[mugsie]

Guys - I'd like to load my 357 Taurus Tracker with 6" barrel using Blue Dot. I couldn't get Speer 125g JSP as shown in my manual, but did manage to obtain Sierra 125g JHC. Can I substitute the Sierra bullet utilizing the same loading data? Alliant publishes this information on thier site;
Minimum OAL (inches) Bbl Length Primer Powder Charge Weight grains)
1.57 5.6 Fed 200 Blue Dot 14.5
Velocity (fps) Chamber Pressure(psi)
1,795 34,000

It also seems like one heck of a lot of powder in the cartridge. I have 9.1 of Unique in there now and it fills the case pretty good. I would think the 14.5 grains would most likely be a compressed load?

Thanks for any help.

[Scooter72]

That sounds about right. As long as the bullet weight is the same, which it is. Always start out 10% less then max load and work your way up. If that's what the Alliant reloader's guide says I would trust that.

I had the same situation happen to me. I was loading 158gr. JSP with 6.0grs. of Hodgdon Titegroup. Then when I switched to Hodgdon H110 I was loading the same 158gr JSP with 16.4 grs. It's a huge jump in powder but the powders are also very different from eachother.

Good luck and be safe!

[Steve C]

I've used a load of 13.8grs of Blue Dot behind several brands of 125gr bullets including Sierra, Speer, Hornady, Remington (both semi-jacketed and GS) with a CCI or Federal Magnum pistol primer. It is an accurate load of sufficient power so I've never felt the need to push any heavier. This load duplicates the published velocity for full power Remington and Winchester .357 loads of 1,450 fps from a 4" revolver. It has a satisfying muzzle flash too. Below is a picture of a friend shooting this load from my Ruger 4-5/8" Blackhawk at an indoor range.
http://www.members.aol.com/scoll63101/public/muzzleflash

[jjohnson]

There's a very small but measurable difference in pressure using the two similar bullets of equal weight, owing to the actual difference in what causes friction (the bearing surface, where the bullet is actually in contact with the barrel) and probably a couple of factors I'm not aware of.

It's not enough difference to sweat it if you're playing by the rules on powder weight. You'll actually get slightly different pressures from lot to lot of the same bullet owing to manufacturing tolerances. You can stuff a LOT of Blue Dot in there, and since it's a slow burner, you will get that lovely fireball each time you pop one off...:evil: but hey, shooting should be fun, right?

You were smart to ask a question though... handloading is a great thing, but a very bad place to make a mistake 'cause you made an assumption.;)