Red Dot metering OK

rajbcpa · December 10, 2012, 02:26 AM

This is the first time I have used this powder. Powder measure is Dillon. It seems to measure OK and variations are no more than a grain. I'm throwing 5.6 grains.

What are the red dots in this powder? They appear to be the same size and shape as the rest of the powder.

Marco Califo · December 10, 2012, 04:08 AM

Red Ball?? Red Bull?? Redskins?? Redwings?? Red Man?? Red Lobster??
You mean Red Dot.
Yes, Red Dot has some red flakes. You know, Green Dot has some green flakes. And darned if Blue Dot doesn't have some blue flakes!!
Do you see the pattern here?
The colored flakes allow you to look at the powder in your powder measure and instantly identify the powder visually. A very good idea which they only do for these shotgun powders. Red Dot is famous for its popularity in shooting sports.

**Mike Irwin** · December 10, 2012, 06:29 AM

The flakes are the same gunpowder as used in the non-red flakes.

They're just colored differently.

full case load · December 10, 2012, 08:04 AM

"variations are no more than a grain." With a 5.6 grain load that seems like an excessive variation to me. (maybe the fingers typed something the brain didn't mean?)

steve4102 · December 10, 2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

It seems to measure OK and variations are no more than a grain. I'm throwing 5.6 grains.

Typo? Or are you actually experiencing 4.6 to 6.6 grain spreads?

rajbcpa · December 10, 2012, 09:31 AM

....spreads are 5.5 to 5.7 - a .1 grain variance... mostly on the 5.7 side.

rajbcpa · December 10, 2012, 11:05 AM

..this powder was designed to be used in shotgun rounds, I suppose.

Anyway, I was doing some research and, apparently, it can also be used for small cases like 40sw....

...so I bought some and I am now experimenting....

Hopefully, it will work out OK.

Is this a relatively slow burning powder compared to Unique, PP, and Bullseye..? the volume seems to be higher in the case with Red Dot than the other powders

Thx....

FlyFish · December 10, 2012, 11:16 AM

Red Dot is a bit slower than Bullseye, and a bit faster than Unique and Power Pistol. Here's a link to a list of powders arranged by burning rates:

http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

Edited to add: I should probably mention that burning rate doesn't necessarily correlate with weight and volume for different powders, and (you probably already know this) you shouldn't come up with loads other than those published in reputable reloading manuals by looking at burning rate charts.

zxcvbob · December 10, 2012, 11:47 AM

Red Dot is actually *faster* than Bullseye. Bullseye is higher in energy, so it gets a boost to the top of the "quickness" charts.

Red Dot seems to be made for volumetric measuring (that makes sense as a shotgun powder), so slight variations in the charge weight don't seem to make any difference as long as they measure the same. YMMV.

Red Dot (actually, I use Promo because it's cheaper, and I haven't used up that 8# jug I bought almost 10 years ago) gives me the best accuracy of any powder in every handgun cartridge where I've tried it. And it burns reasonably clean because I'm always loading it near the top end.

**Unclenick** · December 10, 2012, 12:33 PM

And I'll add that since powder manufacturers don't normally share technical details with one another, burn rate charts typically have a lot disagreement. I've found charts that rate Bullseye burn rate #1 (book), #3, #4,#5,#6, #10, and #13.

Two Old Dogs · December 10, 2012, 08:30 PM

Alliant's Reloading Guide states that Red Dot burns slower than Bullseye. I believe the manufacturer of both powders should be considered the authority on the burn rate of it's powders.

zxcvbob · December 10, 2012, 09:05 PM

That's not what they say. They say BE has a higher "relative quickness". That is a technical term that takes into account the powder's energy per gram as well as its burn rate.

Bullseye has over 5100 joules per gram. Red Dot has "only" 4500. (that's still pretty high)

Wallyl · December 11, 2012, 09:33 AM

ZXCVBOB

Interesting to compare. I find that with equal charges of both that the muzzle velocity is almost exactly the same. For some strange reason it would seem that Red Dot is just a bit more efficient. I prefer it to Bullesye, as it has more Bulk. I use it and Promo for all my pistol loads..with the Magnums I load them down to about 1,100 FPS.

December 10, 2012, 04:08 AM	#2
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	Red Dot Red Ball?? Red Bull?? Redskins?? Redwings?? Red Man?? Red Lobster?? You mean Red Dot. Yes, Red Dot has some red flakes. You know, Green Dot has some green flakes. And darned if Blue Dot doesn't have some blue flakes!! Do you see the pattern here? The colored flakes allow you to look at the powder in your powder measure and instantly identify the powder visually. A very good idea which they only do for these shotgun powders. Red Dot is famous for its popularity in shooting sports. __________________ ............

December 10, 2012, 11:16 AM	#8
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,723	Red Dot is a bit slower than Bullseye, and a bit faster than Unique and Power Pistol. Here's a link to a list of powders arranged by burning rates: http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html Edited to add: I should probably mention that burning rate doesn't necessarily correlate with weight and volume for different powders, and (you probably already know this) you shouldn't come up with loads other than those published in reputable reloading manuals by looking at burning rate charts. __________________ NRA Benefactor Life Member NRA Certified Instructor: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, PPIH, Metallic & Shotgun Shell Reloading; RSO Pemigewasset Valley Fish & Game Club

December 10, 2012, 11:47 AM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Red Dot is actually faster than Bullseye. Bullseye is higher in energy, so it gets a boost to the top of the "quickness" charts. Red Dot seems to be made for volumetric measuring (that makes sense as a shotgun powder), so slight variations in the charge weight don't seem to make any difference as long as they measure the same. YMMV. Red Dot (actually, I use Promo because it's cheaper, and I haven't used up that 8# jug I bought almost 10 years ago) gives me the best accuracy of any powder in every handgun cartridge where I've tried it. And it burns reasonably clean because I'm always loading it near the top end. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 10, 2012, 09:05 PM	#12
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	That's not what they say. They say BE has a higher "relative quickness". That is a technical term that takes into account the powder's energy per gram as well as its burn rate. Bullseye has over 5100 joules per gram. Red Dot has "only" 4500. (that's still pretty high) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 10, 2012, 02:26 AM	#1
rajbcpa Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2012 Posts: 321	Red Dot metering OK This is the first time I have used this powder. Powder measure is Dillon. It seems to measure OK and variations are no more than a grain. I'm throwing 5.6 grains. What are the red dots in this powder? They appear to be the same size and shape as the rest of the powder. Last edited by rajbcpa; December 10, 2012 at 09:27 AM.

December 10, 2012, 06:29 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	The flakes are the same gunpowder as used in the non-red flakes. They're just colored differently. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 10, 2012, 08:04 AM	#4
full case load Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Posts: 166	"variations are no more than a grain." With a 5.6 grain load that seems like an excessive variation to me. (maybe the fingers typed something the brain didn't mean?) __________________ live and let live

December 10, 2012, 09:31 AM	#6
rajbcpa Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2012 Posts: 321	....spreads are 5.5 to 5.7 - a .1 grain variance... mostly on the 5.7 side.

December 10, 2012, 11:05 AM	#7
rajbcpa Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2012 Posts: 321	..this powder was designed to be used in shotgun rounds, I suppose. Anyway, I was doing some research and, apparently, it can also be used for small cases like 40sw.... ...so I bought some and I am now experimenting.... Hopefully, it will work out OK. Is this a relatively slow burning powder compared to Unique, PP, and Bullseye..? the volume seems to be higher in the case with Red Dot than the other powders Thx....

December 10, 2012, 12:33 PM	#10
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	And I'll add that since powder manufacturers don't normally share technical details with one another, burn rate charts typically have a lot disagreement. I've found charts that rate Bullseye burn rate #1 (book), #3, #4,#5,#6, #10, and #13. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 10, 2012, 08:30 PM	#11
Two Old Dogs Member Join Date: November 28, 2012 Location: Eastern SC Posts: 68	Alliant's Reloading Guide states that Red Dot burns slower than Bullseye. I believe the manufacturer of both powders should be considered the authority on the burn rate of it's powders.

December 11, 2012, 09:33 AM	#13
Wallyl Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 255	Red Dot vs Bullseye ZXCVBOB Interesting to compare. I find that with equal charges of both that the muzzle velocity is almost exactly the same. For some strange reason it would seem that Red Dot is just a bit more efficient. I prefer it to Bullesye, as it has more Bulk. I use it and Promo for all my pistol loads..with the Magnums I load them down to about 1,100 FPS.