Is Red Dot the "Super Sleeper"?

[fatelvis]

For years, I've always heard about Red Dot being great in target loads for 38, 44, 45Acp, and even cast rifle loads, but it was always overshadowed by Bullseye, or 231, or Unique. Recently, I started burning up some old Red Dot, so it wouldn't go to waste, and I'm blown away by it's accuracy! Now I know why it's still in production after all these years. It's been kickin' ass all these years "behind the scenes"! Lol

 

[KMart]

Red Dot is and has been pretty much the gold standard for 12 ga trap and skeet reloading. It has been around since 1932.

 

[Alliant Reloading]

Red Dot is and has been pretty much the gold standard for 12 ga trap and skeet reloading. It has been around since 1932.

Yes, in fact the most successful competitive 12ga powders on the market are all copies of Red Dot(R) in one form or another. 700X was DuPont's high energy copy, AS30N (Clays) was ADI's clean burning copy, and even Green Dot(R) was our slower burning, higher velocity copy.
Red Dot does work quite well in pistol applications, as you have found fatelves, but unfortunately the low bulk density flake form keeps it from charging as well as most pistol shooters require.
We have gone through a couple of product improvement cycles with Red Dot, and now our most recent generation is really quite clean burning, so it is very acceptable as 12ga target shooters continue to reduce their lead payloads to economize on their most expensive component, and at the same time optimize recoil for the task at hand. I have loaded quite a bit of the newest version in 7/8oz skeet loads, and they are awesome. I still prefer Extra-Lite(TM) in that application, but Red Dot is far more versatile across payloads from 7/8oz to 1-1/8oz. I probably never would have developed e3(R) if we had Red Dot in it's current state back in 2002.
Thanks for your interest in our new and improved Red Dot fatelvis, even if you were burning up the older version.
Paul

 

[Catgunguy]

Thank You, for the information. Very helpfull.

 

[D-4297]

I've loaded both my 9mm and .40 Glock with Red Dot for the last ten years . It became my "go-to" when it displayed higher velocities , along with lower recoil reaction . Good stuff , Maynard .

 

[riflewoman]

Red dot is fine for target loads in 45, 38, 9mm and others. But watch it. Its burn rate is faster than Bullseye in pistols, more like N310. Pressures can climb quickly. Quickload has shown that and I talked to a person at Alliant and they confirmed this.

 

[RegionRat]

Have to agree. I have never felt bad about keeping Red Dot around based on how well it runs in the shotguns and because it does very well in pistol loads too. A very good one to have around at all times.

 

[rockhound78]

Promo seems to be more of a sleeper than red dot, and cheaper usually to boot. Seems like a bulkier red dot.

 

[HTSmith]

I just got a new jug of Red Dot--my first in about 20 years. I was surprised at how much cleaner it burned than the old stuff. Of course I'm not really sure that "clean" is all that big a deal in reality.

 

[spaniel]

I use Red Dot in 45ACP. Otherwise I have standardized on Unique due more to its versitality across all pistol calibers than any other factors. Works well in that setting.

 

[D-4297]

Red dot is fine for target loads in 45, 38, 9mm and others. But watch it. Its burn rate is faster than Bullseye in pistols, more like N310. Pressures can climb quickly. Quickload has shown that and I talked to a person at Alliant and they confirmed this.

Spot on , as always . When I did my ladders for my .40 , I went up .01gr at a time , and it didn't take long to get a case "Bulged" at the base . Backed it off .02gr , and adjusted the depth . Extremely accurate load and it holds that accuracy beyond 100 yards .

 

[HTSmith]

Spot on , as always . When I did my ladders for my .40 , I went up .01gr at a time , and it didn't take long to get a case "Bulged" at the base . Backed it off .02gr , and adjusted the depth . Extremely accurate load and it holds that accuracy beyond 100 yards .

Oh boy I'm learning--you weigh every pistol charge? And to the hundredth of a grain? My hat is off to you

 

[Steve Blair]

I used Green Dot for years in .45 ACP target loads. I liked it because of fine accuracy with H&G #68 bullets and it was so bulky that I couldn't double charge on my Dillon 450. I knew several shooters that used Red Dot in .38 Spl with 148 HBWC. They all claimed it shot better than Bullseye and was much cleaner.

 

[std7mag]

I use both Red Dot and Green Dot for my 45ACP with 185gr LSWC, and 9mm with 124gr trunjicated nose lead.
Just depends on which is easiest to find and price.

 

[Shaggy357]

Red Dot is great for shotshells. Too dirty for my revolver loads. My bottles are 20+ years old now.

 

[D-4297]

Oh boy I'm learning--you weigh every pistol charge? And to the hundredth of a grain? My hat is off to you

Actually ; Yes , I do . I'm pushing a 175 JHP on the high side , and there is very little room for error . Rather be safe than sorry . And these loads aren't for target shooting , in case you're curious .

 

[AWS]

I was a 700x guy 38 special, 41 Ma, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, cast bullets in the 300 Sav. plus all my 12ga target load from 11/16oz skeet loads to 1 1/8 oz trap loads. It will even load low pressure loads for my old 2 1/2" 12ga sxs's.

 

[drano38]

I burned a few pounds of Red Dot back in my early reloading days. Yep, great for 12 ga, versatile in various pistol loads too. But years ago, it was dirty. I'm glad they reformulated it to burn cleaner.
A few years after college, I got into sporting clays pretty strong and used a different powder brand at almost the same burn rate because it burns clean. I also use it in 45 auto. My .38 Special load is a bit odd, and the best powder I found for that is 700x, so I bought a 5 lb can. That lasts a loooong time shooting light pistol loads.

 

[rkittine]

So many Shotgun Powders double as pistol powders. Back when I could buy in 30 pound fiber wrapped drums, I used Red do for all my commercial pistol loads until I got out of the business.

Bob

 

[Lefty Trigger]

My revolver match winning loads is Trail Boss. Sucks to meter it but it's worth the hassle, it's also kinda dirty... not so much in the bore but everywhere else? It stinks too like burning plastic cups from 7/11