blue dot loads with 140 grain

[shadyvalleyman]

I currently have loaded and shot 357 magnum using 140 grain Hornady XTP's with 14.0 grains of Blue Dot. (ref, Speer no 11 manual).

After reading the warning about blue dot with 125 grain bullets and that the Speed no 11 tends to load HOT I am wondering if my 140 grain loads are good to go. I have not seen any overpressure signs yet but should I pull the 140's out and get rid on the blue dot? Should I be concernced.

What would be a good load with blue dot with 140 grainers to get around 1300 - 1350 fps?

 

[rwsmith]

Many like Blue Dot

I've heard about Blue Dot's problem with the unpredictable pressures with 125 grain bullets and the evidence for that is spotty. I've never heard of any problems with 140 grains. Another problem that was cited was in using BD in sub zero temperatures. Blue Dot is the go-to magnum powder for many people. I was sold on Blue Dot but changed to 2400 after I found out about the 125 grain bullets and the 'moody' aspect of it. I don't like not being able to use 125 grain bullets but I hardly ever shoot in anything colder than jacket weather. Brrrrr.

 

[roundgunner]

11.3 gets me 1250 in a 4" 686 with XTP 140s

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have loaded the 140xtp for my 686 6" S&W L frame but only used a light target load of 10grs BlueD with a f100 primer for just 1250 fps that shots 1.23" at 25 yards ,slow fire.

Lyman has 11.9 as the maximum at 1272 fps with a 4".
Data shows 1360fps out of a 4 inch barrel.... maybe 2400 powder ?
It might make a good game load in a 6" or longer barrel if it could group.

For some odd reason I can even get 5@ .87 inches out of my snub nose at ten feet off of a rest. I really like this bullet and
what it can do.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I've used 13.0gr of B-D with the 140gr XTP in my 686-6, but that load came from Speer #9 & is listed at 1353fps from a 6" Ruger. All the newer manuals are in the 11-11.5gr range. 14.0gr might be pushing it. If you want more speed (& you've got the barrel for it) you'll need to use 2400 or H110/296.