327 Fed Mag/Blue Dot reloads
I need some help. I've looked everywhere I can think of including asking Alliant Powders, but I've had no answer to a starting charge weight. I've had good results using Blue Dot for my 44 mag and 38 Special reloads. I am going to try to work up a good load for 100 gr XTPs and 115 gr Gold Dots in 327 Fed Mag (through my SP 101). In comparing other powder charges and burn rates I'm thinking 9 to 9.5 gr of Blue Dot for a starting charge for those bullet weights. As I know Blue Dot can be unstable/finicky at some charge weights I'm looking for concurrence in my thinking. So, any thoughts? Also, as no one is making new empty brass yet, the only way for me to reload that caliber is after shooting the expensive stuff from the gun shops. Can't afford much when it's over a dollar per round, so much of my practice will be with 32 H&R Mag reloads. I know the 32 H&R Mag case won't take the pressures of the Fed Mag, so I'm also looking for suggestions regarding starting charge weights of Blue Dot for that cartridge (same bullet weights). Thanks
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Of all the powders out there where extrapolation of data from burn rates has worked in the past Blue Dot would be last on that list, due to recent warnings.
You can't use Blue Dot powder with 125 JHP's in the 357 mag and no loads are listed for the 41 mag with that powder.
I would find a different powder to use, a powder that has documented results tested in a lab and not just a WAG. Body parts do not grow back and guns are too expensive to blow up.....
Have you searched the GB auction side for brass?0 -
Read the bpost post above AGAIN. I have only seen "published" loads for blue dot in the 90 grain bullets. DON"T guess with that powder. Bob 0 -
Thanks bpost & babun for the warnings and they will weigh heavily in my decision. However, I am still leaning toward trying some Blue Dot loads if I can find out more specifics. Since the early 80's I have reloaded and fired well over a thousand Blue Dot reload rounds in different calibers and bullet weights (about 4 lbs. of powder). At the time I was using the Speer Reloading Manual No. 10 and the second edition of Sierra Bullets Handgun Reloading Manual. Both have multiple Blue Dot listings in many different calibers and through the full range of bullet types & weights including the calibers/bullet weights that now can't be used. Back then, I didn't have a problem and and never heard of anyone else having one. What's different? I know the name of the powder company has changed but I didn't and don't think they would also change the recipe of the powder. (I hope this doesn't sound too confrontational or disrespectful, not meant to be. I haven't been around this board long enough to learn proper forum etiquette). As to the brass, yes I have looked for it at GB and other places. Rare as hen's teeth. Most shooters are using their spent factory rounds to do their own reloading. I called Starline yesterday to see when they might make a run on the 327 brass and they said "no plans as of yet, we are trying to dig out of the back orders we're buried under and can't even see the end of that". That's why I bought some 32 H&R mag brass for practice shooting. Oh yeah, what's a WAG? never mind if the last word is guess, I think I just got it. Thanks 0 -
I tend to think all the hub-bub about reduced loads with blue dot has a lot of "legalize" behind it. But be careful anyway, seems you know what you are doing, go for it. Your 9 to 9.5 sounds about right. Bob 0 -
quote:Originally posted by fullcaseload
Thanks bpost & babun for the warnings and they will weigh heavily in my decision. However, I am still leaning toward trying some Blue Dot loads if I can find out more specifics. Since the early 80's I have reloaded and fired well over a thousand Blue Dot reload rounds in different calibers and bullet weights (about 4 lbs. of powder). At the time I was using the Speer Reloading Manual No. 10 and the second edition of Sierra Bullets Handgun Reloading Manual. Both have multiple Blue Dot listings in many different calibers and through the full range of bullet types & weights including the calibers/bullet weights that now can't be used. Back then, I didn't have a problem and and never heard of anyone else having one. What's different? I know the name of the powder company has changed but I didn't and don't think they would also change the recipe of the powder. (I hope this doesn't sound too confrontational or disrespectful, not meant to be. I haven't been around this board long enough to learn proper forum etiquette). As to the brass, yes I have looked for it at GB and other places. Rare as hen's teeth. Most shooters are using their spent factory rounds to do their own reloading. I called Starline yesterday to see when they might make a run on the 327 brass and they said "no plans as of yet, we are trying to dig out of the back orders we're buried under and can't even see the end of that". That's why I bought some 32 H&R mag brass for practice shooting. Oh yeah, what's a WAG? never mind if the last word is guess, I think I just got it. Thanks
You have a valid point to a point, I too have those books; the important part is, they are pre-peizo conductor.
Back then they used copper crushers to measure pressure. With direct pressure measurements and strain gauges real life pressure curves are now seen. I would imagine some engineers turned white when real pressures were displayed and compared to old crusher measurements. Playing around with Blue Dot, a powder that displayed some indications of a problem with any load, not just reduced loads is way to scary to me. I value my body parts, no longer like seeing hunks of flesh torn and I'm too poor to blow up perfectly good guns by guessing about a powder charge. This is doubly so when good loads are available with different powders!0 -
Thanks again to both of you. Your replies seem like sound, calm reasoning to me. I have a tendency toward defensive hard-headedness (not a real word but I think you know what I mean). In other words, had I perceived either/both of your replies as me being some kind of a dumb**** I'd probably be sitting at my reloading bench "proving" you wrong. I'll wait until I at least hear of someone currently loading and shooting with these components if not actual published data. (damn, anyone want to buy 5# of fresh Blue Dot, joking. But really, that's part of the reason I wanted you guys to be wrong, I paid almost a hundred dollars for it including the $25 haz-mat fee.) I'm gonna quit now. If I ever do load it I'll post results here. 0
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