Bluedot and 44 Special

RCL-09 · Feb 19, 2022

I just started loading .44 Special and after some research found a load listing by Hornady. The load is 7.9 gr. Bluedot with a 240 gr.jacketed bullet. Listed velocity is stated at 750fps.

Loaded a dozen rounds and went to the range to chronograph them to see how they worked and what velocity I was going to get.

The loads were a complete failure. Velocity was in the 350fps range and I had one bullet not exit the barrel.

Does anyone here have any experience with Bluedot and 44 Special?

I can't believe the loads were that off.

max · Feb 19, 2022

What was the temp where you were shooting? I once read Blue Dot does not like cold weather.

Drm50 · Feb 19, 2022

I loaded Blue Dot in 44mag with 240 Kieth HP- cast/ gas checked and did a pounds worth. I will see if I still have the notes on that. I don’t remember any problems. That was in middle 60s and me and two buddies had Ruger SBHs. We started buying 240gr JHPs and switched to 22.5gr / H-2400 and still using that load in SBH. I’ve always loaded Unique in 44sp. I did try RedDot with cast and only did 50. Filthy, needed to call in a chimney sweep. I think that most of my cast loads are from Lyman manuals.

Nevada Ed · Feb 19, 2022

Hornady listing Alliant data..... right.

Even Alliant list that amout of powder with its UNIQUE powder
not the slower Blue Dot.

At least you caught the Squib in time... ?

Better luck on your next try.

RCL-09 · Feb 19, 2022

max said:
What was the temp where you were shooting? I once read Blue Dot does not like cold weather.

Mid to low 60's

teletech · Feb 19, 2022

I think you might be under the pressure where it works well.
Thus far I've found 9.8 of blue dot behind my 240s to be the most accurate load I've found for one 44SPL. Below 9.0 accuracy was garbage.

Chubbs103 · Feb 19, 2022

Interesting. Alliant site shows a starting load 1.3gr higher (10% reduction from listed load per Alliant's recommendations). My Hornady 8th edition shows a starting load 1 grain LOWER.

handejector · Feb 19, 2022

RCL-09 said:
The load is 7.9 gr. Bluedot with a 240 gr.jacketed bullet. Listed velocity is stated at 750fps.

The loads were a complete failure. Velocity was in the 350fps range and I had one bullet not exit the barrel.

I can't believe the loads were that off.

Sounds like something is wrong here. Are you SURE of the charge weight?
Is the powder old and/or degraded in some way?
I shot a lot of Blue Dot in 44 Spec in the 80s with a 240 gr Keith and somewhere around 8 gr. I can't remember the exact charge, but it was no more than 8.5 and no less than 8. It performed very well.

RCL-09 · Feb 19, 2022

Nevada Ed said:
Hornady listing Alliant data..... right.

Even Alliant list that amout of powder with its UNIQUE powder
not the slower Blue Dot.

At least you caught the Squib in time... ?

Better luck on your next try.

Since this was my first time to reload 44 spl I was ultra cautious. I was more worried about overpressure than anything else. When I fired the first round and it clocked in the mid 300's I was very concerned about a squib so watched for that. Thank god I did.

RCL-09 · Feb 19, 2022

teletech said:
I think you might be under the pressure where it works well.
Thus far I've found 9.8 of blue dot behind my 240s to be the most accurate load I've found for one 44SPL. Below 9.0 accuracy was garbage.

The 9.8 is almost a full2 grains over what I loaded. What kind of velocity are you getting?

RCL-09 · Feb 19, 2022

handejector said:
Sounds like something is wrong here. Are you SURE of the charge weight?
Is the powder old and/or degraded in some way?
I shot a lot of Blue Dot in 44 Spec in the 80s with a 240 gr Keith and somewhere around 8 gr. I can't remember the exact charge, but it was no more than 8.5 and no less than 8. It performed very well.

I checked the charge weight with a digital scale.

I also just pulled the remaining rounds and checked the charge and sure enough it is 7.9 gr.

The powder is a few years old but been stored in a dry, cool place along with my other powders (that I am not having trouble with).

Regardless I think it must be the powder.

RCL-09 · Feb 19, 2022

Chubbs103 said:
Interesting. Alliant site shows a starting load 1.3gr higher (10% reduction from listed load per Alliant's recommendations). My Hornady 8th edition shows a starting load 1 grain LOWER.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

So they list 10.2 gr. for 871 fps. The hogden manual shows 9.0 gr for 850 fps and the 7.9 gr. for 750 fps.

I can understand slight variations, but those seem like a wide spread.

tennexplorer · Feb 19, 2022

The Speer number 13 manual show a start load of 9.2 grains for 775 fps, and a maximum load of 10.2 grains for 871. At the time they and Alliant were owned by the same people. Speer does give a start load though.

Dfish1247 · Feb 19, 2022

Is blue dot position sensitive?

I got the impression that blue dot was treated like AA7, it’s in that no man’s land between special and magnum loads where you could do both but not be the greatest at either.

ironhead7544 · Feb 19, 2022

With that velocity, something is wrong. Probably the powder.

Mike SC Hunter · Feb 19, 2022

Nope. Won't do it. About 99% of my specials are loaded with Unique.

twodog max · Feb 19, 2022

Your load is way under Alliant's suggested load with a 240 JSP. I figure it needs more powder to get pressures up to burn right. I have never loaded 44 specials with Blue Dot but used it a lot in 44 magnum and 45 Colt using Alliants data with satisfactory results.
I have never read anything about it being position sensitive or performing poorly when cold. There was a recommendation to not use it with light bullet 357 magnum loads such as 125's. I have shot a lot of it with 158's and it does well.

Smolt Smython · Feb 19, 2022

loaddata.com does not show any low velocity Blue Dot .44 Special loads.
As an example I'm looking at 12-13 grains generating 1150-1270 fps with 230-250 cast bullets.
If you want 750 fps perhaps a different powder would be appropriate.
I like to run 250 grain quality hard cast lead from various suppliers thru my Ruger New Model Flattop with:
7.0 grains Unique
7.0 grains W-231
8.7 grains Power Pistol
I haven't put these thru the chrono, but they are beyond the 750 fps you are looking for (but not at the level of the above Blue Dot loads).
Please let us know what you find that works for you.

Nevada Ed · Feb 19, 2022

twodog max said:
Your load is way under Alliant's suggested load with a 240 JSP. I figure it needs more powder to get pressures up to burn right. I have never loaded 44 specials with Blue Dot but used it a lot in 44 magnum and 45 Colt using Alliants data with satisfactory results.
I have never read anything about it being position sensitive or performing poorly when cold. There was a recommendation to not use it with light bullet 357 magnum loads such as 125's. I have shot a lot of it with 158's and it does well.

I talked with Ben and another tech at Alliant and they did tell me that BD was ok with the 125 gr in the 357 magnum but they did reduce the charge from what was the old data listing, in order to be safe, with their test, after this one reported act was reported, in cold weather conditions.
I don't have my log book handy but the date and names have been put into my log book and I still use BD in my .357 loadings.

RCL-09 · Feb 20, 2022

Thanks everyone. I can only surmise that the 7.9 gr. load is somehow incorrect, or overly cautious. I have the Speer manual and is gives a starting load of 9.2 gr. of Bluedot, so I'll probably load several different one starting at about 8.5 gr. and work my way up.

More to come later.

Bluedot and 44 Special

Member

US Veteran

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

US Veteran

Administrator

Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Attachments

US Veteran

Member

Similar threads