Red Dot and Bullseye Loads - 45 ACP Acme 230 gr RN (coated)

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Last Post 06 November 2025

Standard Member

Hi-Speed posted this 04 November 2025

I’ve been using recently 230 gr coated RN bullets from Acme. Their length fall within the GI Ball mil spec. I currently load them using 4.7 grs Titegroup, WLP, 1.260-1265” oal, 835 fps avg. from my 5” Springfield Garrison. Good load but would like to know your experiences using Red Dot and Bullseye with the 230 gr bullet, cast, coated, swaged lead, FMJ. I recall 5.0 grs Bullseye with 230 gr FMJ was the duplicate of the original GI Ball load (WW1 vintage 800 fps +/- 25 fps)

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CBA Member

Larry Gibson posted this 04 November 2025

For more years than I care to remember 5 gr of either Bullseye or Red Dot have been my "standard" 45 ACP load under 195 -235 gr cast bullets or 230 gr FMJs. Hard to go wrong with that load.

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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Hi-Speed posted this 04 November 2025

Thank you Larry, hope all is well

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CBA Member

Ed Harris posted this 05 November 2025

+1 on what Larry said. You can also use 700X in the same amount.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Hi-Speed posted this 05 November 2025

Thank you Ed, hope all is well with you

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oscarflytyer posted this 06 November 2025

cause I gotta be THAT guy... and - I also have a lot of Promo (which is supposed to be sameseeze as Red Dot by weight - (least in the shotgun world)...

Has anyone tried the same 5.0 gr of Promo in the 45 ACP/200-230 grn?

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JBinMN posted this 06 November 2025

RD/Promo works the same, as far as I am concerned..

After doing a ladder/run up with RD, I opened up an 8 pounder of Promo to try it out & I downsized to 4.6 gr. Promo & worked back up.

I found that 4.8 or so grains of Promo hit a "sweet spot' for the 8 pound lot I purchased, when the Red Dot I had used before was hitting a similar "sweet spot" in the same handgun around 4.9 grs..
Just in the 45ACP 1911 5" I was using at the time.

Have not done any testing other than that since then, in any firearm purchased since that time, (2 more 1911 45ACP handguns, a Glock G41 Gen 4 & a 45ACP carbine I have shot using those same loads since then,( <and all did right fine) in regard for specific firearms using the same bullet in weight. ( <230 gr. RN & TC).

I plan to still keep using that same load data until I get another lot of powder ( a 4 or 8#er again) & then I will work up once again.

Until then I will rock N Roll with what I have already loaded and what I will still load to use up what I have already.

Red Dot/Promo goes a Looong way at 4.5-5,0 grains per bullet( 200-230 gr)