Red dot or green dot
 

For loading low pressure 1 oz loads, what is the preferred powder? I have access to both. Will be using AA hulls and federal papers. I've loaded for years for standard 1250- 1300 sporting loads, but I'm new to the low pressure game and wanted to know what the "go to" powder of choice was for a damascus parker (1150-1200fps). For what it's worth, the gun has been checked out by a reputable gunsmith and given a clean bill of health.

For starters, I've never loaded shells 1250-1300 for sporting. I keep my 12g at or under 1200 fps. No need for faster. Never used Red Dot so can't help you there. I have used Green Dot for some sub-gauge loads. Try Clay Dot for 12g, it's almost like Hodgdon Clays which is an excellent 12g powder. I'm around 16g for 7/8 oz practice loads.

Never used Red Dot in the 12 but have used it a bit for 1 1/8 in the 10 gauge . And 18.6 of Red Dot in a 12 using AA hull and CB AA wad was a light target load even at 1 1/8 ounce of shot . I have a good supply of Green Dot 1 1/8 ounce 12 gauge loads stacked up and have been fiddling with ounce and ounce and an eighth 10 gauge loads going with the powder charges in the book for 12 gauge loads . In the Alliant book all these loads are under 9000 in a 12 so stands to reason in a 10 gauge there should be slightly less pressure .

Use modest charges of Red Dot. Green Dot is a tad slow burning for a low velocity 1 ounce or 7/8 ounce 12 gauge load. Look in the book.

I looked at red dot in the books and it looked as though it offered several lower pressure loads. I just thought I would check and see if anyone else used it for damascus loads that would recommend it or something else before I bought a jug of it.

I believe there were some very good looking tested green dot loads for 12 ga 1 oz in recent memory. I think from Andy but I am not sure. Also as its been said, the new green lid gd may not be the same as the old recipe would have you believe.

John,
I have never used Green Dot. For a number of years I loaded 17grains of Clay Dot. Great low pressure low recoil load. When it was hard to find powder a while back, I came across an 8lb. jug of Red Dot. I loaded the same 17grains and did not notice much of a difference in the recoil. Never had that load measured for pressure, I just went by the reloading charts on line. According to those charts, the pressure with the Red Dot was a bit higher, but not that much to worry about. One thing for sure, Clay Dot is definitely a lot cleaner than Red Dot.

I have found this to be a great loading with Red Dot (or Promo). Low pressure, low recoil, good patterns and effective for most situations on clay birds. Stretches a bag of shot compared to a 1 ounce load.

I use JB’s Red Dot load exactly as above. From the empty 8 pound jugs I use as door stops have loaded 32 pounds of it and working on a fresh 8 pounder now. My Green Dot jug sits almost unused.

William

I load light charges of Red Dot for all of my Damascus 12 gauge guns. I load 1 ounce or 7/8 ounce in 2 3/4" shells and 7/8 ounce in 2 1/2" shells.