Disappointed In Red Dot.

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've been loading 6.6 gr of Red Dot behind a 200 gr bullet in my .45 Colt. The book says 900 fps but the chronograph today said 849. I might have to try something else? I've always believed 900 fps was the velocity I wanted.

[pony express]

Might be just normal variations in different guns, the one tested for the data may have had a tigher gap, slightly different bore diameter, smoother bore, etc. If you really need the extra 50fps, try upping the charge 1/10 gr at a time(if that doesn't go over the max load)

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The test barrel was likely longer and unvented.

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[Jefro]

The test barrel was likely longer and unvented.

Uh, yep. Lyman 3rd Edition Pistol & Revolver.....7 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk.....6.1 Red Dot 923fps.......6.9 Red Dot 975fps.
If yer happy with way Red Dot has performed up till now, why do you need 51 more fps?? The steel targets surely don't need anything harder hitting, especially if yer using really hard cast bullets. FWIW I use 6.1 for 45 Colt, and 4.3 for Cowboy 45 Special & 45acp.....and I run my lead at about a 10BH. Testing using different barrel lengths, rate of twist, altitude....etc....etc is gonna give you different results. Find a load you like and stick with it, Good Luck

Jefro :DRelax-Enjoy

[Shotgun Franklin]

My Cowboy shooting load has always been my carry load too. I'm very seriously thinking of keeping this as my 'Playing' load and load something a bit hotter for hunting and carry. I'm thinking hard about a pound of unique.

[pony express]

Unique or similar should get a bit more velocity than Red Dot., assuming you can find any.

[Darto]

I have used 6.3 red dot for years (am now out of that powder).
Herco is what I use for a carry load (lead bullets).
296 H110 for really hot loads (i.e. the latest Hornady book using their jacketed).

But I think you might like Green Dot better, seems like it would be one step up.

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've kinda been looking at Green Dot, does it shoot clean or is it dirty?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Greendot is a great powder. It is useful in pistols, shotguns and in gallery loads for rifle.

[Cliff Fendley]

Blue dot aint a bad powder for 45 colt, 44 mag loads. I used to use it a fair amount in 44 mag lead bullet loads.

[Shotgun Franklin]

In my carry gun, I start to get pressure signs above 6.9 gr of Red Dot. Although the 'book' shows loads as high as 7.3, I've decided not to push my luck.

[Delmonico]

If the round goes bang and the bullet comes out, those are pressure signs, now other things are signs of excessive pressure.

[PJ Hardtack]

I've been shooting 6 grs of Red Dot in my .45 and 44-40 loads for a long time, both with 200 gr bullets.

It's my preferred powder for .38 Spl., 44-40, .45 ACP and .45 Colt. With the current powder shortage, I've started to use 700 X and Green Dot in my .45 ACP loads. Not as clean burning as I'd like, but now I clean more frequently as required. Big deal.

Now I've got more Titegroup than anything else, so I'm back to square one.

[Crow Choker]

I've always had excellent results with Red Dot in 45 Colt, loading around 6.0-6.1 grains with 250-255 g cast bullets. Since starting to load for handgun/rifle back in '76, I've never chronographed a single round. Mostly I guess because I've never had one available or bothered to buy one. Always went off what the fps would be by previously published reports. As long as the bullet did what it was suppose to do (hit the target or kill the game), that did it for me. Not to say having a chrony' isn't needed or desirable, but for CAS shooting, losing 51 fps and if your hitting the metal, what the heck. As also posted, the guns used by the 'lab' boys are a lot different than what you and I shoot. I always look at what they established their results with and subtract some fps for barrel length or take into consideration if they are using a so-called test barrel. Ya gotta use the reports as a guide, not the ultimate conclusion. Red Dot is a 'goody'-I plan on keep on using it.

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've pretty much decided to use Red Dot for Cowboy Shooting and Green Dot for hunting and carry. Regular brass for Cowboy loads and nickel brass for hunting and carry ammo. It's a change in my approach but not a big deal in my opinion.

[Trailrider]

Not sure about availability of various powders these days, but I've had excellent results with Hodgdon's Universal and also ATK's (used to be Hercules) Unique in .45 LC and .44-40. With 213 gr bullets in .44-40, using Universal, my MV from a 7-1/2" Old Model Vaquero with tight throats runs around 950 ft/sec, depending on the temperature. Similar results in .45LC with 225 gr bullets. Follow the recommended loads in various manuals.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Oddly enough I found a guy who stocks everything I want and use and plenty more. He claims he gets all he wants.