Is Blue Dot different?

WinMike

January 21, 2011 14:14

Based on several recipies, including Ken Waters Pet Loads, I bought a pound of of Blue Dot, now made/marked by Alliant.

I loaded 13 gr. with Rem 21 1/2 primer under a 240 gr. Rem JSP, and 12.5 gr. under a Laser Cast 240 BB. I'm a little under-impressed: while accurate, there was significant un-burned powder and lots of flame. I was shooting a 4" S&W Mdl 21. Alas, I did not have a chronograph that day.

I know, maybe I c[?]ould be using Magnum primers. But few (any?) Blue Dot recipes call for same, and I really don't want to stress a very nice Mdl 21.

I'm wondering, in light of the warnings for low-weight .357 loads, if Blue Dot is a little slower than in the past. Any thoughts/experience?

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  bpost

  January 21, 2011 14:38

  Did you put a heavy roll crimp on them?

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  WinMike

  January 21, 2011 15:00

  Define heavy; I did use a roll crimp, and it's tucked into the crimping groove. Not a taper crimp.

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  Richie Rich

  January 21, 2011 18:41

  I use to have some hot load recipes for my GP100, is was a good load that was accurate and if you happen to be standing within ten feet of it you could feel the blast. was always fun at the range...
  if I rem it was always kinda dirty but I didn't mind I don't recall unburnt powder though.
  Richard

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  MIKE WISKEY

  January 22, 2011 05:12

  "I was shooting a 4" S&W Mdl 21"..........you should expect this in a short barrel (unburned powder), with any 'slower' powder.

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  Rocky Raab

  January 22, 2011 06:17

  I'm not up on S&W model numbers. Is that a 44 Special or Magnum?
  
  Blue Dot is like any other powder in that it has a preferred burning range. Pressure, bullet weight, bullet pull and other factors must be met before the powder burns efficiently. START loads often do not reach ideal conditions for a given powder, so you might see unburned flakes or even sooted cases.
  
  Do NOT use magnum primers with Blue Dot - and in fact using magnum primers to "clean up" a poorly burning load is almost always a bad idea. If yours was a START load, you should see your symptoms clear up as the charge is increased.

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  243winxb

  January 22, 2011 06:20

  Your loads for 44 spec. seem to be running at near maximum pressure. These loads will not get cleaner. Blue Dot is just a dirty powder that leaves stuff behind, more so with a cast bullet. Great shotgun powder. Take note that Alliant does not list Blue Dot for the caliber on there website, there is a reason for this.

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  WinMike

  January 22, 2011 11:30

  Replies:
  Mdl 21 is 44 Spl; this revolver was new a couple of years ago, and all my reading indicates that it is the same N frame as the Mdl 29/44 Mag, except for the chamber length. So I'm confident of its strength.
  
  A footnote: some months ago, I queried Alliant about this, and at their request, sent them some loaded cartridges, but have not heard from them.
  
  Actually, Blue Dot is listed by Alliant for 44 Spl: they suggest 10.2 gr. with Speer's 240 JHP (http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=240&shellid=32&bulletid=50. Also, other printed guides do so, including Lee & Lyman, but I have to admit my initial enthusiasm was stoked by Ken Waters.
  
  Thanks to all who responded; back to 2400!

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  Rocky Raab

  January 22, 2011 15:27

  You won't find 2400 any cleaner. Worse, perhaps. If you want a REALLY clean-burning load with a 240-gr cast bullet, try 6.0 American Select for 900 fps and SD numbers in single digits. AMSEL is quickly becoming my favorite cast-bullet powder in a number of revolver rounds. Simply wonderful.

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  243winxb

  January 22, 2011 16:01

  Ok, 1 load for Blue Dot.

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