Reloading 45 LC with Red Dot

[Dane R. Marley]

I have a S&W Mountain Pistol that I bought new in the 90s. I have never fired it. I have dies, cases, some primers, and bullets for it. I also have 3 pounds of left over Red Dot from my Shotgun Reloading days. I do have both Lead and 3/4" Jacked Bullets for the 45 LC.


Does anyone have any experiences reloading 45 LC with Red Dot?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Yep red dot works. I prefer unique though for 45 colt and 44 mag.

 

[Ifishsum]

Yes, and it works fine. I think I've only ever loaded cast bullets for the .45C but no reason it wouldn't work for either.

 

[BC17A]

I haven't used Red Dot yet, but it's on my list of 45LC testing. One thing I found with fast powders that don't take up much case volume is to use felt wads for more consistency. Though not required, my testing showed a notable increase in accuracy, along with a significant decrease in ES/SD when using a wad with Green Dot, AA#2 and Clays so Red Dot would probably benefit also.

 

[black mamba]

My standard load for years was 6.0 gr of Red Dot under a 255 gr SWC, for about 825 fps. Nicely accurate in several different revolvers.

 

[Dane R. Marley]

Thanks!

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I’ve had good results with Red Dot under lead bullets for cowboy action shooting. I worked up a .45 Colt recipe with 5.1 grains of Red Dot with a 200 grain bullet. I was trying to get it just over 750 FPS from a rifle to satisfy Wild Bunch power factor. Average was 793 which I called good enough.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My best was with 7.0 gr Red Dot pushing a 255 LSWC.

 

[35 Whelen]

700-X and Red Dot are my two go-to powders for a utility load in the 45 Colt. I use 6.5 grs. of Red Dot with any 250-255 gr. bullet and accuracy is always good.



35W

 

[mavracer]

It'll shoot well but be very careful it's hard to see a double charge of the small charge in the cavernous case.
That's how a acquaintance destroyed a Smith M29.

 

[gotboostvr]

I haven't used Red Dot yet, but it's on my list of 45LC testing. One thing I found with fast powders that don't take up much case volume is to use felt wads for more consistency. Though not required, my testing showed a notable increase in accuracy, along with a significant decrease in ES/SD when using a wad with Green Dot, AA#2 and Clays so Red Dot would probably benefit also.

I don't personally have the chrono data to support it, but I've always been under the impression that Reddot isn't very position sensitive.

Seeing how popular it is for light cast bullet rifle loads, with charges of 9-10gr in 30-06 class cases I'd think being position sensitive would rule it out for that purpose.

 

[Charlie98]

I prefer Unique in the .45 Colt, but I've used RedDot with good results.

 

[IHmagnum]

700-X and Red Dot are my two go-to powders for a utility load in the 45 Colt. I use 6.5 grs. of Red Dot with any 250-255 gr. bullet and accuracy is always good.

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35W

I could have written this myself! I know many guys aren't fond of 700X but it works well in a lot of things for me. Red Dot as well.

 

[BBarn]

Have used Red Dot under a 230gr plated bullet in the 45 Colt. Would not hesitate to use it again.

 

[Dane R. Marley]

700-X and Red Dot are my two go-to powders for a utility load in the 45 Colt. I use 6.5 grs. of Red Dot with any 250-255 gr. bullet and accuracy is always good.

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35W

Many years ago I used 700-X in my 45 ACP loads. It worked out real well and it was a very clean burning powder.

 

[avan47]

It was a windy day on the range today, but I got to try out that 6.0 gr. of Reddot under a 255 SWC. From my 20 inch rifle barrel it chronographed at 966 fps and an extreme spread of 31 fps and a standard deviation of 14 fps. 50 yd. group was not the best of the day, but my old eyes need to practice using iron sights more. That data is very close to what Lyman has published in their Cast Bullet Handbook.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I too have had pretty good success with Red Dot in .45 Colt.
If I had 3 pounds laying around, I would certainly use it for that round (in addition to shotgun target loads which is where most of my Red Dot goes).

 

[Dane R. Marley]

I too have had pretty good success with Red Dot in .45 Colt.
If I had 3 pounds laying around, I would certainly use it for that round (in addition to shotgun target loads which is where most of my Red Dot goes).

That is why I have 3lbs of Red Dot ,I used to reload 12 ga Shotshells.

 

[Lafitte]

I use Red Dot in .45 Colt with 5 gr. driving a 200 gr. LFP bullet. Works great in rifle and pistol.
Lafitte