Question about Red Dot powder - The Firearms Forum

Clipper · 05-13-2013, 11:05 AM

I have a couple pounds of Red Dot, purchased from a friend. He poured it from a 12 pound can of Red Dot Shotgun powder. Can this also be pistol powder? My Lyman Third Edition Pistol and Revolver Handbook lists various loads using Red Dot, just want to ensure it is the same Red Dot powder. Can says Shotgun powder, maybe it is similar to Unique, can be used in either pistol or Shotgun...Am I right?

X Ring · 05-13-2013, 01:49 PM

Yes Red Dot is Red Dot. Red Dot like many other “shotgun” powders can be used in handguns.

Clipper · 05-13-2013, 02:41 PM

Thanks, just wanted to make sure...

myfriendis410 · 05-13-2013, 08:53 PM

It's a good medium fast powder for use in everything from mild .38 to mild .44 mag loads. A great cast bullet plinking load powder. Slower than Bullseye. Similar to Clays as well.

Clipper · 05-13-2013, 09:02 PM

Glad I was able to get the two pounds. I share load with son and son-in-law, they both shoot 9's, I stick with my .45's. I have been using W231, Titegroup, PowerPistol, Unique and Bullseye.

While I have been reloading for several years, I didn't know about the versatility of some shotgun powders. Nice to have a backup source.

myfriendis410 · 05-14-2013, 09:23 AM

Yeah; it's a good choice in all of the rounds you listed. I used to load 5.0 gr. over a 200 gr. cast bullet in the .45. It should work fine in a 9mm too.

res45 · 05-17-2013, 06:13 AM

Red Dot is a great powder in cast bullet rifle loads as well. I use 7.0 grs. in my 30-30 170 gr. RNFP loads Lyman Cast Bullet Manual as well as 13.0 grs. in my 7.62 x 54r 170 gr. RN cast loads.

http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/TheLoad.html

rawright54 · Yesterday, 12:22 AM

I have another question about Red Dot powder. I think I may have posted it elsewhere, but I can't find it now, so I'll add to this post.

A friend wants to reload .223 Remington, and has a bunch of brass and powder he bought for that purpose. Unfortunately, he bought Red Dot, not knowing any better. He's got 8 lbs of the stuff!

I've searched the web and found a load for this caliber with a 55 gr bullet using Red Dot, amounting to 6 gr or so of powder. But it makes me very nervous to proceed with this. That's too small a charge to fill the cartridge, and it's not going to ignite evenly. It very likely will also produce a huge overpressure spike, since it's fairly quick burning. No reputable publisher lists this powder for this caliber, either.

What I've been thinking about is making a trade with him. A local gun shop bought a bunch of IMR 3031 and can't get rid of it. I happen to know that this is one powder that is recommended for the .223, and I wouldn't have a problem with this. For myself, I load 9 mm Luger, and Red Dot is an acceptable powder for that round. So I'm thinking that the smart thing to do is for me to buy the IMR 3031 from the dealer, then trade with my friend for the Red Dot.

What would you do?

05-13-2013, 11:05 AM	#1
Clipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 383	Question about Red Dot powder I have a couple pounds of Red Dot, purchased from a friend. He poured it from a 12 pound can of Red Dot Shotgun powder. Can this also be pistol powder? My Lyman Third Edition Pistol and Revolver Handbook lists various loads using Red Dot, just want to ensure it is the same Red Dot powder. Can says Shotgun powder, maybe it is similar to Unique, can be used in either pistol or Shotgun...Am I right? -->

05-13-2013, 01:49 PM	#2
X Ring V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 190	Re: Question about Red Dot powder Yes Red Dot is Red Dot. Red Dot like many other “shotgun” powders can be used in handguns. __________________ Load More = Shoot More http://s1096.photobucket.com/albums/g327/Wynn3/ Last edited by X Ring; 05-13-2013 at 01:51 PM..

05-13-2013, 02:41 PM	#3
Clipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 383	Re: Question about Red Dot powder Thanks, just wanted to make sure...

05-13-2013, 08:53 PM	#4
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 543	Re: Question about Red Dot powder It's a good medium fast powder for use in everything from mild .38 to mild .44 mag loads. A great cast bullet plinking load powder. Slower than Bullseye. Similar to Clays as well. __________________ Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun.....

05-13-2013, 09:02 PM	#5
Clipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 383	Re: Question about Red Dot powder Glad I was able to get the two pounds. I share load with son and son-in-law, they both shoot 9's, I stick with my .45's. I have been using W231, Titegroup, PowerPistol, Unique and Bullseye. While I have been reloading for several years, I didn't know about the versatility of some shotgun powders. Nice to have a backup source.

05-14-2013, 09:23 AM	#6
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 543	Re: Question about Red Dot powder Yeah; it's a good choice in all of the rounds you listed. I used to load 5.0 gr. over a 200 gr. cast bullet in the .45. It should work fine in a 9mm too. __________________ Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun.....

05-17-2013, 06:13 AM	#7
res45 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 182	Re: Question about Red Dot powder Red Dot is a great powder in cast bullet rifle loads as well. I use 7.0 grs. in my 30-30 170 gr. RNFP loads Lyman Cast Bullet Manual as well as 13.0 grs. in my 7.62 x 54r 170 gr. RN cast loads. http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/TheLoad.html

Yesterday, 12:22 AM	#8
rawright54 Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 30	Re: Question about Red Dot powder I have another question about Red Dot powder. I think I may have posted it elsewhere, but I can't find it now, so I'll add to this post. A friend wants to reload .223 Remington, and has a bunch of brass and powder he bought for that purpose. Unfortunately, he bought Red Dot, not knowing any better. He's got 8 lbs of the stuff! I've searched the web and found a load for this caliber with a 55 gr bullet using Red Dot, amounting to 6 gr or so of powder. But it makes me very nervous to proceed with this. That's too small a charge to fill the cartridge, and it's not going to ignite evenly. It very likely will also produce a huge overpressure spike, since it's fairly quick burning. No reputable publisher lists this powder for this caliber, either. What I've been thinking about is making a trade with him. A local gun shop bought a bunch of IMR 3031 and can't get rid of it. I happen to know that this is one powder that is recommended for the .223, and I wouldn't have a problem with this. For myself, I load 9 mm Luger, and Red Dot is an acceptable powder for that round. So I'm thinking that the smart thing to do is for me to buy the IMR 3031 from the dealer, then trade with my friend for the Red Dot. What would you do?