Blue Dot to reload 45 ACP +P in S&W 625?

[cjwils]

I have lots of Blue Dot powder, which I have used for years to produce heavy-duty loads for 357 Mag and +P (Ruger) loads for 45 Colt. I would like to find a recipe to use Blue Dot to make some +P loads for 45 ACP or 45 Auto Rim for my S&W 625 revolver. I would mostly be using 230 gr jacketed bullets, but could try other bullet weights. I am thinking that loads for a 625 revolver could be a bit hotter than loads for a semi-auto.

I looked on the internet and in some reloading books, but recipes for Blue Dot in 45 ACP or Auto Rim are scarce. (I admit that my books may be out of date.) All I could find is one recipe for 10.5 gr of BD for a 200 gr jacketed bullet in the Alliant manual. (Not a +P load.) Does anyone have experience reloading Blue Dot with 45 ACP or Auto Rim?

Please don't waste your time suggesting other powders. I want to use my existing supply of BD. I generally use Unique for moderate loads in most handguns.

 

[arjay]

Lyman 46 shows 7.5-10.2 with a 230 gr jacketed bullet
I remember experimenting with it in 45 acp and 44 mag years ago,but I'm drawing a blank on my results...

 

[OKFC05]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/386406-blue-dot.html

It is marginally too slow for .45 ACP; be prepared for warm loads for better results.

 

[David R]

I have used Blue Dot for hot 45 loads. They show no +P. Max load is a good one.

David

 

[Erich]

I've used Blue Dot (less than the load posted and it's +P according to the load data I found) with 200-grain LSWC hard casts (for use in .45 ACP revolvers), and found it to give typical Blue Dot problems with cool weather: psychotic velocities (when the chrono was running fine - several other loads shot at the same time were just right) and difficult extraction from the chambers. The same loading worked fine (albeit with larger than usual spreads - it's Blue Dot and it likes more pressure than the .45 ACP generates) in shirtsleeve weather.

I've got a couple of full boxes of handloads sitting around waiting for the next time I feel like shooting them in moderately warm weather. I'll not be loading this one again. I like Blue Dot fine for some usage (max 180-gr .357 loads, for instance), but this (.45 ACP/200-gr) isn't one I'd recommend to a friend.

 

[derek45auto]

years ago, I emailed S&W, asked if I could shoot 45SUPER in my 5" 625

they replied "yes" ( lawyers must have taken the day off )

I worked up some loads getting a 230gr speer gold-dot HP to 1150 FPS and it worked GREAT as a deer hunting pistol

I later traded it for a 629, and have regretted it.

I'll look for my data, IIRC, I think I tried blue-dot, but ended up liking power pistol better.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

In Ken Water's Pet Loads he lists 9.0 grains of Blue Dot under Nosler 230 gr fmj at 811 fps out of 5" barrel. In his remarks he states"most accurate load and best heavy bullet load"

 

[Yorkie Man]

My 1985 Hercules manual shows 9.0 grs. for a 200 jhp for 890 fps and 8.5 grs. for a 230 fmj for 900 fps these loads are for the 45 ACP

 

[max]

I think there are lots of better powders for 45acp.

 

[derek45auto]

SPEER #12

45 AUTO-RIM
blue-dot
260gr 8.0-8.5

45 AUTO
200gr
9.4-10.5gr

225gr JHP
9.0-10.0

230GD-HP
8.1-9.0
---------------------------------------------
Lyman48
230grTMJ
8.3-9.2
--------------------------------------------
SIERRA( edition V ) 45AUTO-RIM
230gr JHP
9.1-9.6gr
-------------------------------------------
SIERRA 45AUTO REVOLVER ONLY
lots of data, but sorry, no blue-dot

----------------------------------------------
45-SUPER DATA from my logbook ( several years ago )

10.4gr blue-dot
230gr 1004fps

230jhp
11.0gr 1035fps

Like I said, I had best results with POWER PISTOL.
lower SD's and higher velocity







( disclaimer..Be alert- poster cannot be responsible for typo errors in posted load data. bla bla bla ... )