New to me powder: Green Dot

N555

N555

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2022
Messages
2,558
Location
New Mexico and Texas panhandle
I was at a yard sale and got a keg of green dot. Never used it before. It's in the new style Alliant container so it's not ancient.
I was going to at least load 45acp with it, probably pack some 12ga shells with it maybe 9mm, maybe 380.

Who uses it and what you use it for?
What do you like about it?
What do you dislike about it?
If you load 45acp with it, is it burning dirt, how does it like to run? Is it like WST and like to run at start to medium loads, or is it more like HP38/w231 and like to run near the top, is it like unique and runs dirty for start loads powder puff loads?
 
I love green dot for light rifle loads.But some rifle loads it's not as accurate though. I do fine with it in 30.06 7.62x54r and for my Argentine Mauser. It also works good for .223. Will not cycle a semi-auto. With 7.62x39 it opens up some. Still acceptable for hunting accuracy.
 
Green Dot is a good powder in 38 Special and 45 ACP. I purchased a couple of pounds of estate sale Green Dot. It was a cardboard container of Green Dot, I assume it is late 70’s to early 80’s. It is old enough that the shiny tinned metal bottom has a small number of rust spots. The powder did not smell ether or bitter, I did not see any red, and I shot it up as quickly as possible as I believe it was at the end of its shelf life.

I was able to conduct chronograph tests in my 38 Special Airweight and more extensive tests in 45 ACP.

My loads shot well in the 38 Special.

Green Dot works well in the 45 ACP. My M1911’s functioned every time on the 700 fps 4.5 grain load. That load had very little recoil and yet clustered well. I judge the accuracy of the ammo by the clustering on my 25 yard gong target. Since I shoot offhand my accuracy is highly variable compared to someone shooting off sandbags. I can say that Green Dot has accuracy potential as it clustered well, but I cannot say that it is any more accurate than any other powder.

Green Dot must be just a little slower burning than Bullseye as 5.0 grains of Green Dot gave me the same velocities as 4.5 grains Bullseye. Green Dot is still a fast burning powder.

I fired my loads in three different M1911’s and I was glad to see that the velocities were similar between the pistols.

Some people are ultra fussy about clean burning powders. I am not. I cannot say Green Dot is a “clean” powder as the wind was whipping through around 15 mph. Any residue in the air was gone before I could see it. My M1911’s cleaned up as usual, but I have must have a higher tolerance about residue than the clean crowd.

I like my 230 grain 45ACP practice ammo to be just around 800 fps as that duplicates the velocity of the original 1910 era cartridges. Which incidentally, were loaded with 5.0 grains Bullseye pistol powder.

O6DXP9i.jpg


izlNWG0.jpg

I am not looking to replace any of my favorite pistols powders of Bullseye, Unique and 2400 with Green Dot. I am also not looking to add more Green Dot to the collection. But I won’t turn down Green Dot if I get it at a great price as it shoots well in the 38 Special and 45 ACP.

S&W M637-2 2" barrel

Code: 
125 gr Valiant BBRNFP 4.5 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F  


Ave Vel = 813.2     
Std Dev = 44.55    
ES = 176.5    
High  = 903.3    
Low  = 726.8    
Number shot= 24    

 POI, little leading

125 gr Valiant BBRNFP 5.0 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F  

1-2" above POI, more leading

Ave Vel = 867.3     
Std Dev = 57.54    
ES = 178.1    
High  = 966    
Low  = 787.8    
Number shot= 21    


125 gr  JHP (W/W) 5.0 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F 25 yds accuracy OK,

Ave Vel = 808.9     
Std Dev = 56.82    
ES = 95.46      
High  = 914.2      
Low  = 712.8    
Number shot= 20



nQ5kk1P.jpg


Code: 
Kimber Custom Classic


230 gr LRN  4.5 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09 high 83  °F OAL 1.250"taper crimp .469"

Ave Vel =805.2
Std Dev =38.07
ES =136.9
High = 912.4
Low =775.5
number shot=24


230 LRN 4.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =708 fps
Std Dev =12
ES =40
High = 727
Low =687
Number shot=9

accurate, little high, mild recoil


230 LRN 5.0 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =802fps
Std Dev =19
ES =61
High = 841
Low =780
Number shot=15

 230 LRN 5.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =873fps
Std Dev =30
ES =88
High = 922
Low =834
Number shot=11


wfm4oQ1.jpg



Code: 
M1911 Springfield Armory 5” Kart Barrel

230 LRN 4.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =719fps
Std Dev =26
ES =105.1
High = 771
Low =665.9
Number shot=14

accurate, little high, mild recoil


230 LRN 5.0 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =803  fps
Std Dev =25
ES =97
High = 867
Low =770
Number shot=16

Accurate, centered

230 LRN 5.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =853  fps
Std Dev =29
ES =116
High = 918
Low =802
Number shot=15

very accurate, centered


Ejatat9.jpg



Code: 
Rock Island Arsenal GI M1911 5" barrel

230 gr Valiant LRN 5.0  grs Green Dot lot 178  WLP OAL 1.250"  taper crimp 0.469"
18-Dec-17 T = 60 °F  

Ave Vel = 803.8  
Std Dev = 25.92  
ES = 89.11  
High =853.3  
Low = 764.2  
Number shots = 14  

230 gr LRN Valiant  4.5 grs Bullseye (1998 & 2005) WLP OAL 1.25" taper crimp 0.469"
13-Sep-18 T = 82 °F  

Ave Vel = 766.3  
 Std Dev=12.44  
ES = 66.08  
High = 805.2  
Low = 739.1  
Number shots = 26



bYTfb5t.jpg
 
Slamfire said:
Green Dot is a good powder in 38 Special and 45 ACP. I purchased a couple of pounds of estate sale Green Dot. It was a cardboard container of Green Dot, I assume it is late 70’s to early 80’s. It is old enough that the shiny tinned metal bottom has a small number of rust spots. The powder did not smell ether or bitter, I did not see any red, and I shot it up as quickly as possible as I believe it was at the end of its shelf life.

I was able to conduct chronograph tests in my 38 Special Airweight and more extensive tests in 45 ACP.

My loads shot well in the 38 Special.

Green Dot works well in the 45 ACP. My M1911’s functioned every time on the 700 fps 4.5 grain load. That load had very little recoil and yet clustered well. I judge the accuracy of the ammo by the clustering on my 25 yard gong target. Since I shoot offhand my accuracy is highly variable compared to someone shooting off sandbags. I can say that Green Dot has accuracy potential as it clustered well, but I cannot say that it is any more accurate than any other powder.

Green Dot must be just a little slower burning than Bullseye as 5.0 grains of Green Dot gave me the same velocities as 4.5 grains Bullseye. Green Dot is still a fast burning powder.

I fired my loads in three different M1911’s and I was glad to see that the velocities were similar between the pistols.

Some people are ultra fussy about clean burning powders. I am not. I cannot say Green Dot is a “clean” powder as the wind was whipping through around 15 mph. Any residue in the air was gone before I could see it. My M1911’s cleaned up as usual, but I have must have a higher tolerance about residue than the clean crowd.

I like my 230 grain 45ACP practice ammo to be just around 800 fps as that duplicates the velocity of the original 1910 era cartridges. Which incidentally, were loaded with 5.0 grains Bullseye pistol powder.

View attachment 1103029


View attachment 1103030

I am not looking to replace any of my favorite pistols powders of Bullseye, Unique and 2400 with Green Dot. I am also not looking to add more Green Dot to the collection. But I won’t turn down Green Dot if I get it at a great price as it shoots well in the 38 Special and 45 ACP.

S&W M637-2 2" barrel

Code: 
125 gr Valiant BBRNFP 4.5 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F 


Ave Vel = 813.2    
Std Dev = 44.55   
ES = 176.5   
High  = 903.3   
Low  = 726.8   
Number shot= 24   

 POI, little leading

125 gr Valiant BBRNFP 5.0 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F 

1-2" above POI, more leading

Ave Vel = 867.3    
Std Dev = 57.54   
ES = 178.1   
High  = 966   
Low  = 787.8   
Number shot= 21   


125 gr  JHP (W/W) 5.0 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F 25 yds accuracy OK,

Ave Vel = 808.9    
Std Dev = 56.82   
ES = 95.46     
High  = 914.2     
Low  = 712.8   
Number shot= 20



View attachment 1103031


Code: 
Kimber Custom Classic


230 gr LRN  4.5 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09 high 83  °F OAL 1.250"taper crimp .469"

Ave Vel =805.2
Std Dev =38.07
ES =136.9
High = 912.4
Low =775.5
number shot=24


230 LRN 4.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =708 fps
Std Dev =12
ES =40
High = 727
Low =687
Number shot=9

accurate, little high, mild recoil


230 LRN 5.0 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =802fps
Std Dev =19
ES =61
High = 841
Low =780
Number shot=15

 230 LRN 5.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =873fps
Std Dev =30
ES =88
High = 922
Low =834
Number shot=11


View attachment 1103032



Code: 
M1911 Springfield Armory 5” Kart Barrel

230 LRN 4.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =719fps
Std Dev =26
ES =105.1
High = 771
Low =665.9
Number shot=14

accurate, little high, mild recoil


230 LRN 5.0 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =803  fps
Std Dev =25
ES =97
High = 867
Low =770
Number shot=16

Accurate, centered

230 LRN 5.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP  Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"  27 Feb 2010         T = 48 ° F

Ave Vel =853  fps
Std Dev =29
ES =116
High = 918
Low =802
Number shot=15

very accurate, centered


View attachment 1103033



Code: 
Rock Island Arsenal GI M1911 5" barrel

230 gr Valiant LRN 5.0  grs Green Dot lot 178  WLP OAL 1.250"  taper crimp 0.469"
18-Dec-17 T = 60 °F 

Ave Vel = 803.8 
Std Dev = 25.92 
ES = 89.11 
High =853.3 
Low = 764.2 
Number shots = 14 

230 gr LRN Valiant  4.5 grs Bullseye (1998 & 2005) WLP OAL 1.25" taper crimp 0.469"
13-Sep-18 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 766.3 
 Std Dev=12.44 
ES = 66.08 
High = 805.2 
Low = 739.1 
Number shots = 26



View attachment 1103034
Click to expand...
It seems like between 4.5 and 5.0gr of just about any powder slower than the fastest rifle powders will work in the .45ACP for any bullet lighter than 230gr and heavier than a 185gr. That’s what makes it darn near perfect. :thumbup:
 
F37168A3-E916-49D6-AD8B-C71F229906B2.jpeg It's a wonderful pistol/shotgun powder that's been around for many decades. I think Alliant now just publishes shotgun data for it; as with all their powders they decided to publish one duty and not both handgun and shotgun for some reason. I guess they think they can sell more powder that way. Older reloading data publications always had Green Dot listed for handgun calibers. It's great for 9mm, 38, 45acp and many others. I use it regularly. It's very close to the burn rate of 231. or HP-38. Slower than Bullseye and faster than Unique. A great niche to be in.
 
Last edited:
i use greendot in my 45 colt casting out of a lyman mold part number 454190 this mold drops a 250gr lead bullet and with 6.8grs greendot and using WW lead this shoots very tight groups out of my rossi 92 leveraction with 16in barrel and my cimarron arms 45 colt pistol with 5.5in barrel! great load for the grand ol'e 45 colt!!
 
Alliant does list load data using Green Dot for 44 mag, 45 colt and 45 auto. I don't have any Green Dot, but I do use Red Dot for cast rifle loading.
 
It looks like green dot loads like WST where in a 45acp, you do around 4.5gr and you get real consistent SD and low ES but you're only getting those 230gr bullets to fly around 700fps.
That's my ideal 230gr LRN/FMJ target load.
I run sealed silencers like the osprey, so cleaner is better.
 
Green Dot's burn rate is slower than Red Dot ... but faster than Unique ...
It sits right in between them , it's on the same lines with :
Silhouette / True Blue - Green Dot / BE-86 - Super Handicap - PB - WSL
These powders are faster than Unique but not as fast as Bullseye & Red Dot .

The biggest problem is a lack of data ... you just don't see a lot of Green Dot Data ... and I'm not sure why !
But with on-line and new manuals perhaps that is changing ... I use a lot of Unique and a Faster powder , but not as fast as Bullseye / Red Dot could / should be quite useful .
If I come across a Green Dot Deal ... I will jump on it also ... it may take some looking around but
it should be worth the effort .

I just did a quick look see in Alliant's 2020 Reloaders Guide at 9mm Luger , 38 Special , 38 spcl +P and 357 mag. and found no loads with green dot ...Same in the Cowboy Loads section ...
no data listed from Alliant with Green Dot ... maybe this is going to be harder than I thought !!!
Gary
 
gwpercle said:
Green Dot's burn rate is slower than Red Dot ... but faster than Unique ...
It sits right in between them , it's on the same lines with :
Silhouette / True Blue - Green Dot / BE-86 - Super Handicap - PB - WSL
These powders are faster than Unique but not as fast as Bullseye & Red Dot .

The biggest problem is a lack of data ... you just don't see a lot of Green Dot Data ... and I'm not sure why !
But with on-line and new manuals perhaps that is changing ... I use a lot of Unique and a Faster powder , but not as fast as Bullseye / Red Dot could / should be quite useful .
If I come across a Green Dot Deal ... I will jump on it also ... it may take some looking around but
it should be worth the effort .

I just did a quick look see in Alliant's 2020 Reloaders Guide at 9mm Luger , 38 Special , 38 spcl +P and 357 mag. and found no loads with green dot ...Same in the Cowboy Loads section ...
no data listed from Alliant with Green Dot ... maybe this is going to be harder than I thought !!!
Gary
Click to expand...
i find more data on greendot in the old load data books etc!
 
Yes it's great in 45acp, 38, 357 and is my favorite 9mm target powder bench resting out of 1911's. Find some old loading manuals, they are full of Green Dot handgun data for both cast and jacketed bullets.
 
N555 said:
Green Dot Kind ... load 45acp with it, probably pack some 12ga shells with it maybe 9mm, maybe 380.

Is it like WST ... or is it more like HP38/w231
Click to expand...
During the Great Component Shortage of 2013, when the popular W231/HP-38 were unobtainium, I tested different powders as potential substitute and ended up doing same/comparable powders thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-under-different-labels.890893/#post-12318114

Green Dot ended up requiring about .2 to .3 gr more compared to W231/HP-38 for some 9mm/40S&W/45ACP reference target loads with slight less accuracy and burned slightly more dirty. (For 40S&W, Green Dot is good for light loads only)

As to load data, I referenced 2004 Alliant load data for my load development - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?resources/2004-alliant-load-data.18/

Speer has 45ACP load data for 230 gr Lead RN - https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/handgun/45_Auto_230_LRN.pdf
 
midland man said:
i find more data on greendot in the old load data books etc!
Click to expand...
I believe you are right . 1967 is date of first Loading Manual I bought ... I buy new ones but keep the oldies just for this reason ... I found two canisters of Alcan #5 hiding in my powder closet ...
the old manuals have plenty data for Alcan #5 so it isn't going to waste .
Yep ... You Right ... Speer #8 (1970) , Speer #9 (1974, 1975 & 1976) & Speer #10 (1977)
All contain tons of Green Dot Data ... data is there just got to use the Way-Back machine to access it.
Gary
 
bluetopper said:
I think Alliant now just publishes shotgun data for it; as with all their powders they decided to publish one duty and not both handgun and shotgun for some reason. I guess they think they can sell more powder that way.
Click to expand...

That is very possible. I remember talking to an Accurate Arms Ballistician, he was frustrated because Accurate Arms had found a new service rifle powder that would push a 223 bullet faster than AA2520 at the same pressures. But the front office suits decided that sales of this new powder would cut into sales of AA2520 and did not add it to their powder line.

Everything a company does can be traced to an analysis of what maximizes profits now.
 
Just be ever thankful they reformulated it ,Much much cleaner now days . I've some original Red Blue and Green Dot ,Red ,Green and Blue in order of the dirtiest to cleanest .
I remember a fellow who used to come to our clubs weekly Trap and Chip pickup shoots . Anyone who shoots Trap or clays ,knows generally 26" + barrels . Not this fellow oh no ,he comes with an 18" Riot pump and FULL 1 1/4 O/Z -1 5/8 O/Z 12 gauge RED DOT LOADS .
Night became day with 5-7 ft. of flame roaring out that barrel . Simply used to piss certain shooters off ,as it through them off their game . I personally thought it quite amusing . Poor Kid never won anything ,we tried telling him LONGER barrel= Longer tighter shot pattern . Each to their own . I have to wonder whether he ever had to have Rotator Cuff surgery ?. Those loads are BRUTAL repetitively :eek:
 
I can speak to Green Dot for 12 Ga loads. In the last great shortage, I (luckily) found 4 lbs of it. It served me well for trap shooting for a season until I found more Red Dot/Promo. It liked the higher end of the load spectrum with 1 1/8 oz loads at or above 1200 fps. It did tend to run rather dirty with older shells, favoring a firm crimp, and cleaned up some as the pressure increased. You might see a parallel here in metallic reloading similar to Unique, liking the higher end of the pressure curve.

I used the rest up in fast 1 1/8 loads for pre-season practice in my waterfowl gun that does not like to cycle soft loads. I also loaded several boxes of all purpose #6-1 1/8 in the 1250fps range that I am still working through for varmint control, impromptu clay shooting and grouse hunting at my cabin. It makes a fine small game load in 1 1/8 oz at speeds a little faster than standard trap loads.
 
gwpercle said:
Green Dot's burn rate is slower than Red Dot ... but faster than Unique ...
It sits right in between them , it's on the same lines with :
Silhouette / True Blue - Green Dot / BE-86 - Super Handicap - PB - WSL
These powders are faster than Unique but not as fast as Bullseye & Red Dot .
Gary
Click to expand...
I find Silhouette and true blue to be slower than unique. I stop 357 loads at 7 grains and comfortably load both the others at 8+. The old manuals had very heavy loads of Unique that are not found when tested with the newer psi strain gages. I was hoping and praying that the Lyman 51st would provide updated testing. Most of the time when I see older cup tested loads they are much higher than new psi tested loads. I believe this is a huge part of what started the layered up load discussions.
 
I'll be shooting WSL until I expire in MY shotguns . I stocked DEEP on it ,as I'd used it for years . Is easy metering and virtually No residue just clean burning and a little goes a long way . Probably why they took it off the market would be MY guess :D
 
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