BJung
Member
Does the .357-125gr warning using Blue Dot apply to jacketed bullets only or does it include cast bullets. I want to use a cast bullet from a 125gr mold but with the alloy, expect the bullet weight to be more.
I don't know. But I tried Blue Dot in a .357 mag with 125 JHP from a 4" revolver and it was much louder than a 44 magnun.Does the .357-125gr warning using Blue Dot apply to jacketed bullets only or does it include cast bullets.
As far as I can remember it only really applies to K-Frame revolvers with inlet relief cuts in the forcing cone to clear the cylinder pressure seal ring. The talk about flame-cutting top-straps and cracking forcing cones stemmed from some fairly well known handloaders hot-rodding the cartridge to get "Super-Vel"-class loads for use in S&W Model 19 revolvers. Before I started using Blue Dot in the late 80's (or was it the early 90's? - can't recall) I read up on it and the "troubles" of using it with light-weight jacketed bullets. What I learned was, Blue Dot was developed as a magnum 12ga. powder because Red Dot and Unique didn't have enough expansion for the longer, heavier shot columns of 3" and 3-1/2" shells. It's a hot powder that prefers pushing a heavy, long, wide load down a long tight tube. With that in mind, you can understand how maybe light, short, small bullets being pushed out of a short tube might have problems. I use Blue Dot mostly for bigger cases - .44Spl/Magnum and .45 Colt - but I do also use it for .357Mag with heavy crimps to delay the reaction and let pressure build. BD doesn't like to operate at low pressure or with too much airspace so keep that in mind, also.Does the .357-125gr warning using Blue Dot apply to jacketed bullets only or does it include cast bullets. I want to use a cast bullet from a 125gr mold but with the alloy, expect the bullet weight to be more.
I don't have AA7 but have AA9 and used it before. According to the Lyman Manual, 2400 can be loaded with a lower chamber pressure than BD but what about AA9? Is it close to and would it work for a .357-125/130gr cast bullet load or would AA5 be better? I'm using .38-125gr LHP bullet and want to push it fast enough to expand. Why else have a hollow point? The alloy will be 3% Antinomy, 2% tin, and lead.I haven't used BD for many loads, but years ago before the warning actually came out it had been reported to be really sensitive with several calibers and bullet combos. I had actually contacted Hercules about the issue with 41 mag loads and was informed about it first hand. That was back in the late 80's.
Honestly there is no telling how many rounds have been loaded in the effected warning range through the years with no issues, but personally I found many powders that worked as good or better.
Probably not what you were looking for, but they usually don't issue those warnings for nothing.
I like using AA-5, AA-7, and AA-9 for most of those type loads along with 2400. Those AA powders give top end velocities as well as being able to be loaded down to very tame levels.
Hope that helps.
If you want something to replace Alliant 2400 with a 125gr. cast, try Accurate 4100/Ramshot Enforcer. No.5 falls between Green Dot and PB for pressure and temperament. It's kinda its own thing. Polite and downloads well. Not a magnum powder, though. Good for .38Spl speeds.I don't have AA7 but have AA9 and used it before. According to the Lyman Manual, 2400 can be loaded with a lower chamber pressure than BD but what about AA9? Is it close to and would it work for a .357-125/130gr cast bullet load or would AA5 be better? I'm using .38-125gr LHP bullet and want to push it fast enough to expand. Why else have a hollow point? The alloy will be 3% Antinomy, 2% tin, and lead.
My guess is that data may be why they posted that warning. I've loaded them using other data that was milder without issue. But like you. I have other options.For 15+ years prior to that warning, I loaded thousands of 125 gr JHP with Blue Dot. The starting load in the manual I was using was very hot. I never went past it. I shot those rounds through one gun. Perhaps them being kinda hot is why the barrel started coming unscrewed from the frame...lol.
That warning never made any sense because Alliant provided data for 110 and 140 gr bullets.
Regardless of what I loaded prior to that warning, I quit using BD with 125 gr bullets. I switched to Power Pistol.