hand loading with Green Dot

[texas tom]

Hi to all.
I am a new member here and this is my first post
I have come into possession of a quantity of Green dot powder, and am a long time 38 special reloader. I use for the most part 140 gr. cast lead bullets and 125 gr HP's . Question; I am looking for loads using green dot.
Both starting and maximum charges for my M-10. My wife also shoots but like the light stuff for paper punching in her model 60.
Any help?

thanks from texas tom 30 years a "SMITH" fan.

[NiklasP]

Like you, I have a large and constant supply of Green Dot, which I have used for many years for light to standard velocity loads in 45 Colt, 44-40, 12 and 16 gauges, light cast bullet loads in rifles like 8X58RD, etc.

When I bought a 5 inch-barreled M60 in 357 mag I tried Green Dot with Remington 148 grain HBWC and Speer and Remington 158 grain SWC in 38 Spl cases and was and am quite pleased with results. These are soft alloy or pure Pb bullets. HOWEVER, I had to exceed loads given by Alliant in order to get non-leading reloads that gave velocities listed by Alliant. Once I had velocities up to almost 800 fps for the HBWC and closer to 900 fps for 158 grain SWC, leading nearly totally ceased for at least a few 100 rounds, powder burns rather cleanly, nice groups, etc. in this S&W M60.

When final loads for M60 were shot in Ruger Blackhawk 357 mag with 6,5 inch barrel, velocities were distinctly higher and groups even better than for S&W M60. There has been consistanty higher velocities from this Ruger than from M60, more than 1,5 inches of barrel would indicate. For example, a 1200 fps 158 grain LSWCHP gas check bullet load with Blue Dot gives 1400 fps from this Ruger. Neither show any pressure indications, fired cases drop easily from clean chambers.

Expect to hear reports of poor performance with Green Dot in 38 Spl. I too got poor performance till I increased powder charge to that needed to properly expand even these soft bullets.

Niklas

[Erich]

Jessie (NKJNut) likes Green Dot for wadcutter target loads, and I've found it works okay for that, though I use more powder than he and try for around 800 fps, myself. Do not use Speer # 8 data for this powder, lest you plate your bore with lead - I've never seen quality hardcasts melt in a bore the way they do with higher-pressure Green Dot loads.

[kcwheel]

We have used Aliant's maximum load under Winchester 125 grain hollow points in 38 Special for several years. It is our general purpose load for both short and long barrels and for most purposes.

[texas tom]

thanks for the information

[Paul5388]

I have finally used up about all of the Green Dot I had left over from the 1970s. Somewhere around 3.5 gr is what I normally shot with a lead bullet in .38 Special. It even worked decently with shot capsules.

It meters OK for shotgun use, but could meter better for handgun applications.

[OKFC05]

My wife also shoots but like the light stuff for paper punching

Green Dot is about the worst powder I ever tried (have tried a bunch)for light .38 loads. Suggest Bullseye or HP38, which have been the standard for light .38 loads for decades.

[texas tom]

Thanks, I have uses bullseye for years but a friend gave me several pounds of green dot. hate to waste it.

[TSQUARED]

The printed Alliant 2005 reloading guide had a lot of loads for Green Dot. If you cannot locate one PM me and I'll sed you the page for the 38 Special loads from that manual.

Originally Posted by texas tom

Hi to all.
I am a new member here and this is my first post
I have come into possession of a quantity of Green dot powder, and am a long time 38 special reloader. I use for the most part 140 gr. cast lead bullets and 125 gr HP's . Question; I am looking for loads using green dot.
Both starting and maximum charges for my M-10. My wife also shoots but like the light stuff for paper punching in her model 60.
Any help?

thanks from texas tom 30 years a "SMITH" fan.

[Tell Sackett]

One fellow I know uses it for 9mm loads. I bought a pound of it, oh, several years ago, still have it too. About 99.9% of it anyway!

[btruman]

I've never used it but have a neighbor that swears by Green Dot and a 200gr SWC for .45ACP target loads.