.40 and Red Dot

[mc2212]

OK, let me start out by saying that this forum has been great. I have been a member for a while but have just lurked. Now, I have a question.

I have a few pounds of Red Dot, and I would like to load some soft shooting rounds for .40 S&W. I have the dies, brass, and 1,000 X-treme 180gr. copper plated RNFP bullets all ready to go, but I can't find any load data for Red Dot powder.

I have looked at all the Alliant Powder info including the stuff that is a few years old. I had even put calls in to Alliant, but the folks there don't have any current data to offer. They only offer data for their bullets and don't recommend any deviation from that.

A Google search yields lots of info, but I'm leary to use that. So far, the best and closest info I can find to my bullet and powder combo is 5.0 gr. of Red Dot over a 180 JHP. I believe that this is a max load.

Will a 4.0 gr. or 3.5 gr. starting load be OK and safe to use? BTW, I will be shooting this out of a G-35 with a factory barrel. I have several recoil springs ranging from 13#-17#, so getting light loads to function should not be a problem. I'm not looking to make major PF. I just want good, light recoiling, accurate target loads that I can shoot in a club IDPA match or local steel shoot.

 

[sexybeast]

4.0gr of Red Dot will work well. I used it with Rainier 180's. Soft and accurate!

 

[LiveLife]

Disclaimer: Following loads are not currently published by the powder manufacturter - Use them at your own risk.

2004 Alliant load data has Red Dot load data for 40S&W - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070

I use the same 180 gr RNFP X-Treme plated bullet (along with Berry's/PowerBond RNFP/TCFP) and here's my range test results with 180 gr Rainier TCFP plated bullet using Promo and Red Dot load data by weight - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6509911#post6509911

I would suggest you try 3.8 as start charge and test 4.0 and 4.2 gr for 17 lb recoil spring if you are looking for soft shooting loads. You could go lower than 3.8 gr with lighter weight recoil spring to cycle the slide but chances are your accuracy will deteriorate.

Range Test #1:
180 gr Plated (Rainier Ballistics) at 4.2/4.5/4.8 gr with 1.125" OAL
180 gr Lead (Missouri Bullets) at 4.0 gr with 1.125" OAL

40S&W Promo loads were all accurate. Recoil was firm/snappy with spent cases landing behind me and to the right.
7-10 yard groups averaged 1"-2"
15 yard groups averaged 3"

Range Test #2:
180 Plated/4.5 gr - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 2" - Firm recoil
180 Plated/4.8 gr - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 3" - Firm recoil

180 Lead/3.5 gr - Accuracy all over the 8x11 copy paper - Light recoil
180 Lead/3.8 gr - 7 yard 2" - 10 yard 3" - 15 yard 4" - Mild recoil
180 Lead/4.1 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 1" - 15 yard 4" - Moderate recoil
180 Lead/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 2.5" - Firm recoil

Here's more recent range test that I did with 4.0 gr Promo and 180 gr Berry's/Missouri lead TCFP bullets with longer 1.130" OAL - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9344512#post9344512

4.0 gr Promo/Red Dot:

180 gr Missouri lead TCFP - 2.0" at 10 yards
180 gr Berry's plated TCFP - 1.25" at 10 yards.

 

[1KPerDay]

bds is your guy.

I've also had good success with 4.0 Red dot behind 140 and 180 MBC lead, and Berry's 165 and 180 plated.

This match I was shooting the lead ones through a standard G23C with non-ported storm lake barrel if you want to see them in action. Worked great. They are smoky.

I'm the fat dude in the orange hat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elBvNcVb-X0

 

[Potatohead]

Hey 1k, was the crowd clapping at your shooting or those quick moves from station to station?

 

[1KPerDay]

I doubt it was for my glacial lumbering... LOL

 

[mc2212]

Thanks for all of the info guys. I took your advice and started at 3.5 grains and worked my way up to 4.4 grains with my stash of Red Dot.

3.5 grains felt nice and soft, but accuracy suffered. As I worked my way up, the groups got tighter and tighter. The best group was with 4.2 grains.

I had to test my loads in the backyard between wind gusts and rain showers. Each group consisted of 5 shots. All were fired from the standing position at a distance of 10 yards.

3.5 grains yeilded a 4" outside to outside group , but the 4.2 grain load gave me a 1.75" outside to outside group. I'll test this load again once the weather is better.

4.4 grains gave good results too, but recoil was beginning to get a little on the stiff side. I'm trying to keep recoil down to a minimum but get the best accuaracy possible.

Thanks again for all of your advice.

 

[1KPerDay]

More advice: When working up a load for accuracy, shoot from a rest.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I don't load the .40 and did not closely check the data posted but I do use RD for cast slugs for several chamberings - the best I've loaded in my limited experience for both accurracy and clean burning. also it is a low-flash powder I use for jhp loads with good results. on paper at least.
don't overload and check coal and crimp.