I have a cardboard container of older, estate sale, Green Dot. I assume it is late 70’s to early 80’s. It is old enough that the shiny tinned metal bottom has a small number of rust spots from the powder. The powder does not smell, I don’t see any red, but I want to shoot it up as soon as possible. It is at the end of its shelf life.
Green Dot works well in the 45 ACP. My M1911’s functioned every time on the 700 fps 4.5 grain load. That load had very little recoil and yet clustered well. I judge the accuracy of the ammo by the clustering on my 25 yard gong target. Since I shoot offhand my accuracy is highly variable compared to someone shooting off sandbags. I can say that Green Dot has accuracy potential as it clustered well, but I cannot say that it is any more accurate than any other powder.
Green Dot must be just a little slower burning than Bullseye as 5.0 grains of Green Dot gave me the same velocities as 4.5 grains Bullseye. Green Dot is still a fast burning powder.
I fired my loads in two different M1911’s and I was glad to see that the velocities were similar between the pistols.
Some people are ultra fussy about clean burning powders. I am not. I cannot say Green Dot is a “clean” powder as the wind was whipping through around 15 mph. Any residue in the air was gone before I could see it. My M1911’s cleaned up as usual, but I have must have a higher tolerance about residue than the clean crowd as I am not bothered cleaning up after using Bullseye or Unique.
I like my practice ammo to be just around 800 fps, or less, so I am loading up several hundred more rounds with the 5.0 grains Green Dot.
I am not looking to replace any of my favorite pistols powders of Bullseye, Unique and 2400 with Green Dot. I am also not looking to add more Green Dot to the collection. But I won’t turn down Green Dot if I get it at a great price as it shoots well in the 38 Special and 45 ACP.
Code:
[SIZE="3"]Kimber Custom Classic
[B]230 gr LRN 4.5 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"[/B]
16-May-09 high 83 °F
Ave Vel =805.2
Std Dev =38.07
ES = 136.9
High = 912.4
Low = 775.5
N = 24
[B]230 LRN 4.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"[/B]
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =708 fps
Std Dev =12
ES = 40
High = 727
Low = 687
N = 9
accurate, little high, mild recoil
[B]230 LRN 5.0 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"[/B]
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =802fps
Std Dev =19
ES = 61
High = 841
Low = 780
N = 15
[B]230 LRN 5.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"[/B]
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =873 fps
Std Dev =30
ES = 88
High = 922
Low = 834
N = 11[/SIZE]
Code:
[SIZE="3"]M1911 Springfield Armory 5” Kart Barrel
[B]230 LRN 4.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"[/B]
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =719 fps
Std Dev =26
ES = 105.1
High = 771
Low = 665.9
N = 14
accurate, little high, mild recoil
[B]230 LRN 5.0 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"[/B]
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =803 fps
Std Dev =25
ES = 97
High = 867
Low = 770
N = 16
Accurate, centered
[B]230 LRN 5.5 grs Green Dot lot 178 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"[/B]
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =853 fps
Std Dev =29
ES = 116
High = 918
Low = 802
N = 15
very accurate, centered[/SIZE]
