Hey folks I'm trying to decide which pound of powder I want to work with next for 9mm out of what I have on hand. I have blue and red dot, and pb. None of them are ideal but I'd just like opinions on how i can make them work. Would one be better for more peppy loads? Which would work better for 124gr? 147? I like to shoot gssf and have loaded some light stuff that had a hard time knocking down plates, which is embarrassing lol. I'd like to at least load mid to upper range stuff, no bunny farts. Thanks for any info.
9mm-bluedot, reddot, or pb?
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Elkins45
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Blue Dot would be my last choice. I think I would probably start with Red Dot because PB is pretty bulky and there's not a lot of spare room inside a 9mm case.
Potatohead
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They are.
But Red Dot is much faster powder then Blue Dot, so you don't need to use as much of it.
Typically, only about half as much.
rc
But Red Dot is much faster powder then Blue Dot, so you don't need to use as much of it.
Typically, only about half as much.
rc
Potatohead
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Red dot it is then with the 124gr for sure. Maybe blue dot or pb with 147gr since it will take less powder?
I forgot I had some 125gr cast on hand, still think red dot would be best or could I use one of the others since cast uses less powder?
Thanks I've got about 200 125gr Georgia arms cast, 250 124gr berrys plated, and 250 147gr berrys plated. Now I just wish I could find some already proven accurate loads with the berrys and red dot for gssf competition.
1KPerDay
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do a search for bds' threads on Promo/Red Dot and berry's. Lots of good stuff. I've loaded about 10K rounds of 9mm with Red Dot the past couple of years. I mostly use MBC smallball, though.
Red Dot works well for light and mid-level loads. Don't try to "hotrod" it.
You can hotrod Bullseye in 9mm.
You can hotrod Bullseye in 9mm.
ArchAngelCD
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I agree of the three Red Dot would be the best choice for both cast and jacketed bullets in the 9mm.
SlowFuse
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Red dot is pretty fast burning powder and would work best with lighter stuff, generally.
PB is similar to HP-38 as far as burn rate. I've used it with lead in the 125-135 gr range with decent results. If you wanted to run a hopped up load in the 124 range I'd do some development with PB, given your choices. I'd consider it more forgiving than the fast red dot and the possibly spikey (pressure) blue dot.
Blue dot is borderline being too slow for 9mm. I've found very accurate loads with 124 and 147 gr fmjs, with 147 giving a cleaner burn. But, it had some unimpressive spots as well. You have to run it fairly hot to not end up with unburned powder on you.
PB is similar to HP-38 as far as burn rate. I've used it with lead in the 125-135 gr range with decent results. If you wanted to run a hopped up load in the 124 range I'd do some development with PB, given your choices. I'd consider it more forgiving than the fast red dot and the possibly spikey (pressure) blue dot.
Blue dot is borderline being too slow for 9mm. I've found very accurate loads with 124 and 147 gr fmjs, with 147 giving a cleaner burn. But, it had some unimpressive spots as well. You have to run it fairly hot to not end up with unburned powder on you.
Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking of trying 4.0gr of red dot with my 125gr GA arms lead round nose after reading some threads here where it had good results.
maxxhavoc
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During the shortage, RD has become my new friend for 9mm. I only use 115gr bullets.
PB was weak to all published loads, and counter to everything I have heard, Red Dot was cleaner. I run through a lot of 9mm, and I don't really like PB for 9mm or 38.
I plan on trying Blue Dot for my 9mm AR, hopefully the slow burn will let me get more range at decent pressures.
PB was weak to all published loads, and counter to everything I have heard, Red Dot was cleaner. I run through a lot of 9mm, and I don't really like PB for 9mm or 38.
I plan on trying Blue Dot for my 9mm AR, hopefully the slow burn will let me get more range at decent pressures.
Blue dot is excellent with max 147gr loads. If it isn't running at high pressure it is very dirty and inconsistent. Red dot works well enough with 124-125gr bullets.
Blue Dot is not too slow for 9 in any weight. I have found it very sensitive as to pressure spikes.As others have said of the three Red Dot would be your best choice for 115 & 124/125 grain bullets. I have used Blue Dot with 147 grain loads and would use it for that weight. Be extremely cautious working up the load and you will be good to go.
LiveLife
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+1 on Red Dot for 9mm. 2004 Alliant load data has 9mm Red Dot lead loads - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070
I tested 4.2 gr of Promo with 124 gr Berry's plated RN and 3.8/4.0 with 124 gr Missouri lead RN (SmallBall) on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6480163#post6480163
I now use lower 3.8 gr charge for Missouri 124 gr RN because of the bullet nose shape, the longer bearing surface gets seated deeper in the case and I use shorter 1.080"-1.100" OAL. With more traditional stepped 124 gr RN, I use 4.0 gr charge for 1.125" OAL.
I tested 4.2 gr of Promo with 124 gr Berry's plated RN and 3.8/4.0 with 124 gr Missouri lead RN (SmallBall) on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6480163#post6480163
I now use lower 3.8 gr charge for Missouri 124 gr RN because of the bullet nose shape, the longer bearing surface gets seated deeper in the case and I use shorter 1.080"-1.100" OAL. With more traditional stepped 124 gr RN, I use 4.0 gr charge for 1.125" OAL.
I've use Blue Dot with 147gr bullets based on info from the Speer manual with no problems. A ad dirty maybe but it was fine.
For 147 gr Blue Dot will give you the best performance in velocity. PB would produce higher velocity with 124gr bullets than Red Dot which is very fast and good for medium velcoity target loads, best in 115 gr.
Potatohead
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medic15al
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I load 7 grns of Blue Dot with a 124 FMJ and in my Glock 17 it ave about 1225 fps.
7.8 fills case up to neck and ave about 1255 fps. Book max shows 7.9
7.8 fills case up to neck and ave about 1255 fps. Book max shows 7.9
Bluedot works great in 9mm if you want high velocity. I have since switched to PowerPistol but burned through 2 lbs. of Bluedot first and was quite happy with the results.
SlowFuse
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Good experiences here with blue dot also. I run it with a lead 135 gr RN at 7.0 gr most of the time. Also with a 124 gr precision delta fmj using around 7.6 gr gives very accurate results. Really just depends on if you want to get into developing something with blue dot. Some people really get discouraged with it.
PB last I heard was being discontinued, if you don't have a good supply you may not want to get too attached.
PB last I heard was being discontinued, if you don't have a good supply you may not want to get too attached.
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