red dot vs unique in .357mag

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sterno

New member
I currently use Unique for my .357mag target loads and was considering using Red Dot. What differences might I expect?

I currently shoot 5gr of Unique behind a 158LRN out of a Ruger GP-100 with a 6" barrel.
 
S

Scorch

New member
I load 7.7 gr of Unique behind 158 gr JFP for all-around plinking, and 8.2 gr behind a 158 JHP for hotrodding. I have tried Red Dot but do not think much of it. It works well in hot loads, but does not perform as well as Unique with milder loads. I now use Blue Dot for super-hot max loads in 357 and 44 Mag, and it works very well.
 
W

WCW

New member
With light target loads in my .357 mag. I’ve had the best accuracy with Win 231. I find that Unique burns a lot dirtier too. Another thing I don’t like about unique is that it doesn’t meter through a powder measure anywhere near as consistently as 231, and it’s just not as accurate in my gun either. I haven’t had great success with red dot either, but I’ve only tried a few different loads with it.
 
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gandog56

New member
Red Dot and Unique are flake powders, and some powder measures surely don't like them. I can make some decent loads if I use my Pact High Speed Dispenser and Digital Scale. But it slows down my reloading immensely. I prefer ball type powders with my Lee Auto-Disk.
 
J

joneb

New member
Red Dot and Unique are flake powders, and some powder measures surely don't like them.
Click to expand...
Ditto that, I have a Redding mod. 3 with a micro pistol meter and it will not meter large flakes or donuts(Trail Boss) well :( I have better results with ball powders, like Accurate and Winchester. I wish Redding would offer a medium charge meter for the mod. 3 ;)

sterno, I have not tried Red Dot, but I have had good results with Bullseye and 158gr LRNFP in .357 mag. with WSP, and AA#5 works well with plated bullets for me with WSP with good accuracy in my 4" Colt Trooper (these are light loads 8.2gr for a 140gr bullet)

Sorry if this was " No help what so ever " :)
 
T

Taxidermist

New member
I use 6.1 gr. of red dot with 140gr jhp in my cattleman for years and I have always liked the load. I guess everybody has a favorite load. Use what works best for you.

John
 
A

amamnn

New member
I 've used both and recently changed to Lil Gun for all my magnum loads. The load density/pressure/velocity numbers on Hodgon's site looked very good and the loads I have chrono'd are very close to their claims.

http://www.hodgdon.com/
 
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joneb

New member
I have some older Hodgdon data 2002 stuff, there test barrel length is 10" whats up with that :confused: Are these guys trying to make there powder look better by using a 10" non vented test barrel :mad: give me a break.
 
S

Scorch

New member
Stargazer and jibjab-
Exactly! Now you know why people with chronographs laugh at loading manual velocities.
 
R

Redneck with a 40

New member
I'm currently loading 7 grains of Unique behind a 158 grain Rainier FP and according to my chrono, I am getting 1030-1078fps, out of my Taurus Tracker 4" barrel. This is a great target load, mild report, accurate, and Unique is burning clean in my gun.

I chrono'd some hot 357 loads last week, 158 grain JSP with 16.6 grains of 296. Advertised velocity is 1610 fps. According to my chrono, I got 1277 fps. Its nowhere near advertised velocity. My 125 grain JSP's with 9.6 grains of Unique, advertised velocity is 1585fps, I got 1350-1400 fps. These are loads as listed in my Lee Modern Reloading second edition.
 
C

cheygriz

New member
For "target loads" to shoot in a .357, try 148 HBWC, 2.8 Bullseye and .38 special cases.

Load your .357 cases with H110 at near max.
 
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