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  #1  
Old 08-21-2015, 02:03 PM
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I have some PP and my LGS now has some Blue Dot. They seem to be pretty close, and can push some decent magnum velocities...not H110 territory, but respectable.

Any reason to try the Blue Dot if I already have PP on the bench? I haven't really messed with PP yet.
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Old 08-21-2015, 02:46 PM
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Just MHO but I think Blue Dot is a terrible powder. It does not meter well, it's dirty (I really do not care about that) It only works well at near max loads and is spiky in pressure during extreme conditions. Can't use it in a 41 Mag or with light 357 Mag bullets,

It is good for full house mag loads and perhaps shotguns (I do not load those) So if you want to load full mag loads and not reduce them it is OK, I would rather use 2400.

FLAMING DIRT!

Now For PP I think it is great!! Use it in 9mm, 40 SW and can be used for revolver loads. No not a true mag powder but how many of those can you shoot?

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  #3  
Old 08-21-2015, 04:38 PM
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I used to use Blue Dot for 357 and was happy with it. If you have an issue getting 2400 or 110, I'd definitely give it a try. As stated above, it doesn't meter as well as some other options.
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Old 08-21-2015, 04:55 PM
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If it were me, I'd look for something a little slower than blue dot, as it is somewhat close to PP.

PP is a great powder, I use it for mid range loads in magnums and high end load's in .38 and .44 Special.

If you want a powder for heavier magnum loads, I've found Ramshot Enforcer to be an excellent powder for that.
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Old 08-21-2015, 05:25 PM
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I love Blue Dot for 180-gr .357 Magnum loads. Be careful of early data with it . . . I think it was the Speer # 10 that had 158-gr .357 Magnum loads that I actually pulled because they were a caution.
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Old 08-21-2015, 06:10 PM
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I use 12grs of BlueDot under 255gr projectiles in my Ruger .45Colt. I don't have any metering problems with it and it performs well. I have used it in .357 as well with good results.
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Old 08-22-2015, 10:36 AM
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I don’t care for much Blue Dot. I have a pound just incase I can’t find a better choice. I would much rather use 2400. PP is great stuff in autos.
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Old 08-22-2015, 10:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3 View Post
Just MHO but I think Blue Dot is a terrible powder. It does not meter well, it's dirty (I really do not care about that) It only works well at near max loads and is spiky in pressure during extreme conditions. Can't use it in a 41 Mag or with light 357 Mag bullets,

It is good for full house mag loads and perhaps shotguns (I do not load those) So if you want to load full mag loads and not reduce them it is OK, I would rather use 2400.

FLAMING DIRT!

Now For PP I think it is great!! Use it in 9mm, 40 SW and can be used for revolver loads. No not a true mag powder but how many of those can you shoot?

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My experience exactly. Don't like Blue Dot and love PP.
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Old 08-22-2015, 11:31 AM
jimintheburg jimintheburg is offline
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Blue Dot is my go to powder for my 1006. Accurate in both high end and plinking loads. 10 grs under a 200 gr fp/fmj is very accurate. Does have a load report and flash. My plinking loads are 8.5 grs under a 180 lswc and it to is accurate. Have tried long shot, AA # 7 and 800x but Blue Dot is my first choice.
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Old 08-23-2015, 12:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLT223 View Post
I have some PP and my LGS now has some Blue Dot. They seem to be pretty close, and can push some decent magnum velocities...not H110 territory, but respectable.

Any reason to try the Blue Dot if I already have PP on the bench? I haven't really messed with PP yet.
.

You didn't mention what cartidge you're wanting to load with them?

Bluedot doesn't meter any worse than any of Alliant's other flake powders & if you have a ChargeMaster nothing meters poorly.

I've used it in virtually all calibers I load for (yes, 41 Mag too!), even in "reduced" 500 Mag loads & I don't have any compaints of it being dirty in anything close to a reasonable load amount for the cartridge. There's many medium speed ball powders I find A LOT dirtier.

P-P is my perferred powder, though, for all my auto cartridge (9mm, 40S&W, 10mm, 45ACP, 45Super) full power loads. Bluedot is slower & better, IMO, in larger cases, but I have had good success with it in 10mm auto.

.
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  #11  
Old 08-26-2015, 01:01 AM
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Other than the "Scare tactics" of the 125gr in the 357 with Blue Dot due to unstable ES from the test labs in cold temperatures..................
This has also been proven in 12 Ga. duck loads in cold weather, one reason Alliant came out with "Steel" powder, for hunting below 42 degree weather.

with 140gr or heavier bullets BD is a stable and useful powder in the 357 magnum.

I have had no problems with any 38 special loads in 45 years of loading and Blue Dot is the only powder that will hit 940 fps plus in my M49 steel 38 snub nose, but I settle for 861 fps.

Herco and 2400 is always another option if you prefer to use another powder from Alliant or even a ball powder like HS-6.
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  #12  
Old 08-26-2015, 01:59 AM
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Until the BD warning came out I loaded and shot thousands of 125 grain loads in the 357 without any problems, winter and summer.
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