Red dot/green dot in 410

[dmurdach]

My father has loaded 12 and 20 ga for a while. I bought him the reloaders, some powder, shot and loading book (I dont remember which). I found him a recipe and told him to stick to it. At some point he decided Red dot was a better powder so I found recipes for that and re set it for him. He recently bought a 410 SxS and purchased a reloading set up from a guy who was getting out of reloading. The press was set up for Green Dot and that is what the seller had been reloading his 410 shells with.

Dad doesnt want to change powders so he has decided Red dot "is close enough" to the Green dot and that he would just leave the press as is and load the same volume with Red dot. I have explained many times to him you cant just change things with shotgun reloading. I can not find any recipes with red dot or green dot for 410. I will probably just buy him some powder and just say here use this, but he may or may not listen. I will not use, or allow my son to use, his reloads if he uses red dot without a specific recipe.

My question is does anyone use either of those powders for 410, and what are your opinions on this? (sorry about the long back story!)

 

[Jim Watson]

I would have thought Green Dot unsuitable for .410 at all, much faster burning than anything I have seen listed. Red Dot would be worse.
Double check his load, I think he is considerably overloading that gun, and the previous owner of the press was nuts.

 

[dmurdach]

My thoughts exactly. I reload a lot of metallic cartridges and have for a few years but no shotgun reloading experience. What I know is just what I have read and learned in order to try and keep him safe.

 

[rcmodel]

Hercules, and later Alliant have never ever suggested you could use Green Dot, or Red Dot in the .410.

For years 2400 was the only powder they published loads for.

Recently, they have a couple of new powders they are pushing.

Alliant 410 pwwder is specifically designed for the .410, and they also list a few loads using Power Pro 300-MP.

All are much slower burning then Green Dot or Red Dot.

What he's doing now is abusing the gun, and may lead to a total failure.

rc

 

[dmurdach]

Thanks all, I finally convinced my father to tear down the shells the other guy had reloaded, and not to load any until I could get him some different powder. Going to go with some Lil Gun. I suggested 2400 and the new alliant 410 as well, but he wants to try Lil gun first and I think that should work well.

Dave

 

[TimSr]

Yikes! Red Dot is close enough to Green Dot? and Green Dot is not acceptable!

You probably averted a disaster!

I use Red Dot, Unique, and Blue Dot for 12 gauge. Blue Dot is too slow.

I don't load .410 but just knowing that H110/ W296 are a preferred powder for it tells me all I need to know! I guess if he went in the right direction, and substituted a slower powder it might be less of a disaster. .410 suitable powders tend to double as magnum pistol powders.