OrangePwrx9
Member
Wondering if anyone is using these powders in 9mm or 40. Expect to be using mostly plated bullets but some jacketed. I have some old Red Dot numbers for the 9mm from Speer #9, but nothing for the 40.
Red Dot/Promo in 9mm and 40S&W??
- Thread starter OrangePwrx9
- Start date
- Status
LiveLife
Member
Disclaimer: Following post lists loads not currently published by Alliant - Use them at your own risk.
I use Red Dot and Promo for 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP.
They are not the same powder as same volume charge will weigh differently and Alliant recommends we use Promo using Red Dot load data by weight only - http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/promo.aspx
I referenced 2004 Alliant load data when developing my loads which lists lead/jacketed loads for 9mm/40S&W (referenced lead load data for plated bullets) - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070
For my pistols, 3.8-4.0 gr works well with 115/124 gr 9mm bullets, 4.0 gr works well with 180 gr 40S&W bullets and 4.0 gr works well with 200 gr 45ACP bullets. Red Dot/Promo is my current plinking/general range practice load powder for 9mm and 45ACP (for 40S&W, I use W231/HP-38 which produces milder recoil target loads). 9mm & 40S&W Promo load development and range test on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518185&page=2
45ACP Promo load development/range test on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=578444
I am also testing Red Dot/Promo for carbine loads on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10193946#post10193946
Since Red Dot/Promo are fast burning powders, they will produce snappier recoil in 40S&W but using lower charges that are still accurate will produce more milder/moderate recoil loads. For 40S&W, I prefer slower burn rate powders (Slower than Green Dot/W231/HP-38 which produce lighter recoil/lower pressure loads) and Herco/BE-86 are my current favorites and have produced very accurate loads. 40S&W load development with Herco - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=743416
40S&W load development with BE-86 - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9645513#post9645513
I use Red Dot and Promo for 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP.
They are not the same powder as same volume charge will weigh differently and Alliant recommends we use Promo using Red Dot load data by weight only - http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/promo.aspx
I referenced 2004 Alliant load data when developing my loads which lists lead/jacketed loads for 9mm/40S&W (referenced lead load data for plated bullets) - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070
For my pistols, 3.8-4.0 gr works well with 115/124 gr 9mm bullets, 4.0 gr works well with 180 gr 40S&W bullets and 4.0 gr works well with 200 gr 45ACP bullets. Red Dot/Promo is my current plinking/general range practice load powder for 9mm and 45ACP (for 40S&W, I use W231/HP-38 which produces milder recoil target loads). 9mm & 40S&W Promo load development and range test on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518185&page=2
45ACP Promo load development/range test on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=578444
I am also testing Red Dot/Promo for carbine loads on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10193946#post10193946
Since Red Dot/Promo are fast burning powders, they will produce snappier recoil in 40S&W but using lower charges that are still accurate will produce more milder/moderate recoil loads. For 40S&W, I prefer slower burn rate powders (Slower than Green Dot/W231/HP-38 which produce lighter recoil/lower pressure loads) and Herco/BE-86 are my current favorites and have produced very accurate loads. 40S&W load development with Herco - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=743416
40S&W load development with BE-86 - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9645513#post9645513
Last edited:
1KPerDay
Member
I use it for lead in both calibers. Works fine.
Wreck-n-Crew
Member
I dont load 40 currently and have never used Red Dot for 40 so i am not able to help there.
However i currently use Red Dot for 9mm and have for some time. I get my data from lyman 49th and older published data from Alliant 2008.
I also use it for light 10mm loads. Actually burns much cleaner in it than it does the 9mm loads.
I currently have around 7lbs left of Red Dot with around 5,000 rounds loaded of 9mm.
Works well enough for me and my issues currently are with the Lee Auto Disk and the adjustable disk. It does not work well so i use the regular disk.
However i currently use Red Dot for 9mm and have for some time. I get my data from lyman 49th and older published data from Alliant 2008.
I also use it for light 10mm loads. Actually burns much cleaner in it than it does the 9mm loads.
I currently have around 7lbs left of Red Dot with around 5,000 rounds loaded of 9mm.
Works well enough for me and my issues currently are with the Lee Auto Disk and the adjustable disk. It does not work well so i use the regular disk.
OrangePwrx9
Member
That post was invaluable, bds. Thanks very much for taking the time to put it together.
I have a fair amount of Red Dot & Promo and would like to use that in place of the scarcer Unique and Bullseye.
I have a fair amount of Red Dot & Promo and would like to use that in place of the scarcer Unique and Bullseye.
Sticking strictly to Red Dot/Promo:
They are great target loads for 40 S&W. My favorite load is 4.0g under a cast and powder coated lee 410-175-TC which weighs in a 180g. The bullets are seated to where the cone touches the rim (1.100" COL).
I get low to mid 900 fps out of a 4.25" M&P 40 with extremely low single digit std. dev. and very consistent POI at 10 yards. This produces a mild 26,000 psi (Quickload estimate) so it's not rough on the brass or chamber but the pressure is high enough that Red Dot burns very cleanly and completely.
I've tried as much as 4.0g Red Dot in 9mm with both the Lee 356-120-TC and TL356-124-2R seated long (1.135" with the TC and 1.169 for the 2R). I get 1100 fps out of each and good burn, but these are max pressure loads and I have better powders for medium speed 9mm rounds. I need 1100 fps out of these bullets to get good cycling and ejection of cases from my guns (M&P fullsize and Beretta 92FS, lower velocities are fine with my Shield).
The reason I've done so much testing with Red Dot is that I buy it by the 8# jugs for shotgun loading and using a half pound here and there for fun does not make much of a dent in the stash.
While Red Dot does not give maximum velocity in 40 S&W, it is an excellent powder for medium speed loads and gives very consistent velocities which should lead to taking the load out of the accuracy equation.
I also have to thank bds for all the valuable information he's posted on Promo. I learned a lot from them.
They are great target loads for 40 S&W. My favorite load is 4.0g under a cast and powder coated lee 410-175-TC which weighs in a 180g. The bullets are seated to where the cone touches the rim (1.100" COL).
I get low to mid 900 fps out of a 4.25" M&P 40 with extremely low single digit std. dev. and very consistent POI at 10 yards. This produces a mild 26,000 psi (Quickload estimate) so it's not rough on the brass or chamber but the pressure is high enough that Red Dot burns very cleanly and completely.
I've tried as much as 4.0g Red Dot in 9mm with both the Lee 356-120-TC and TL356-124-2R seated long (1.135" with the TC and 1.169 for the 2R). I get 1100 fps out of each and good burn, but these are max pressure loads and I have better powders for medium speed 9mm rounds. I need 1100 fps out of these bullets to get good cycling and ejection of cases from my guns (M&P fullsize and Beretta 92FS, lower velocities are fine with my Shield).
The reason I've done so much testing with Red Dot is that I buy it by the 8# jugs for shotgun loading and using a half pound here and there for fun does not make much of a dent in the stash.
While Red Dot does not give maximum velocity in 40 S&W, it is an excellent powder for medium speed loads and gives very consistent velocities which should lead to taking the load out of the accuracy equation.
I also have to thank bds for all the valuable information he's posted on Promo. I learned a lot from them.
Wreck-n-Crew
Member
I cast the same bullet Lee 120gr TC but ive found they drop out at 123-124 gr. Guess its the mixture but diameter runs .356-.356.5. Not bad.
I run those anymore with 3.9-4.0 gr of Red Dot. But I don't know the velocity at that weight. I did chronograph them at 4.1gr and shared the data but i cant remember off the top of my head what they were doing either. I used a 4.5" barrel.
I'm like you RD is a low to mid velocity 9mm load. Accurate enough and a little dirty. But it cleans up easy and the residue is fine, not coarse and sticky FME.
I run those anymore with 3.9-4.0 gr of Red Dot. But I don't know the velocity at that weight. I did chronograph them at 4.1gr and shared the data but i cant remember off the top of my head what they were doing either. I used a 4.5" barrel.
I'm like you RD is a low to mid velocity 9mm load. Accurate enough and a little dirty. But it cleans up easy and the residue is fine, not coarse and sticky FME.
Average Joe
Member
Yep, I use it in 9mm, ,38 spl, and .357 mag ( light loads in .357) works for me.
redbullitt
Member
I use it in 9mm, 45 ACP, 38 special, and in quite a few rifle cartridges with cast bullets (the load and similar).
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
Use promo for both and 45acp as well.
mstreddy
Member
Another satisfied Promo user. Thanks to BDS' info on the matter, I've been loading 9MM, 380 and some 38 SPcl.
Jurist
Member
RED DOT Powder
Email Alliant and they will send you a pamphlet with their powder data.
Email Alliant and they will send you a pamphlet with their powder data.
- Status
