I've tried GD in .32 Auto, .38 Special, and 9X19. It is too slow burning to be optimum in the little .32 but will work. It does well in .38 and 9mm but is more smoky and dirty than I prefer.

[otter5555]

i use green dot in my 44 mag, 30-30 wcf and 223 rem

superbly accurate in all 3

[mtgrs737]

Green Dot is an excellent powder and a staple for 12 gauge handicap target loads for trap shooters. If it had a drawback it would be that it does not meter quite as nicely as WW231 and it can be a little dirty burning if you don't keep the pressures up, but that applies to most other powders too. Having said that, I use it and will always have some around as it is a popular shotgun powder so the stores in my area seldom are out even in these times of shortages.

[FergusonTO35]

With deer gun season coming up soon i'm practicing alot with my Marlin 1894 .357 these days, as it is a cheap understudy to my .30 WCF and .45-70. I have Green Dot and quite a few Lee 358-125-RF and 358-158-RF ready to load. What might be a good charge to try?

[runfiverun]

red-dot data is good to get started with, many of it's loads are directly comparable between the two.

[OnHoPr]

Lee 2nd ed - 5.4 to 6 grains for the 158s

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks, hope to try it out tonight.

[double00]

i had a little green dot left in an old one pounder. So i started using it up in 44 mag. and it is shooting really good. 8grs of green dot and a 250 grain boolit. now i need to find more.

[FergusonTO35]

My edition of Modern Reloading, which I think is the newest one, doesn't have any Green Dot data for .357. Will try 5.4-6.0 when I get a chance.

[Green Frog]

My edition of Modern Reloading, which I think is the newest one, doesn't have any Green Dot data for .357. Will try 5.4-6.0 when I get a chance.

That's a problem with reloading manuals... they can't show ALL of the available loads, so they just show the ones the authors are familiar with. It's necessary to have access to a variety of manuals (by different authors and editors) to get the complete picture of what your options are.

Froggie