38spl red dot reload
what is a good amount of red dot powder to use for 38spl to achieve a potent load but not a hot one. i am currently using 4 grains. how high can it go?
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sorry, 158 swc bullets 0 -
I see no answers ... so I will give you one.
How high CAN you go. You can go until you see signs of excessive pressure, then back off....unless it is too late...BAAAANNGG...osht.
Not a wise approach, but I have seen people do it.
How high SHOULD you go. Certainly no higher than loading guides, or excess pressure - whichever occurs first. You can only push an 'all lead' bullet so hard anyway, then you start leaving portions of it in the bore and in the air. Low volume / fast burn powders are easy to load too hot ("it's only a little more powder").
If you need/want more heat...get more gun. 44 mag might do it for you.0 -
Hi Gunguy30_06,
Red Dot is fast burning pistol powder and is also used in some shotgun shells.
For the most current load data please use the following link:
www.alliantpowder.com
According to what little I know your 4.0 grain load already exceeds Alliant's Load Manual data for a .38SPL+P. I would not go any higher. I have had experience using Red Dot for .38 and .357 pistol loads and it is a fast and sensitive powder. Sensitive in the sense that a small (and I do mean small!) incremental increase in the charge weight will result in significantly rising pressure.
My advice is stop where you are. Increasing the charge weight beyond the Alliant published load data is not a good idea. As little as .1 of a grain increase with Red Dot can make a big difference. SWC bullets pushed too fast will result in gas cutting of the bullet, severe leading of the bore, and horrible accuracy, so there really is no sense in going any further. More importantly, depending upon the type of gun, temperature, primer type, and bore diameter, you could be in for a bad accident.
Please be safe and don't let that happen.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]0 -
Many things determine the best handload. What it is used for, the caliber, the bullet weight, the type of pistol or rifle, barrel length, durability requirements of the gun and brass, accuracy needed, just to mention the most obvious. Red dot is listed as the 4th fastest burning powder on the Hodgdon burn chart. Great for a 2 inch barrel, but if you have a longer barrel than that you need a slower powder. 4-6 inch barrels like green dot, unique, Winchester 231, and other similar powders. Very fast powders don't work the best with lead bullets, because the velocity is obtained too quickly. This leads to stripping of the bullet on the rifling. Slower powders get the bullet going at a more even rate. Don't exceed maximum loads by too much, or you might lose body parts you need. Heavyiron knows what he is talking about. 0 -
wow i just learned alot right there. I'm now not sure if i want to shoot those hot loads. but i am shooting them out of a 357. don't ask me why am going so hot on a 38 why i can shoot 357. as soon as i get more 357 brass i will shoot it alot more. but now i am having second thought about shooting those 100 rds i loaded. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by haroldchrismeyer
Many things determine the best handload. What it is used for, the caliber, the bullet weight, the type of pistol or rifle, barrel length, durability requirements of the gun and brass, accuracy needed, just to mention the most obvious. Red dot is listed as the 4th fastest burning powder on the Hodgdon burn chart. Great for a 2 inch barrel, but if you have a longer barrel than that you need a slower powder. 4-6 inch barrels like green dot, unique, Winchester 231, and other similar powders. Very fast powders don't work the best with lead bullets, because the velocity is obtained too quickly. This leads to stripping of the bullet on the rifling. Slower powders get the bullet going at a more even rate. Don't exceed maximum loads by too much, or you might lose body parts you need. Heavyiron knows what he is talking about.
Well, that makes sense.... so how come light loads of red dot work so well for cast bullet rifle loads but a case full of 4350 that works well with a jacketed bullet just sprays them everywhere???
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
I read on alliants web site that 3.1 is the max regular load and 3.2 is the +p load. The roads worked fine but left my gun extreamly dirty on the outside, but i value my appendages so i think i won't shoot them. i came up with the 4 gr load becuase i read that someone used 4.2 gr. but know i realized that he was using a snub. i don't think that i will shoot these rounds out of my 6in barrel. 0 -
Are you using .38 spl brass or .357 mag brass?
[:(]
When a worm wants to relax,does he go fishing?
ATF,Eagle Guns0
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