doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Low pressure Red Dot data...

From the Alliant web page.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?shotype=&weight=0.875&weightdis=7%2f8&shellid=495&gtypeid=3&gauge=12

Am giving first load a try......wad seems to crush with not very much force, bad thing or the way it is supposed to feel? I am loading it with #7 lead and wad is "crushing" when I seat wad before I add shot.

7/8ths at 1200fps and 6000ish psi sounds like a nice load for lots of old guns...should smell good too:)

I am just a little uncomfortable with the sudden "give" when I try to compress the wad on the powder.

I usually shoot steel in hard shot cups or soft NT stuff on top of cards and fiber....some lead over cards too where appropriate. None of that feels the same when pressing it all down.

Best,
Mark


Just wondering...and trying not to blow my fingers off.....

Best,
Mark

Mark
I'm sorry but I can't make head nor tail of your recipe mate..
Are you messing with us???
Use your fingers for better typing, eh?
call back
Franc

Mark
I got on the Alliant Page, but can't figure the one your talking of
no harm meant
Franc

Mark, I wouldn't worry about 'wad collapse', rather just sticking to the published recipe. If you have a question call Alliant, they will always give you an up front honest answer to your question(s), something that is most refreshing in today's world.

Also, in the FWIW dept. 'Promo', according to Roster in a recently published article & if you look at any recently published chart, is virtually interchangabe w/Red Dot, i.e. same pressues and recommended charge weights, 100%! 'Promo' tends to be a bit denser, so you MUST use an accurate scale to insure correct weight is being thrown. I'd start about two bushing sizes smaller than what is recommended for Red Dot and WEIGH several charges before starting any serious loading & then weigh a few more after each 100 rounds irrespective of everything or anything; probably preaching to the choir here, but it never hurts to advocate erring on the safe side. Let Lou Reed keep the wild side;-) I have found 'Promo' is less expensive than Red Dot and plays the same tune.

Hope the weekend gives you good opportunity to try those loads out, at least on the plate.

What brand of #7 shot are you loading? Just curious.

kind regards, tw

Maybe this is the one?

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?shotype=&weight=0.875&weightdis=7%2f8&shellid=495&gtypeid=3&gauge=12

I think this is the same but because of the websites caution with offering their data the link won't link?

Federal Paper target, 17.5 RedDot, Fed209A, CB0178 wad, 7/8 oz lead shot = 1200fps @ 6020psi ?

Sorry link did not work...that's the one ben-t.

Shot is no longer in container..pretty sure it came from Ballistic Products though.

Thanks,
Mark

That's the lowest pressure Red Dot load I've seen. Hercules always used set a lower limit of 7,000 psi on their loads, reasoning that cold weather would take anything lower out of the pressure range for complete and reliable combustion. I don't believe they were wrong to set that limit.

Jim Legg is a fan of Nitro 100 for low pressure loads and reports good results. I might try that route.

2-Piper says if you can't shoot 7,000 PSI loads in it, just hang it on the wall and I find merit in that recommendation also.

I've shot many, many hundreds of the load ben-t reffers to. My old L.C. Smith is hard to open with any primer except Remingtons, so I'm getting even lower pressures.

Very nice mild load and fits the hull perfectly.

Your wad is crushing because the bottom of the shot cup is in a higher position than it would be if 1 or 1 1/8 ounces were used. Are you using a loader with a spring on the wad ram? If not, you would have to make a minor adjustment on the wad ram to eliminate the crushing. Or you could forget about it since the wad probably returns to its original position when the pressure from the ram is removed. Is the wad you are using a Federal SO clone? A Federal SO is much more stable in the shell than a Winchester or Winchester clone and will resist the crushing. If you use a Federal or Federal clone, better to fine tune the wad ram adjustment.

Note that Alliant has listed very similar 7/8oz loads with various hulls, primers & wads in the "Additional Target Loads" section of their reloaders guides for at least 15 years, probably longer. These loads utilized Bullseye & Red Dot in years past, don't have an up-to-date guide.
Note also the 7K minimum I have basically adopted & have recommended applies to general purpose loads which may be used under varying climatic conditions, especially for cold weather use. While undoubtably all powders are affected to some extent by low temps thos in the "Fast" range are less so. These loads acheive their low pressures by sing a light shot chare at normal vekocities.
I still strongly advise "NOT" to try & acheive still lower pressures by switching to slow burning powders. This was brought home to be by the dramatic failure in the lead shot days, in a duck swamp by a load of 7625 behind 1¼ oz shot at a low pressure. Such use had been highly tooted by none other than Ross Seyfried as a "Damascus" shooters dream come true. Proved to be my "Nightmare"
I would have no problem with using a 7/8oz load with Red Dot for any use this load would be applicable, though my personal preference is if going below an ounce I prefer a smaller gauge.