LiveLife
Member
When new reloaders/match shooters ask for a powder recommendation, I always mention Winchester 231/Hodgdon HP38 (same powder) as a general purpose, multi-caliber (38 special to 45 ACP) medium recoil powder with a lot of available load data. It is a small flattened ball powder that meters very well and is clean burning powder at moderate to near max load data charges. It has been my designated match powder for the past 15+ years.
Lately, W231 and now HP38 have been hard to find and I have been thinking about a comparable substitute to recommend when W231/HP38 cannot be found. At the recommendations of many on various threads, I considered Alliant Green Dot. It is slower than Bullseye/Promo but a bit faster than W231/HP38 on the burn rate chart.
I recently bought a pound bottle marked "CLEANER BURNING" and has been anxious to range test for 9mm and 40S&W.
Range tests were done with G22/G27 using Lone Wolf barrels (believe it or not, shot groups from G27 are comparable to G22). About 300 rounds were shot. FMJ bullets were shot first, followed by plated bullets and lead bullets last. Since this is my first range test with Green Dot, test loads weren't shot at all distances (7/10/15 yards).
Shooting impressions (All shots were fired off hand using front sight flash rapid fire):
All loads cycled the stock Glock recoil spring slides well and spent cases were ejected behind me and to the right.
9mm average shot groups:
115 FMJ/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 2.5" - Light recoil
125 Plated/3.8 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 1" - 15 yard 2" - Light recoil
125 Plated/4.1 gr - 7 yard 2" - 10 yard 3" - Light recoil
125 Plated/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
125 Lead/3.8 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 1.5" - Moderate recoil
125 Lead/4.1 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
40S&W average shot groups:
180 Lead/3.5 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 3" - 15 yard 4" - Mild recoil
180 Lead/3.8 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 2.5" - Mild recoil
180 Lead/4.1 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 2.5" - 15 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
180 Lead/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 1" - 15 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
9mm 125 Plated/3.8 gr load was very accurate with light recoil (less than many 380 Auto loads). This would make an excellent load for new/female shooter being introduced to 9mm. 9mm 125 Lead/3.8 gr load had moderate recoil than plated light recoil, but was just as accurate if not more accurate at 15 yards.
40S&W 180 Lead loads were consistent and higher charges shot comparable to my W231/HP38 reference match loads.
This initial range test shows a lot of promise. For the next range test, I will be loading 9mm 115 gr with higher charges. I am very happy with 125 gr accuracy and will load more at the same powder charges. 40S&W lead loads were close to my anticipation and will load FMJ/plated loads next.
Even with this preliminary test, I would gladly recommend Green Dot if one could not find W231/HP38. At $98 for 8 lb container (Powder Valley), it is even cheaper than HP38.
Lately, W231 and now HP38 have been hard to find and I have been thinking about a comparable substitute to recommend when W231/HP38 cannot be found. At the recommendations of many on various threads, I considered Alliant Green Dot. It is slower than Bullseye/Promo but a bit faster than W231/HP38 on the burn rate chart.
I recently bought a pound bottle marked "CLEANER BURNING" and has been anxious to range test for 9mm and 40S&W.
Range tests were done with G22/G27 using Lone Wolf barrels (believe it or not, shot groups from G27 are comparable to G22). About 300 rounds were shot. FMJ bullets were shot first, followed by plated bullets and lead bullets last. Since this is my first range test with Green Dot, test loads weren't shot at all distances (7/10/15 yards).
9mm test loads:
115 gr FMJ (Winchester) at 4.4 gr with 1.125" OAL
125 gr Plated (Rainier Ballistics) at 3.8/4.1/4.4 gr with 1.125" OAL
125 gr Lead (Missouri Bullets) at 3.8/4.1 gr with 1.10" OAL
40 S&W test loads:
180 gr Lead (Missouri Bullets) at 3.5/3.8/4.1/4.4 gr with 1.125" OAL
Shooting impressions (All shots were fired off hand using front sight flash rapid fire):
All loads cycled the stock Glock recoil spring slides well and spent cases were ejected behind me and to the right.
9mm average shot groups:
115 FMJ/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 2.5" - Light recoil
125 Plated/3.8 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 1" - 15 yard 2" - Light recoil
125 Plated/4.1 gr - 7 yard 2" - 10 yard 3" - Light recoil
125 Plated/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
125 Lead/3.8 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 1.5" - Moderate recoil
125 Lead/4.1 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
40S&W average shot groups:
180 Lead/3.5 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 3" - 15 yard 4" - Mild recoil
180 Lead/3.8 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 2.5" - Mild recoil
180 Lead/4.1 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 2.5" - 15 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
180 Lead/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 1" - 15 yard 3" - Moderate recoil
9mm 125 Plated/3.8 gr load was very accurate with light recoil (less than many 380 Auto loads). This would make an excellent load for new/female shooter being introduced to 9mm. 9mm 125 Lead/3.8 gr load had moderate recoil than plated light recoil, but was just as accurate if not more accurate at 15 yards.
40S&W 180 Lead loads were consistent and higher charges shot comparable to my W231/HP38 reference match loads.
This initial range test shows a lot of promise. For the next range test, I will be loading 9mm 115 gr with higher charges. I am very happy with 125 gr accuracy and will load more at the same powder charges. 40S&W lead loads were close to my anticipation and will load FMJ/plated loads next.
Even with this preliminary test, I would gladly recommend Green Dot if one could not find W231/HP38. At $98 for 8 lb container (Powder Valley), it is even cheaper than HP38.