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Is Blue Dot different?
WinMike
Member Posts: 144 ✭✭✭
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?
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?
Comments
if I rem it was always kinda dirty but I didn't mind I don't recall unburnt powder though.
Richard
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.
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!