Red Dot and 2400

[Three50seven]

My uncle gave me two partial containers of powder, a Red Dot and a Hercules 2400. I looked up some data on the Alliant website, but they don't offer much. I currently load for 38 spl, 9mm, 45 colt, 12ga, and 20ga. Does anyone have any good pet loads for either of those powders in any of these calibers/gauges? I normally use Hodgdon powder, so I'm not very familiar with the Hercules stuff.

They do list 3.4 grains of Red Dot with a 158gr. LSWC for 38, which is comparable to the load I use now with Titegroup for plinking.

 

[LAH]

Red Dot is a fine powder for everything you have listed. I've using 3.5 grs. of Promo in my 38s.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Red Dot could be used in 38special, 9mm and 45colt. The 2400 is useful in heavy loads in the 45colt. This site has lots of data for those powders. Use with caution as this is not factory data. 8) 8)

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp

...Jimbo

 

[Rclark]

All shot in .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk 5 1/2" barrel and safe in my revolvers :

My favorite Red Dot load is :

6.5g Red Dot, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, 881 avg, 10 SD, 31 ES, 15 shots, Accurate

I've only tested one 2400 load as it was said to be accurate ... I found it 'ok' but not great. Recommend sticking with standard primer if you use this load. This is a Tier 2 load as defined by Brian Pearce and safe in any modern .45 Colt revolver. Note this isn't a 'pet' load... Just one I've tried. YMMV on this one!

See information here : Brian Pearce Article

18.0g 2400, 255g SWC, CCI-300, 1020 avg, 21 SD, 82 ES, 15 shots, Ok accuracy
18.0g 2400, 255g SWC, CCI-350, 1181 avg, 22 SD, 94 ES, 24 shots, Ok accuracy
18.0g 2400, 255g SWC, ___WLP, 1123 avg, 34 SD, 133 ES, 15 shots, Yuck

 

[Three50seven]

thanks guys for all the good info!

 

[Rick Courtright]

I looked up some data on the Alliant website, but they don't offer much. I currently load for 38 spl, 9mm, 45 colt, 12ga, and 20ga.

Hi,

Of those listed, the 20 ga is a big NO for Red Dot! It was taken out of the books w/ the advent of plastic hulls and wads, probably early '70s? I have a wallhanger to remind me why that was...

You should find PLENTY of loads for Red Dot in the 12 ga--primarily target/light field grade. Alliant used to advertise something along the lines that more 100 straights have been shot on trap fields w/ Red Dot than any other powder, so it's not going away. It can be used w/ SOME other charge weights, but really shines in 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz loads.

2400 was a favorite in .410s many years ago. May still be. I don't recall any recipes using it in either the 12 ga or 20 ga, though.

In the handguns, I've loaded Red Dot in .38 Spl long ago, using the recipe from Lee's 1st Ed. of "Modern Reloading" for 158 gr lead. It's a few tenths of a grain lighter than the one you mentioned and makes a nice target/plinker grade load.

A buddy uses a lot of Red Dot in his 9mm (mostly cuz he's got it for his 12 ga trap loads.) Alliant used to show a load w/ Red Dot, using 125 gr lead bullets (it's in Lee's 1st Ed. book) He doesn't load the .38 Spl, but uses 2400 in his .357 Mag w/ 158 gr bullets, mostly lead (see Lee again.)

Dunno what's up w/ Alliant's current handgun recipe section: it seems quite limited compared to their older books.

As for the .45 Colt, I don't load it, so must rely on the guys who do for that one!

Rick C

 

[Three50seven]

Thanks for the heads up about 20ga. I load a lot of 1 1/8 oz. loads, so I will try some Red Dot for that.

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

The Fin over in Ashland gets Red Dot by the pallet every spring for shotshell reloaders.

 

[8Ring]

Send me PM and I'll send you a copy of the 2004 Alliant reloading manual that has a lot of reloading data about Red Dot and 2400. The current Alliant online manual is worse than useless and all the Alliant tech support people will do is tell you what is already in the online manual.

Their motto must be: Fewer loads! Less data! No help!

Chris

 

[the fatman]

Chris I agree with you I thought about trying their powder but after looking at the data decided to pass. I wonder how many new users they are getting with that set up.

 

[Hammerdown77]

I have had GREAT customer support from Alliant. When I submit a load order question via email I get a response within a couple of hours, and it is usually tailored for my specific application, not just a repeat of their online data. That's why I've always recommended to folks that they send an email to them if they don't see something on their website.

There is one gentleman who responds to load data question, and for the life of me I can't remember his name or email address. I have it in my email contacts at home, though.

He helped me with some non-standard +P type loads for Power Pistol in the 45 ACP using a 220 gr. truncated cone lead bullet. And also for some 125 grain plated bullet data for the 9mm.

That being said, there is quite a lot of load data in published manuals for Alliant powders.

 

[Dobetown]

Some of the older Speer and Lyman books show RD loads for lead bullets.