Green Dot

DEVILDOGLILES · February 21, 2010, 02:14 PM

Does anybody have a good .40 S&W recipe using Green Dot powder?

**Unclenick** · February 21, 2010, 06:48 PM

I have not, but based on Red Dot and Bullseye recipes, I expect a target load can be made with cast bullets like the 145 Lee SWC molds that start at around 3.5 grains. Your main concern will be that a fast powder cannot be loaded to high velocities without creating excessive pressure. It will create less pressure with lighter bullets. So, Green Dots would be just for light paper target-type purposes. That can cause operating problems in some guns, necessitating a lighter recoil spring be installed. It is also not considered a good idea to use polygonal barrels with lead bullets as rapid lead build-up is sometimes observed in them that can create both accuracy and pressure problems.

With a jacketed bullet, like the 155 grain XTP seated to 1.125" COL, you could work up from 3.5 to 4.5 grains in small steps, watching for pressure signs. Again, a powder this fast will not give maximum velocities without exceeding pressure limits, but will give useful velocities.

Boomer8404 · February 21, 2010, 11:12 PM

Check out this link, theres a few loads using Green Dot. Hope this helps.♦

http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/de...Powder&Source=

cheezhed · February 21, 2010, 11:25 PM

green dot is a slower powder than red dot but is faster than blue dot. I recommend a loading manual for development but none of the ones I have list a load for the forty using green dot.

Sevens · February 21, 2010, 11:29 PM

Green Dot is a much faster burning powder than Blue Dot. Blue Dot can effectively be used in magnum loads... not quite to the potential of the heavy hitters like AA#9 and H110/W296, but it's a heckuva lot slower than Green Dot.

I find that Green Dot meters just as horribly as Unique does. I don't ever want to use a poor metering powder in any situation where it calls for a smallish charge. Back when I first started with Lee dippers and no mechanical powder measure, I had fine luck with Green Dot in .38 Special target loads.

Given the high pressure that makes .40 S&W run well, and given the way Green Dot meters, I think it's a really, really bad choice for this caliber. I wish you luck, but for the $22-$25 it costs for a pound of something else, I'd highly recommend you skip Green Dot.

zxcvbob · February 21, 2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Check out this link, theres a few loads using Green Dot. Hope this helps. Also, Green Dot burns slower than Red and Blue Dots.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=399298

Great link; it points back to this thread.

Green Dot burns slower than Red Dot and faster than Unique. It is *much* faster than Blue Dot. GD works great in .38 Specials, and it's good for 9mm but you can load hotter using Bullseye. I haven't tried it in .40

tom234 · February 22, 2010, 02:41 AM

What bullet ? The '92, '95, '96, and '05, Reloader's Guide has Green Dot data but only for jacketed bullets.

zippy13 · February 22, 2010, 04:45 AM

I'm a big Green Dot fan and go thru it by the 8-lb keg. I originally got it for low pressure 12-ga target loads. Then tried it in the 20-ga, and then the 28-ga. It also works in larger handgun loads. I've used it in .44 rem mag, .45 ACP and and .45 Colt loads, but it's not my preference. As you're probably aware, Alliant's web site doesn't list any .40 S & W loads with Green Dot.

Are you wanting to burn up some existing powder, or are you looking for some special load for a specific application?

DEVILDOGLILES · February 22, 2010, 09:36 AM

I have the powder on hand for my 12 gauge loads and i noticed that some of Alliants powder can be used for both. Was just wondering if fGreen Dot was one of these.

Thanks for everything gents.

zippy13 · February 22, 2010, 01:36 PM

I have the powder on hand for my 12 gauge loads and i noticed that some of Alliants powder can be used for both. Was just wondering if Green Dot was one of these.

You're not alone... Been there, done that

AlaskaMike · February 22, 2010, 04:28 PM

I'd recommend you email Alliant and ask them. They've always been extremely responsive to me via email.

Mike

Loader9 · February 22, 2010, 09:00 PM

For a plinker, try 5.5 grs Green Dot under a 135gr Rainier HP. Recoil is about like a 9mm with 115gr pills. Real easy to shoot and play with. Works decent enough for plinking and all of the autos I tried it in never skipped a beat.

jimkim · February 23, 2010, 07:39 AM

Nosler Reloading Guide #6 has some for their 135gr JHP.
Barrel length: 4"; 1-16" twist; Case:Winchester; Primer:WSP;
Alliant Green Dot
4.8gr@929fps
5.3gr@1,047fps
5.8gr@1,166fps Max

They have plenty here. http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalo...ntPowderSM.pdf

February 21, 2010, 02:14 PM	#1
DEVILDOGLILES Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2010 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 11	Green Dot Does anybody have a good .40 S&W recipe using Green Dot powder?

February 21, 2010, 06:48 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I have not, but based on Red Dot and Bullseye recipes, I expect a target load can be made with cast bullets like the 145 Lee SWC molds that start at around 3.5 grains. Your main concern will be that a fast powder cannot be loaded to high velocities without creating excessive pressure. It will create less pressure with lighter bullets. So, Green Dots would be just for light paper target-type purposes. That can cause operating problems in some guns, necessitating a lighter recoil spring be installed. It is also not considered a good idea to use polygonal barrels with lead bullets as rapid lead build-up is sometimes observed in them that can create both accuracy and pressure problems. With a jacketed bullet, like the 155 grain XTP seated to 1.125" COL, you could work up from 3.5 to 4.5 grains in small steps, watching for pressure signs. Again, a powder this fast will not give maximum velocities without exceeding pressure limits, but will give useful velocities. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 21, 2010, 11:12 PM	#3
Boomer8404 Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Far West Texas Posts: 109	Check out this link, theres a few loads using Green Dot. Hope this helps.♦ http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/de...Powder&Source= Last edited by Boomer8404; February 22, 2010 at 12:35 AM.

February 21, 2010, 11:29 PM	#5
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Green Dot is a much faster burning powder than Blue Dot. Blue Dot can effectively be used in magnum loads... not quite to the potential of the heavy hitters like AA#9 and H110/W296, but it's a heckuva lot slower than Green Dot. I find that Green Dot meters just as horribly as Unique does. I don't ever want to use a poor metering powder in any situation where it calls for a smallish charge. Back when I first started with Lee dippers and no mechanical powder measure, I had fine luck with Green Dot in .38 Special target loads. Given the high pressure that makes .40 S&W run well, and given the way Green Dot meters, I think it's a really, really bad choice for this caliber. I wish you luck, but for the $22-$25 it costs for a pound of something else, I'd highly recommend you skip Green Dot. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 23, 2010, 07:39 AM	#13
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2008 Location: middle GA Posts: 326	Nosler Reloading Guide #6 has some for their 135gr JHP. Barrel length: 4"; 1-16" twist; Case:Winchester; Primer:WSP; Alliant Green Dot 4.8gr@929fps 5.3gr@1,047fps 5.8gr@1,166fps Max They have plenty here. http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalo...ntPowderSM.pdf __________________ Jan. 4, 2007 gasoline $2.10 gal....HMMM?

February 21, 2010, 11:25 PM	#4
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 302	green dot is a slower powder than red dot but is faster than blue dot. I recommend a loading manual for development but none of the ones I have list a load for the forty using green dot.

February 22, 2010, 02:41 AM	#7
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	What bullet ? The '92, '95, '96, and '05, Reloader's Guide has Green Dot data but only for jacketed bullets.

February 22, 2010, 04:45 AM	#8
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I'm a big Green Dot fan and go thru it by the 8-lb keg. I originally got it for low pressure 12-ga target loads. Then tried it in the 20-ga, and then the 28-ga. It also works in larger handgun loads. I've used it in .44 rem mag, .45 ACP and and .45 Colt loads, but it's not my preference. As you're probably aware, Alliant's web site doesn't list any .40 S & W loads with Green Dot. Are you wanting to burn up some existing powder, or are you looking for some special load for a specific application?

February 22, 2010, 09:36 AM	#9
DEVILDOGLILES Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2010 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 11	I have the powder on hand for my 12 gauge loads and i noticed that some of Alliants powder can be used for both. Was just wondering if fGreen Dot was one of these. Thanks for everything gents.

February 22, 2010, 01:36 PM	#10
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I have the powder on hand for my 12 gauge loads and i noticed that some of Alliants powder can be used for both. Was just wondering if Green Dot was one of these. You're not alone... Been there, done that

February 22, 2010, 04:28 PM	#11
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I'd recommend you email Alliant and ask them. They've always been extremely responsive to me via email. Mike

February 22, 2010, 09:00 PM	#12
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	For a plinker, try 5.5 grs Green Dot under a 135gr Rainier HP. Recoil is about like a 9mm with 115gr pills. Real easy to shoot and play with. Works decent enough for plinking and all of the autos I tried it in never skipped a beat.