Red Dot powder

[AAAJohn]

Is Red Dot shotgun powder the same powder I'm suppose to load 44 Remington Mag with? My manual call for Red Dot and doesn't say what kind.
Thanks!

[Lone Star]

Yes, RedDot is RedDot.  Not the usual powder for a .44 Magnum though - what bullet and velocity are you looking for?  RD is normally a low-velocity/low-recoil powder in magnum handgun cartridges.



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[cwlongshot]

So called shotgun powders can work wonderfully for handguns too!! Its just that most people use Red Dot for shotguns that's all.

Do some more reading of your manuals, there is a "plethora" of information inside. if your new at this and don't have many manuals. I like to suggest new loaders get the current edition of the LYMAN Manuel and read it!! Its excellent and well written. I like it as Lyman doesn't make powder, bullets or primers. So the data enclosed is wide spread utilizing most common powders, bullets and primers.

Good luck,
 CW

[AAAJohn]

Thanks Guys for the info. My Speer manual calls for Red Dot 6gr min. 871 fps and 6 1/2 gr max. 905 fps for the 240 gr. L-SWC with the CCI mag. primer. This is for my S&W 629. I have 5 more manuals to go thru so I can find a load for my 1894 Marlin rifle in 44 mag.

[Cheesehead]

I am a big fan of Red Dot in all of my 44 mag guns. It is usually available in most gun stores and I buy it by the 8 pound jug. I recommend it.

Cheese

[hillbill]

i used to use it quite a bit in 38/357 stuff but a lot of the more modern info is for the unique powder.it dont take much of it for a good pistol load, thats what i always liked.

[Savage]

I recently started looking for Red Dot data for the 9/40/45. I bought a couple kegs of Alliant's "Promo" powder at a good price. It uses Red Dot load data. As the Promo is slightly more dense than Red Dot, charges must be thrown by weight rather than volume. It's worked out pretty good so far, don't think I'm going to be able to make power factor in the .40 with it tho. Years ago I used a lot of Red Dot in .45acp and .38spl. Don't remember the load data, but I used a load recommended by Skeeter Skelton using Red Dot in a short barreled .38. As I recall it worked pretty well with the wad cutters. Now days, there doesn't seem to be a lot of data using Red Dot. You just have to dig for it. I have had better luck using the older references. 
Savage

[AAAJohn]

I recently started looking for Red Dot data for the 9/40/45. I bought a couple kegs of Alliant's "Promo" powder at a good price. It uses Red Dot load data. As the Promo is slightly more dense than Red Dot, charges must be thrown by weight rather than volume. It's worked out pretty good so far, don't think I'm going to be able to make power factor in the .40 with it tho. Years ago I used a lot of Red Dot in .45acp and .38spl. Don't remember the load data, but I used a load recommended by Skeeter Skelton using Red Dot in a short barreled .38. As I recall it worked pretty well with the wad cutters. Now days, there doesn't seem to be a lot of data using Red Dot. You just have to dig for it. I have had better luck using the older references. 
Savage

I've got some loads for 9MM luger and 45 auto in my Speer manual, but the 40 S&W only has Blue Dot listed. Let me know if you still need them and I will post them.

[Savage]

Thanks, John! I have found data that I'm working with in all three cartridges. Like you, I found plenty of data in various manuals for 9mm & .45. The .40 data took a little more looking. I am looking for about 1000fps average in .40 to make power for SSP & Limited in IDPA & USPSA. Doesn't look like Promo or Red Dot are going to make the cut. Thanks again.
Savage