Loading the 44magnum with Red Dot

[bulldawg52]

Trying to resolve a conflict with load data for Red Dot
38spl 158g LSWC alliant 3.4g, Lee 3.1g (close, Lee lower)
45 auto 200g LSWC alliant 4.5g, Lee 4.0g (close, Lee lower)
44 mag 240g LSWC alliant 6.5g, Lee 8.0 - 8.8g (Lee much higher!)
I have emailed alliant to question the difference with no response yet.
Any insight from other 44 mag loaders would help.

 

[Jim Watson]

Speer says up to 6.5 gr Red Dot for their 240 gr swaged lead SWC in .44 Magnum.
Red Dot is too fast burning for full charge magnums, I would not push it.

 

[Steve C]

The 2000 edition of Alliants Reloaders' Guide lists 8.8grs of Red Dot as maximum load for a 44 magnum with a 240gr GC (gas check) bullet for 1,175 fps at 34,900 PSI. With a 10% reduction for start load as the guide indicates should be used that would match the Lee data you list.

Current Alliant data uses Speer bullets. A Speer .44 cal 240gr lead bullet is swagged and not gas checked, hence the lower charge recommendation though the Alliant data says a "cast" 240gr bullet. The current Alliant data lists the velocity for their maximum load at 905 fps.

The numbers and velocities pretty well correlate with the current load Alliant recommends for a modest velocity and pressure with soft lead and bare base bullets.

 

[GP100man]

Reddot gets very spiky at upper end loads , use it for lower velocity to mid range loads

Better powders for magnum performace .