For handguns, is Blue Dot good for anything other than magnum loads?

[38-44HD45]

I use it in hot 10mm loads, and nothing else. I've tried it in .357, .44 mag. and .45ACP, with uninspiring results. Dirty, and brittle. However, it shines in 10mm.

 

[Shadow1006]

I have used blue Dot in 9mm,38spl,357mag,44spl,44mag,40S&W,10mm,9X25Dillon,12ga,30-30and 30'06 with excellent results.

I find it accurate, clean and ballisticly optimal in most pistol cartridges. Some times +/- 0.1gr or 0.2gr = can be a signacant improvement in a particular loading.

I have burned thru many 1 lb two 5 lb cans Hercules Blue Dot, I'll be starting a new 5 lb jug of the Alliant Blue Dot in the plastic jug very soon.

I do try other powders from time to time but Blue Dot has been my mainstay!

 

[Paul5388]

I find it accurate, clean and ballisticly optimal in most pistol cartridges.

Blue Dot has been my mainstay

And "the Shadow knows" more than the "evil that lurks in the heart of men", right Wade?

 

[38-44HD45]

Originally posted by Shadow1006:
I do try other powders from time to time but Blue Dot has been my mainstay!

Must be the humidity...

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by smith crazy:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/g.../safety_notices.aspx

Safety Notice

At Alliant Powder, we take safety seriously. That's why we periodically test our products in different situations to be sure our use recommendations stay current. Check here for any safety notes or recall information. Stay safe and keep accurate.

Alliant Powder periodically reviews and tests their published reloading data to verify that our recommended recipes have not changed over time.

During the latest review Alliant Powder discovered that Alliant Powder's Blue Dot® should not be used in the following applications:

* Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 357 Magnum load using the 125 grain projectile (Blue Dot® recipes with heavier bullet weights as specified in Alliant Powders Reloading Guide are acceptable for use).
* Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 41 Magnum cartridge (all bullet weights).

Use of Blue Dot® in the above cases may cause a high pressure situation that could cause property damage and serious personal injury.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Oh ya, I remember that one.

They sure have it buried. I looked under the Blue Dot Product info and the load data,
Did not think of looking under "Getting Started" which appears to be basic intro to reloading 101.
Anyway, thanks as I do have some 125gr bullets.

I would think here might be a good spot.
But what do I know?

http://www.alliantpowder.com/p...powder/blue_dot.aspx

 

[Bruce51]

OCD1 I'm glad you got your data email. I guess you need to up the charge for function. I can tell you for sure that you will know those loads are hotter than WWB. I shot them a whole lot and they are definite attention getters. Bruce

 

[andyo5]

I use Blue Dot in the 45 Colt for +P loads with both lead and jacketed bullets.

 

[8emem]

I used Blue Dot once for 158 gr .357 JHP loads. In my experience the powder is coarse and does not meter well, I was seeing pressure signs in the middle of published load range data, excessive flash, and the accuracy was crap. I disposed of what I didn't use.

 

[38-44HD45]

Originally posted by 8emem:
I used Blue Dot once for 158 gr .357 JHP loads. In my experience the powder is coarse and does not meter well, I was seeing pressure signs in the middle of published load range data, excessive flash, and the accuracy was crap. I disposed of what I didn't use.

There you go! Makes good flower bed fertilizer!

 

[VonFatman]

Niklas,
Care to drop me an e-mail with a few of your favorite Blue Dot loads...I load 45 Colt as well as 38 Special and 357 Magnum...??

I'd enjoy reading where the powder works best for you!

Thanks.

Bob

vonfatmanATyahoo.com

 

[BUCKAWHO]

I use Blue Dot in pistol cartridges shot in rifles, ie. 44 mag, 357 mag, 45LC, etc. It's slower burning, and has more time to affect the bullet in longer rifle barrels, rather than just burning out of the barrel of a pistol. BT

 

[NiklasP]

VonFatman,

Sorry to not have responded much earlier to your inquiry about my favorite Blue Dot loads for 45 Colt & 44-40 -- totally missed your post.

Is really simple, years ago I started with Alliant's recommended Blue Dot and 2400 loads with 255 grain soft lead bullets for 45 Colt and 200 and 240 loads (same powder charge) for 44-40. Such good performance that I stuck with those loads. These were loaded in full-length resized Winchester brass with CCI350 mag primers and crimped in crimp groove.

The 45 Colt loads were used in Ruger Vaquero and 44-40 in another Vaquero and Rossi 92 copy. I also went somewhat higher with both powders, but have not used those loads in years. In all cases, with soft lead bullets and lubes I got no leading and about 6,0 inch 6-shot (all cylinders) groups from revolvers at 100 yards from solid rests and 3-4 inch 5-shot groups from rifle with tang sight, also at 100 yards. Shooting was nearly all in 60-90F weather.

Really just started on 357 Mag, using soft Remington or Speer 158 grain, 0,358 SWC bullets, both HP and solid. At 8,0 grains, 38 Special cases, 5,0 inch barrel, I am getting nice groups at 20-30 yards and little (or no?) leading. Have not gotten back out to test heavier loadings -- 9,0 grains -- with same bullets. Unfortunately, no chrono data.

Also, purchased some GC, soft lead 158 grain SWC HPs and will see how fast I can get them to shoot with good groups and little or no leading.

Niklas

 

[AzShooter]

I use BD when I want a lot of flame, noise and smoke. It gives consistent burn and scares the bejesus out of the guys around me during a match.

My favorite is in the .357 with 180 grain bullets. Very accurate and not bad on recoil.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I prefer Blue Dot for heavy 10mm loads, use it for some 40S&W loads w/ 180gr bullets, it is a great powder for 23Kpsi level loads for the 45 Colt w/ 250gr jacketed bullets, and is my favorite and most accurate powder for 140gr Rem JHPs in the .357 Mag. Also works well for 180s in .357 Mag.

 

[TSQUARED]

I did use Blue Dot in 9mm with 147 gr. jacketed bullets and in 40 S&W with 180 gr. jacketed bullets. At higher pressures the Blue Dot burns fairly clean with pronounced muzzle flash typical of very slow burning powders. I would not use it in Revolver loads since you will expereince flame cutting of the top strap. Blue Dot is also not the most uniform metering powder in a Dillon 550.

 

[just for fun]

BD and 357Sig have worked out well. I consider it my standard load. Tryed it with 45 APC with 230 boolets, never got it to work. No groups, just patterns!