Red Dot

[Vacek]

The more I study about reloading the more I am impressed with the versatility of Red Dot.

A. 6 grains for cast bullet loads in revolvers.
B. 13 grains for 30 caliber and great cast bullet gas check loads (Harris' The Load).
C. Great load for shot guns
D. 7-8 grains for 30 caliber downloads...subsonic
E. I can even use it for my 9mm.

Meters great...one of the lower cost powders...burns pretty clean.

My wife is getting me a caddy of it for Christmas.

You know the ole saying...If I could only have one....

 

[GaryL]

Some really like it for 45 colt, but those few grains look a little lonely down inside the case. Its a good pistol powder though.

 

[rcmodel]

It also tends to peak very quickly, and with very little warning, go off the scale in pressure.

If you want a good "do-everything", very forgiving powder, look no further then Allient Unique.

Red-Dot ain't it!

rcmodel

 

[bluetopper]

There are many powder manufacturers out there and now with Alliant's new Clay Dot powder, one need not look any further than the fine selection of USA made Alliant's powders for any application.

 

[Floppy_D]

Haven't tried Red Dot because I found Unique before it, and I don't really need much else.

 

[Seafarer12]

I like red dot better than unique. I only use it for 38's though. I can get over 2000 rounds to a pound of red dot.

 

[rcmodel]

If economy is your only criteria for picking a powder, try Bullseye.

You can get 2,592 .38 Spl wadcutter loads out of a pound!

rcmodel

 

[Seafarer12]

Well I also look at how clean it burns, price, consistancy. As well as rounds per pound.

 

[Vacek]

Each of you have a valid point. I am not saying Red Dot is the best in all applications, just that is can be used and used well in many. I load with Unique, Green Dot, Bullseye, and 2400 and like them all. But if I had to walk out the door with 1 I would choose it over Unique because it would go further. Understand that I load for a 45 Colt, 9mm, 38 special, a Mosin 38, 303 Brit and a Swede. I use 4250 for my heavy loads on the rifles but like Red Dot for the downloads.

Did any of you read the short article on Red Dot in the latest Handloader. Some good info on handgun loads.

 

[Galil5.56]

I like it for many of the applications you mention, especially 6.3 grains/240 LSWC in my 44 mag and reduced velocity 30 cal cast bullet rifle loads. I was buying kegs of RD for trap shooting and Dove hunting, and liked the versitility... Who am kidding, I think right now I have 22 different propellants under my bench as I type, Red Dot being one of them.

 

[Walkalong]

Red Dot is a great powder, accurate, clean, and versatile, but rcmodel is right about it peaking quickly, very quickly. It can bite you in the buttocks real quick like.

700X has similar qualities, but is more forgiving.

 

[Claude Clay]

+2 for unique
+1 for bullseye (esp in short bbl guns)

 

[Vacek]

But if you can only have one.....

 

[floydster]

I use Red Dot in my 38 Spl mostly.
But I find it does NOT meter well at all.
A good load in my Ruger Blackhawk .357 is 3.3 gr. Red Dot pushing a 158 gr. SWC.

 

[Walkalong]

To each his own, but nobody who loads for long can stick with just one powder. It's like a Lay's potato chip. You can't eat just one.

Red Dot will do just fine for the "fast" powder in your inventory.

Now all you need "medium" and a "slow" powder choice.

That could hold you for a long time, until you get more curious.

I would go with W-231 or 700X for "just one" over Red Dot. They are more versatile. Those were my only two powders for a long time and I bought them in quantity when I found a deal. I had a pound of W-296 for .44 Mag, but then, when the budget allowed, I started experimenting with many powders.

I must have around 20 different pistol powders in my cabinet right now.

Lets see. From memory.

AA #2, AA #5, AA #9
WST, W231, WSF, W296
Zip, Competition, True Blue
Titegroup, Clays, Universal Clays, HS-6
Bullseye, Red Dot, American Select, Blue Dot
700X, Trail Boss
N310, N320, N330, N340

I had some Unique and Power Pistol, but ran out and don't believe I will be getting any more, but never say never. AC

 

[bluetopper]

I never understood the rational for just wanting to use one powder.

Each powder has its "sweet spot" application where its performance exceeds other slower or faster burning powders as the caliber/bullet combo dictates.

Powder is the cheapest component in reloading..........experiment a little.

 

[Vacek]

I do experiment with powders. That is half the fun of reloading. I'm just stating, if I had to walk out the door with only one powder....I think I would personally go with Red Dot.