I have about a half pound of old Hercules Blue Dot that I have been shooing in my 357 Mag Contender and 686. I really like the mid level 158gr loads with it. But am a bit concerned with some of the stories about unexpected pressure spikes, not being able to use it with 125gr bullets (?) etc. My plan is to use it up then try something else. Curious what others are using instead of Blue Dot?

I am of the old school and stick with three powders for handgunning:

Bullseye, Unique and 2400

Although as of late I have tried the BE86 and find it very similar to unique but meters MUCH better.

I really like H110 for use with 158gr bullets in 357 magnum. Although I've used Blue Dot as well and have no problems with it.

My favorite recipe straight out of Hornady's 9th edition is:

158gr Berry's plated FP bullets or 158gr Hornady XTP
14.0gr H110
winchester small pistol magnum primers or CCI 550 / not 500 (must use magnum primers)
COL of 1.590"

With Blue Dot I used:

Hornady 158gr XTP
9.8gr Blue dot
COL 1.575"
winchester small pistol magnum primers or CCI 550 (not 500 or standard winchester small pistol)

This was actually a very good clean burning load.

I love Blue Dot in .357 under 158- and 180-grainers . . . I also use Lil' Gun, AA7 and 2400 in .357 Magnum loadings. Have used Unique, HP38/W231, HS-6 and Power Pistol, but they don't give the best results.


Edited: just so no one else has to find out about it, my experience is that one should not use Speer # 10 data for 158-grainers with Blue Dot in .357 Magnum.

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In 357 Mag with 158-165 gr. Cast WFNGC and XTP loads I have had my best success with Accurate No. 9

With lighter bullet 125 gr. loads, I have had a lot of success with Accurate No. 5 and especially with Ramshot True Blue. If the flash doesn't turn you off, Power Pistol delivers well here.

Mark in GA

For giggles I intentionally loaded up a bunch of 38 special +P's with Power Pistol (6.8gr out of a 125gr XTP) for use at our clubs indoor IDPA match.

It was beautiful.

I've pretty much replaced BD with either Accurate #9 for hot loads and Longshot for mid-range to fairly hot loads in 357 Mag. I am not scared of BD in 357 and don't worry about the supposed pressure spikes as I don't shoot 125 grain bullets any more. I load 140-180 grain bullets. The reason I have switched to A #9 and Longshot is that they meter so much better. For really hot rounds I also use H110 and I also use 2400 in 357 Mag too. For popcorn f**t 357 and 38 Special I use HP 38.

AA#9 is the best .357 Mag powder I've tried. Better than H110/Win 296 or 2400 in my pistols and rifle. That's loading all with 158 gr. Hornady XTP's at near maximum Accurate Arms data.

Never cared much for BD in the 357mag, too much blast. I have pretty much settled on 2400 & unique for my needs. Something newer, WSF & AA#9.

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I got a pound of AA #9 super cheap when my club was clearing out powders and tried it a few weeks ago with the Lee 358-158-RF and my Ruger Service Six. Full house loads are quite powerful and fun to shoot.

I also like Power Pistol for the blast. In low light, it makes a pretty good fireball.

These are not target shooting loads, they are simply fun to blast loads. For accuracy, 900-1000 fps loads of Unique and BE-86 make for very accurate loads while still feeling like you are shooting a real gun. 3g Red Dot/Clays is more like shooting rimfire.

BE86 for .357mag, mid range loads.

AA#9 pours like water and performs.

Use published data with blue dot and do not worry. Remember everything on the internet is true. Refer to handloader magazine propellant profiles for an explanation of the warning about blue dot in 41 and light 357 bullets. They changed it a little when they cleaned it up and alliant did not reshoot data with those cartridges so they cautioned against using it with their old data. The 50 th Lyman book and I think Speer has current data in those calibers. Use modern data. I do. Shot some 44 mag blue dot loads this evening. Good stress relief

Just remember that Blue Dot is NOT a good "Cold Weather Powder" and you will have no problems.
I now use 2400 for cold weather with the 357 and 125 gr. bullets.

It even has problems with 12 Ga. Steel loads in cold weather
as I found out, years ago. One reason I use Alliant Steel powder now.

It is still a great high fps powder for the 124 gr JHP in the 9mm case, though.

I use 3N38, and Sierra publishes rifle loads. 3N37 is more mainstreet, lots of data.

My Blue Dot replacement is HS-6 . 9.0-9.5 grs with a 158 gr bullet is right where I want an upper mid range load . Be sure and use a " Magnum " primer for better ignition and cleaner shooting . Accuracy was just what I was looking for too . Regards, Paui

IIRC; Blue Dot in 357 Magnums could be spikey with 125 gr. bullets. But I didn't experience any such erratic pressures in my 357 with some jacketed 125 gr bullets and my favorite, 155 gr. Lachmiller SWC. I have used True Blue in place of Blue Dot, with similar results...

I replaced BD and H110 with 2400 and haven't looked back. I don't shoot 125 gr bullets in .357 anymore either.

preach it brother

Alliant BE-86 is a good powder for 357 Mag and sells for less than 2400 or Blue Dot.

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DRB #2276

BE86 has become my go-to 357 powder.
OTOH, 357 is likely my least used caliber.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

My most accurate .357 loads with 158g JHP bullets use 10.5g of Blue Dot. It is a mid-power load that I use for Silhouette competition. It is pleasent to shoot, as opposed to full out magnum loads like 14.5g of 2400 or 15.7g of H110. Off bags, my GP100 will shoot one half inch groups at 25 yards with this load.

I have been shooting 10.0 gr. of BD out of my Contender and get easy 1" groups at 50 yards. Why I'm bummed about the warnings. Have heard good thing about AA-7 also. How does 2400 meter through powder measures? The old Blue Dot actually flows pretty nice considering it is a flake type powder.

Alliant did not extend the Blue Dot warning to 158gr bullets so if you choose to you can still safely use Blue Dot there.

If you want to stick with Alliant powders give Power Pistol a try. Another older powder that is similar to Blue Dot is Herco and it's been used for middle to middle hot .357 loads for a long time.

Other powders in that range are HS-6, True Blue, AA#7, W572 and a few others.

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BTW; I don't remember any actual reports of Kabooms with Blue Dot in 125 gr. bullet loads or 41 Magnum loads. I believe during on going testing Alliant found possible high pressure situations...
Alliant Powder - Safety Notice

Yes with old data since when they cleaned it up, it became a little faster. There is current data in the new Lyman and I think the new Speer manual in 357 and 41. I have 5 pounds of it that I need to use so I have been researching it. Reference propellant profiles book from hand loader magazine for a good explanation. I am going to use it with recent pressure tested data. It shot great with some moderate loads in 44 mag. 357 is next for me to try.

H110/win296 or 2400

unique, universal CFE-P or win231/HP38 for milder loads.

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