Is Blue Dot different?

WinMike

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?

bpost

Did you put a heavy roll crimp on them?

WinMike

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

Richie Rich

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

MIKE WISKEY

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

Rocky Raab

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.

243winxb

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.

WinMike

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!

Rocky Raab

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.

243winxb

Ok, 1 load for Blue Dot.