Red dot powder, good, bad?

[Bwell]

Pretty much everyone around my area is sold out of powder, but I found a place close that has 8lbs of Alliant Red Dot for 140 dollars.

I am planning on using this in my 40 S&W using a 4 grain charge with cast and jacketed bullets, is this a decent powder for the 40 S&W? I have tried searching the site but it doesn't come up with to many applications for the 40 S&W round.

If I use this round in an indoor range will I smoke everyone out or would I be okay?

[tazman]

here is a link to an Alliant data manual that lists loads for the 40 for red dot as well as others.
http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Fre.../Alliant01.pdf

[xacex]

Do a search for "the load" for rifles. Red dot makes a great plinker powder for many rifles.

[Ole]

It's not optimal, but should go bang and keep you shooting.

[chutesnreloads]

If I were buying it ONLY for .40 S&W loads....I'd pass.The .40 has done much better for me with a slower powder .
Blue Dot is one worked particularly well in .40.If you'll use it in other loads as well then buy it up.Especially enjoy Red Dot
in rifle/cast loads.Also Red Dot works well in .38 special .

[Bwell]

It's not optimal, but should go bang and keep you shooting.

That's all I really need it for, but will I smoke out other shooters if in an indoor range?

[Bwell]

The only other load I would use it in is pistol loads, 9mm, 45, and maybe .357 mag.

[Outpost75]

5 grains of Red Dot with 150-grain #401654 for 1000 fps.

[tazman]

If you use near max loadings most powders burn clean including red dot.

[runfiverun]

red dot is one of my go-to powders.

red-dot, unique, and 2400 are my three [main] handgun powders, and get used in several rifle cast loads too.
I'm on the hunt for more right now...
it ain't all that hard to push a patch through a barrel every now and then.

[DLCTEX]

If that is what you can get, use it. I use it in everything from shotgun, pistol, and cast loads for some rifle.

[btroj]

Good stuff, real good.

I'm starting to use red dot more and more in handguns.

[MaryB]

Red Dot is handy stuff, I buy the 8 pounders because my nephews can do through 500+ trap loads in a weekend of shooting. Use it for my 9mm and 380 cast loads too. Looking at using it for a plinker Mosin Nagant load once I get some dies.

[Larry Gibson]

All the above are wrong......wrong.....wrong.....WRONG........

Red Dot is a very bad powder, not useful in anything.....too bad you wasted your money..........

Send it to me (I'll help with shipping) for "proper" disposal.............

Larry Gibson






LOLs; Red Dot is an excellent powder and my second choice only to Bullseye for many applications. good find.......

[HighHook]

A good power to be stuck with... Shotgun, handgun And light rifle loads.

We use it for target loads in the 10/40. Burns clean for us

[Blanco]

I like Red Dot and use it in 9mm. 3.5 Grains is a pretty universal weight
I haven't used it in 40 yet.
With the supply issue I would get it and use it. Maybe not the best for what you shoot... but it will go bang

[Double B]

Get it and enjoy. I've shot Red Dot mostly shotshell and 38 target loads. Very good powder. Find a 40 load at a velocity that will cycle reliably and you will like it. Consistent stuff.

[Harry O]

I don't know specifically how it will do with .40 S&W since I don't load that caliber.

However, I used it (and still do from time to time) for many, many years. I got it free from my father, who used it to load shotgun shells. It is just about a duplicate of Bullseye except for one thing. It does not meter worth a darn. That is why I am using it less and less nowadays. Bullseye and 231 do the exact same thing and both meter MUCH better. I think I would pass for that reason alone. With 8# you are going to have this for a very long time.

[Walter Laich]

If that is what you can get, use it. I use it in everything from shotgun, pistol, and cast loads for some rifle.

same here--from .32, 9mm, .45 Colt, shotgun, did use it in .40 and .45 APC but not shooting those these days

[jonp]

Promo is my powder for all handgun target loads. Buy a pound of it and see if it works for you. If it does then buy 8lbs of Promo which is cheaper and works by weight the same