Red Dot powder experience

MikeRussell · February 17, 2007, 11:36 PM

Hey all,
I'm starting to play around with different powders and loads to see what works best for my .45acp and 9mm (will be doing .38super in the future). I've heard about Clays, Tightgroup, Bullseye, W231, etc; but I've not heard a lot about other powders. My local range/gun store/cop shop has some Red Dot powder pretty cheap (someone ordered it then backed out, so the price is reduced) and I've thought about picking a pound up to try it out. Has anyone used Red Dot and what do you think about it (both from a true data standpoint --ie. accuracy-- and from a subjective standpoint --ie. recoil impulse compared to other powders)?

Branspop · February 17, 2007, 11:50 PM

I run Red Dot with Berry's 124 grain RN in 9mm. It is very accurate for me in that application. I have not tried it in .45 ACP. Honestly, that 9mm load is the only one I use it for.

Trapper L · February 18, 2007, 12:04 AM

I have used Red Dot for plinkers in the 45ACPs I have. It doesn't work for me with full house loads but for plinkers it is a favorite. For full house loads in the 9mm, 38 Super, and 45 ACP, I've just about turned all of my loads into AA #5 and HS-6. I have loads for all of my pistols that are under an inch at 25 yds from bags. I get far better accuracy from these powders in my shooters. I inherited a BUNCH of 231 and I have yet to get even plinker accuracy out of it in any caliber. It also smokes a lot and fouls the barrel too much for my preference. I gave away all of my Bullseye for the same reason.

**44 AMP** · February 18, 2007, 01:39 AM

I use it for .38 Special. 158gr SWC @850fps. A little dirty, but accurate in my guns. I got about 2/3 of a keg pretty cheap about 20 years ago, and still have about half a keg left!

MikeRussell · February 18, 2007, 02:14 AM

I've noticed the same thing about W321 being very dirty, however I've gotten some sub 1in groups at 20yrds from it with 200gr LRNFP with 5.0gr in a non match grade pistol (XD45Tac). I'm going to try bumping it up to about 5.3gr and run that through my DW PM7, the other load was "OK" but very dirty (the PM7 actually ran cleaner and did better with 230gr PRN & 5.0gr W231). The Red Dot is pretty damn cheap for reasons stated, so I might pick up a pound and give it a try.

I haven't gotten set up for 9mm yet, but will be getting dies and such soon. The plan is some 124gr PRN, so I might give the Red Dot a try with that too.

Ifishsum · February 18, 2007, 02:18 AM

I've used it in .38 special and .45 colt with good results. Honestly, I can't tell much difference between the 8 or so pistol powders I tried so if you got a good deal on it, go for it. It's not ideal if you're looking for max velocity but for paper and plinking it's just fine.

Voyager AL · February 18, 2007, 08:47 AM

Same as ifishsum here. I load 38spl,9mm, 32H&RMagnum with it, mainly for paper targets. The only other powder I use is American Select, for my .45

hapi · February 18, 2007, 06:51 PM

it's economical in large quantity for a 9mm. i can get just over 13,500 rds from an 8lb jug. 125gr master blasters with 3.9-4.0gr and you get just a bit over 1000fps. a nice load

i haven't shot the .45 with red dot.

Branspop · February 18, 2007, 09:13 PM

Any smoke issues with the coated bullets?

Mark whiz · February 18, 2007, 09:42 PM

I've had some pretty good success with Red Dot, especially with short-barrelled pistols. For my 1911-A1, .45ACP here is the best loads I've gotten with it:
185gr JHP (Golden Saber) - 6.0gr Red Dot, OAL 1.245"
230gr plated SWC (Mag-Tech) - 4.2gr Red Dot, OAL 1.255"
230gr JHP (Hornady XTP) - 4.8gr Red Dot, OAL 1.245"

The Mag-Tech bullet load is the best I've found for that particular bullet, accuracy-wise.

MikeRussell · February 18, 2007, 10:14 PM

Well, I picked up a pound of it today to try out. The gun store/cop shop/range pays $14.77 per pound for single pound cannisters of it, I got it for $14.99...their normal price on it is $25, but then they're not a reloading supply place.

JohnLizCas · February 22, 2007, 08:20 PM

Have used Red Dot powder for 380,9mm.40s&w,357sig, and 45ACP. NO PROBLEMS.

Varmitzapper · February 23, 2007, 11:35 PM

I've used Red Dot for years in my 629 44 mag.
Loaded 5.1 Gr with a 240Gr SWC lead billlet @ about 725 fps.
These are 44 Special cases. Very Acurate.
Scored 1st place three years in a row with this recipe

MikeRussell · February 24, 2007, 04:00 PM

Well, I tried out the Red Dot. My DW Pointman7 (.45acp) seems to prefer heavier bullets, so it didn't perform well with the 200gr LRNFP (neither did W231) but it was worth a shot. I did find a load using Red Dot that my PM7 really liked, but now I need to chrono the load to make sure it will make Major PF. Here's what it ended up liking the best

4.6gr Red Dot
230gr PRN Berry's Preferred
Winchester LP primer & brass
1.240in OAL

With that combo, I ended up getting rewarded with 0.558in 3 shot groups at 15yards from the bench with no rest/support (other than laying my arms and the butt of the pistol on the bench). So now, I guess I need to either get my hands on a chrono or find someone that has tested the same load through a 5in 1911 to see if it makes Major PF (according to the reduced load calculator, it should make 195PF and the recoil isn't bad at all either), load quite a few more up and test the hell out of it.

amamnn · February 25, 2007, 03:19 AM

I've used red dot for trap loads and some pistol loads for years. One thing I have noticed is that it tends to be VERY dirty in pistols if you don't run loads near 80% or so of max. Also, Alliant has real problems with lot to lot density of their flake powders.

February 17, 2007, 11:36 PM	#1
MikeRussell Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Location: Carencro, LA Posts: 335	Red Dot powder experience Hey all, I'm starting to play around with different powders and loads to see what works best for my .45acp and 9mm (will be doing .38super in the future). I've heard about Clays, Tightgroup, Bullseye, W231, etc; but I've not heard a lot about other powders. My local range/gun store/cop shop has some Red Dot powder pretty cheap (someone ordered it then backed out, so the price is reduced) and I've thought about picking a pound up to try it out. Has anyone used Red Dot and what do you think about it (both from a true data standpoint --ie. accuracy-- and from a subjective standpoint --ie. recoil impulse compared to other powders)? __________________ Mike Russell

February 18, 2007, 01:39 AM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	Red Dot I use it for .38 Special. 158gr SWC @850fps. A little dirty, but accurate in my guns. I got about 2/3 of a keg pretty cheap about 20 years ago, and still have about half a keg left! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 18, 2007, 09:42 PM	#10
Mark whiz Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Wabash, IN Posts: 227	I've had some pretty good success with Red Dot, especially with short-barrelled pistols. For my 1911-A1, .45ACP here is the best loads I've gotten with it: 185gr JHP (Golden Saber) - 6.0gr Red Dot, OAL 1.245" 230gr plated SWC (Mag-Tech) - 4.2gr Red Dot, OAL 1.255" 230gr JHP (Hornady XTP) - 4.8gr Red Dot, OAL 1.245" The Mag-Tech bullet load is the best I've found for that particular bullet, accuracy-wise. __________________ "Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat" (Gen 9:3) Aim small.........miss small. Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!

February 18, 2007, 10:14 PM	#11
MikeRussell Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Location: Carencro, LA Posts: 335	Well, I picked up a pound of it today to try out. The gun store/cop shop/range pays $14.77 per pound for single pound cannisters of it, I got it for $14.99...their normal price on it is $25, but then they're not a reloading supply place. __________________ Mike Russell

February 22, 2007, 08:20 PM	#12
JohnLizCas Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 162	red dot Have used Red Dot powder for 380,9mm.40s&w,357sig, and 45ACP. NO PROBLEMS. __________________ For those who have had to fight for it, life holds a special meaning that the protected will never know.

February 17, 2007, 11:50 PM	#2
Branspop Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Posts: 72	I run Red Dot with Berry's 124 grain RN in 9mm. It is very accurate for me in that application. I have not tried it in .45 ACP. Honestly, that 9mm load is the only one I use it for.

February 18, 2007, 12:04 AM	#3
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	I have used Red Dot for plinkers in the 45ACPs I have. It doesn't work for me with full house loads but for plinkers it is a favorite. For full house loads in the 9mm, 38 Super, and 45 ACP, I've just about turned all of my loads into AA #5 and HS-6. I have loads for all of my pistols that are under an inch at 25 yds from bags. I get far better accuracy from these powders in my shooters. I inherited a BUNCH of 231 and I have yet to get even plinker accuracy out of it in any caliber. It also smokes a lot and fouls the barrel too much for my preference. I gave away all of my Bullseye for the same reason.

February 18, 2007, 02:14 AM	#5
MikeRussell Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Location: Carencro, LA Posts: 335	I've noticed the same thing about W321 being very dirty, however I've gotten some sub 1in groups at 20yrds from it with 200gr LRNFP with 5.0gr in a non match grade pistol (XD45Tac). I'm going to try bumping it up to about 5.3gr and run that through my DW PM7, the other load was "OK" but very dirty (the PM7 actually ran cleaner and did better with 230gr PRN & 5.0gr W231). The Red Dot is pretty damn cheap for reasons stated, so I might pick up a pound and give it a try. I haven't gotten set up for 9mm yet, but will be getting dies and such soon. The plan is some 124gr PRN, so I might give the Red Dot a try with that too. __________________ Mike Russell

February 18, 2007, 02:18 AM	#6
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	I've used it in .38 special and .45 colt with good results. Honestly, I can't tell much difference between the 8 or so pistol powders I tried so if you got a good deal on it, go for it. It's not ideal if you're looking for max velocity but for paper and plinking it's just fine.

February 18, 2007, 08:47 AM	#7
Voyager AL Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Location: Pittsburgh,PA Posts: 221	Same as ifishsum here. I load 38spl,9mm, 32H&RMagnum with it, mainly for paper targets. The only other powder I use is American Select, for my .45

February 18, 2007, 06:51 PM	#8
hapi Junior Member Join Date: October 15, 2006 Posts: 7	it's economical in large quantity for a 9mm. i can get just over 13,500 rds from an 8lb jug. 125gr master blasters with 3.9-4.0gr and you get just a bit over 1000fps. a nice load i haven't shot the .45 with red dot.

February 18, 2007, 09:13 PM	#9
Branspop Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Posts: 72	Any smoke issues with the coated bullets?

February 23, 2007, 11:35 PM	#13
Varmitzapper Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Location: G-Boro NJ Posts: 19	I've used Red Dot for years in my 629 44 mag. Loaded 5.1 Gr with a 240Gr SWC lead billlet @ about 725 fps. These are 44 Special cases. Very Acurate. Scored 1st place three years in a row with this recipe

February 24, 2007, 04:00 PM	#14
MikeRussell Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Location: Carencro, LA Posts: 335	Well, I tried out the Red Dot. My DW Pointman7 (.45acp) seems to prefer heavier bullets, so it didn't perform well with the 200gr LRNFP (neither did W231) but it was worth a shot. I did find a load using Red Dot that my PM7 really liked, but now I need to chrono the load to make sure it will make Major PF. Here's what it ended up liking the best 4.6gr Red Dot 230gr PRN Berry's Preferred Winchester LP primer & brass 1.240in OAL With that combo, I ended up getting rewarded with 0.558in 3 shot groups at 15yards from the bench with no rest/support (other than laying my arms and the butt of the pistol on the bench). So now, I guess I need to either get my hands on a chrono or find someone that has tested the same load through a 5in 1911 to see if it makes Major PF (according to the reduced load calculator, it should make 195PF and the recoil isn't bad at all either), load quite a few more up and test the hell out of it. __________________ Mike Russell

February 25, 2007, 03:19 AM	#15
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	I've used red dot for trap loads and some pistol loads for years. One thing I have noticed is that it tends to be VERY dirty in pistols if you don't run loads near 80% or so of max. Also, Alliant has real problems with lot to lot density of their flake powders. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal