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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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Does anybody know about the max powder
load for a 44 special and a 200 grain lead
cast bullet using Green Dot. Also what is
the max load for a 240 grain bullet in a
44 Mag cuz right now I am using a 9.6
Green Dot powder with no problems.
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richhodg66 Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 4:03pm | IP Logged
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It burns a hair slower than Bullseye and a hair faster than Red Dot. I'd have to go out to the barn to look at load data, I'm sure my older Lyman manuals will have Green Dot data.
That 9.6 grains sounds like a pretty healthy load, where did you reference that data from? Without looking, I'm guessing the .44 Special will max out with somewhere around 5.5 grains of Green Dot even with that light bullet.
Green Dot ought to be a good powder in the .44 Special but you need something slower for optimum performance in top end loads in the .44 Magnum. I'd find some 2400 if I were looking to get full house loads with good accuracy from the magnum.
__________________ "The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage."
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richhodg66 Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 4:43pm | IP Logged
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I just checked a 1973 Lyman manual. They have Green Dot data for 180 and 215 grain cast bullets.
For the 180 grain, it has a starting load of 4.5 grains for 620 FPS and a max load of 7.5 for 1015 FPS.
For the 215 grain bullet, starting load is also 4.5 for 620 FPS and max is 6.5 for 900 FPS.
Obviously, for a 200 grain bullet, your max is going to be between those two. Bullet design can make a significant difference in pressures, though, so approach with caution.
Their test gun was a Ruger Super Blackhawk which is a hell for stout handgun. If you're shooting .44 Special in an old Colt or S&W, you should go with the starting loads and work up carefully.
__________________ "The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage."
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
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Okay I am shooting my 44 mag and 44
special out of a Winchester 94ae 44 Mag
lever action rifle. So what you're saying
is if I shoot my 200 grain in my 44
special should be 6 grains maxed out is
that correct? And for right now the only
thing I I got a screen. About 25 lb of it
I can't afford to buy anymore powders
right now so I'll stick what I've got
sides I was looking for a powder to do all
shotgun pistol and now my rifle
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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And actually I got my data for 44 mag was
from this website how is using the jacket
load 240 grain bullet
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richhodg66 Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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Because you're between 180 and 215 grains, I'd guess max would be about 7 grains. Seriously, start low and work up. Fast powders in big cases have the potential for trouble.
__________________ "The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage."
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 5:16pm | IP Logged
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Okay that makes sense so I'll probably on
the safe side stay probably at 6 grains is
the max
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Rex Senior Member
     
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Posted: July 13 2017 at 5:19pm | IP Logged
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I can't find a Green Dot load in any of my manuals. Think I'd call Alliant and visit with them.
P.S.
Welcome to the forum.
Edited by Rex on July 13 2017 at 5:20pm
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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I have called Alliant on find 44 mag and
44 special and they really don't have much
and also they can't even go back as far as
their old records They even come up with m
loads they've done basically disappeared.
I think Reliant has basically want Best
Buy other powders and forget about powders
like green dot Just use it for shotgun
powder
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richhodg66 Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 5:29pm | IP Logged
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I actually have a pound of Green Dot a co-worker who got out of skeet gave me. I've heard real good things about it in .38 Special and intended to try it someday.
Andy, I don't know how new you are to handloading, so forgive me if this comes across as talking down to you but you can usually substitute a couple of things and be safe;
You can use data for a faster powder using the same bullet. For example, if you had just used Bullseye data for that bullet weight with your Green Dot, you would have been safe, just probably would not have reached full velocities.
You can also use data for a heavier bullet and be safe. Since I found data for a 215 grain bullet with Green Dot, that same data would be safe with the lighter bullet because pressures would be lower, but, again, you probably wouldn't reach the full potential of the round doing that.
Sometimes those rough formulas can be useful when you have limited data. I can't stress enough though, you shouldn't start off with max loads. Always start low and work up.
__________________ "The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage."
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 5:32pm | IP Logged
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Okay I understand that all right I'll
think I might just stick to the 5 grains
of Green Dot 44 special and I have got
going right now seems to be okay yes it's
probably a little low but safe better than
sorry. Just wondering did you find any
loads for 300 grain for the 44 Mag I have
a bullet I want to try out that I cast
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JD45 Senior Member
 

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 7:33pm | IP Logged
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Green Dot is slower Than Red Dot! By a decent bit.
Their website used to have plenty of data. I'll have to look in my old free Alliant data books.
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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I have looked and called Alliant on the
loads they don't have much. They said they
have lost most of the green dot loads over
the years they said. They tell me look at
old Lyman cast bullets books.
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Ham Gunner Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 8:30pm | IP Logged
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I found limited data from my collection of manuals. I did have an old 1996 Alliant manual that had some loads that you could likely use for comparison to your bullets if using caution. Green Dot is just not one of the most recommended powders for these cartridges, but it will certainly work if accuracy is there.
I would use regular large pistol primers.
Green Dot - .44 Special
180gr. JHC 6.7gr. 925 fps. 12,400 cup. pressure
246gr. LRN 5.0gr. 785 fps. 11,900 cup. pressure
Green Dot - .44 Magnum
240gr. L/gc 9.5 gr. 1,170 fps. 34,800 psi pressure
300gr. HP/XTP 6.9 gr. 865 fps. 35,000 psi pressure
Edited by Ham Gunner on July 13 2017 at 8:45pm
__________________ 73 de n0ubx Rick - NRA BENEFACTOR LIFE MEMBER/VFW LIFE MEMBER - A government big enough to GIVE you
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richhodg66 Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 8:32pm | IP Logged
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Good advice. I have a fairly recent Lyman shotshell manual and there is not even Green Dot data for shotgun loads anymore it seems.
I never pass by a reloading manual if I can get it cheap. Oftentimes, they have data for powders which haven't been made for years and data for cartridges that new ones don't. My older Lyman manuals have data for the .303 Savage and .351 Winchester Self Loading which I shoot both of and most new manuals have no data.
__________________ "The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage."
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
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If I just get ahold of old Lyman cast
bullets book just to see loads there
for.44 mag and.44 Special in the year of
1973 or earlier
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all for your help. I didn't
realize how much loads disappear over the
years just because new powders keep coming
up and the older cars disappear make a mob
sleep to me doesn't make sense sometimes
the old powders are better than the newer
stuff.
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Ham Gunner Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 8:51pm | IP Logged
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I edited my post so before using any of the data check it again. I transposed a couple of numbers and corrected.
I had some older Lyman manuals 1950's and 60's and there was not any data for Green Dot. Perhaps they might have some in the 70's or so. I am not sure when that powder was introduced.
Edited by Ham Gunner on July 13 2017 at 8:53pm
__________________ 73 de n0ubx Rick - NRA BENEFACTOR LIFE MEMBER/VFW LIFE MEMBER - A government big enough to GIVE you
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AndyFirefighter Newcomer

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Posted: July 13 2017 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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I think it was the 70 s or very late 68 it
was introduced
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richhodg66 Senior Member
     

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Posted: July 14 2017 at 4:23am | IP Logged
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It just occurred to me that you're shooting both magnum and specials in the same rifle. Looks like you're wanting to have a powerful load and a plinking/practice load which is a very good plan.
There's no reason you can't load that .44 Special data into .44 Magnum cases and simplify things for yourself unless you just want to make it immediately apparent which loads you're using. The larger case of the magnums will make pressures lower, so the .44 Special data would be absolutely safe.
You have me wanting to give Green Dot a try in the .44 Special. I have quite a few of that Lyman 215 grain bullet cast up, I might try this in the next day or so.
__________________ "The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage."
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