Red Dot in the .30/30 with 170 gr bullets

[dverna]

I have tried a couple of different google searches on this site and have not found very much.

I would like to know if Red Dot can safely drive a 170 gr bullet to 1500+ fps. I have over 100 lbs of Promo (same as Red Dot) and would like to find a load that will utilize it. I did find some loads that are in the 1200-1300 fps area but I would like to up that if possible.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Don Verna

[TCStehle]

Check out the load data on the left side of this web page. There's a section devoted to 30/30 using 170gr cast bullets with pistol powders. Not my data just passing along a link I book marked.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Looks like Red Dot might max out at a little over 1300 fps.

[swamp]

According to my Lyman manuals with the max load of Red Dot the top velocity is 1348-1360 fps. I would not go any higher with Red Dot. The manuals I have are from 1973 to the newest. The max powder charge is 8.5gr. The newest does not list Red Dot.

swamp

[rintinglen]

Red Dot won't go that fast safely, but for an accurate mid-range load, 7.0-7.5 grains should tickle your fancy. Lyman lists loads ranging from 6.5 up to 8.5 grains, with a top velocity of 1348 fps in their 3rd edition manual. I have shot a bunch of the 7.5 grain load with good accuracy at 50 yards. However, the sight setting will be a lot different than with factory equivalent loads.

[Wayne Smith]

Red Dot won't go that fast safely, but for an accurate mid-range load, 7.0-7.5 grains should tickle your fancy. Lyman lists loads ranging from 6.5 up to 8.5 grains, with a top velocity of 1348 fps in their 3rd edition manual. I have shot a bunch of the 7.5 grain load with good accuracy at 50 yards. However, the sight setting will be a lot different than with factory equivalent loads.

Since he has 100lbs! of the stuff I doubt changing the sight setting is gonna bother him.

[TCLouis]

With 100 lbs of PROMO he should be able to generate a powder supply that will give him the velocity he seeks if properly applied and a bunch of PROMO left over for practicing.

Can you say "Trading Material".

Of course people here on this site are plugging deer with lighter boolits going slower and the deer seem to be falling over dead.

This is yet another example where the state where a person is located may well create offer of exchange.

Since the poster in these cases can be located anywhere in the US of A (or not), it does not even likely come to mind for someone to tender a trade offer.

Of course we now know he has other uses for that powder.

[dverna]

Many thanks gentlemen. You have confirmed that 1300 fps will be about as fast as I can drive a 170 gr bullet with Promo/RD.

Using 7.5 to 8.5 gr will give a rather large number of shots out of an 8 lb jug - LOL. But that is one reason why it is of interest to me.

I have no desire to trade off any Promo. I load about 15k 12 ga shells a year and find Promo does all I need for Trap singles and doubles so that is one reason I have stocked up on it. It is also a decent pistol powder and "plinker" powder for rifle loads. Can never have too much of a good thing.

Thanks again,
Don Verna

[ebner glocken]

If memory serves correctly I was chronoing 8.0 with a lee 170 sized .310" in the lower 1200 FPS range out of my winchester. They are minute of milk jug @ 100 yards with no issues. Nice and quiet to boot. I like to think of it as a close ballistic twin of a 357 that just happens to be shot out of a rifle.

Ebner

[dtknowles]

I was using 7.5 gr. of Red Dot with the Lyman 170 gr. LFP w/gc at about 1200 fps but have switched to 9.0 gr. of Green Dot for 1350 fps because I got a 5 lb jug of the stuff. I don't really see any difference shooting these loads. I really need a good plain base bullet because this is a waste of perfectly good gas checks.

Tim