green dot

[straitnate14]

I just bought a S&W model 10 the other day and I'm starting to try and make some loads for it. I will be loading 158gr lswc's down the road when they get here but for now I'm loading some 158 gr hornady fp/xtp's. Anyone ever load this round with green dot? I got a bunch of it that I use for shotgun and 45 but no experience with this 38 and I cant find and data for using 158 gr JHP's with green dot

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Green Dot is just fine for loading .38 Special ammo. It's burn rate is a lot like W231 and the charge weights are also similar. You will do fine with Green Dot in the .38 Special...

 

[GCBurner]

Alliant doesn't recomend Green Dot for the .38 Special, apparently. My Lee charge table lists a starting load of Green Dot with 158 gr. bullets of 3.2 grains, and a MAX of 3.5 grains.

 

[straitnate14]

I was going to start with that but these are jacketed bullets? I have never loaded jacketed bullets in a pistol before

 

[GCBurner]

I was going to start with that but these are jacketed bullets? I have never loaded jacketed bullets in a pistol before

The Lee charge tables are pretty conservative, and just list bullet weight, not bullet type. A moderate load like that should be fine for either lead or jacketed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Alliant doesn't recomend Green Dot for the .38 Special, apparently. My Lee charge table lists a starting load of Green Dot with 158 gr. bullets of 3.2 grains, and a MAX of 3.5 grains.

Other than Red Dot Alliant doesn't recommend their "Dot" powders much for pistols any more. They focus your attention on the "real" pistol powders and Unique. Most of their data focuses on Bullseye, Unique, American select and Power Pistol.

Like I said above, Green Dot is A LOT like W231 in many ways including burn rate. It is a good powder for .38 Special ammo. Anything you can load with W231/HP-38 can be loaded with Green Dot.