.41 Mag and Bluedot

[Jayhawker]

I used 10.1 grains of Bluedot with a a 215 LSWC for years in my .41 mag. Now Alliant has issued a warning against using it with .41 Mag at all. I never had any sign of a problem with Bluedot for all this time. Did they change the powder or what? I'm sorely tempted just to go back loading it like I always did. I got excellent accuracy from it. What has been your experience? Did you give it up or are you still using it?

 

[dakotasin]

switched to h-110.

 

[Stinger]

Blue dot was the standard for a while but it is not ideal. I think 2400 and AA7-9 offer more versatility with a margin of error.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've never used Blue Dot for my .41 Magnums, but I've burned a lot of Winchester 296 and SR 4756 through them. I have used a lot of Blue Dot for 10mm and 12 gauge rifled slug loads, though.

I'm going to try some Hodgdon's Lil'Gun in it and see how it does. I'm impressed with what it does in .357 Magnum heavy bullet loads.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[zxcvbob]

If you like Blue Dot, try AA#7. If I had a Blue Dot recipe I liked, I'd keep using it (at least until it was gone.) But AA#7 is almost a direct replacement and is less temperamental.

 

[rcmodel]

I am at a loss to understand Alliant's recent warning on Blue-Dot and the .41 Magnum.

They still consider it safe in the .357 Mag, 10mm, & .44 Mag.

So what is so different about the .41 Mag?

Nothing that I can think of!

rcmodel

 

[GooseGestapo]

See "HANDLOADER" Feb2009 issue;................

Explains changes in components (bullets and primers) and powder itself.

Some of the published data/loads in older manuals using current lot#'s of powder and bullets are significantly over-pressure to the point of being unsafe.

CYA by the companies involved..................

In late '70's and early 80's when I was poor, and needed to load .357mag factory duplication loads for practice/qualification, I used a lot of Bluedot. Gave similar velocities to #2400 but 30% lighter charge, with a 155gr Cast SWC. But, in mid '80's I started seeing a lot of pressure signs;(cratered primers, sticking cases) with same load I'd been using for some time, and quit using BlueDot, and went to Unique with further charge reduction, but perhaps 200fps reduction. A large Atlanta Metro PD (East Point PD) using Mod66 and M19's started having cut frames (topstrap at forcing cone) using 125gr jacketed bullets and 10.0gr of BlueDot in department reloads. This was one of the "issues" that led S&W to come out with the M686.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

They still consider it safe in the .357 Mag, 10mm, & .44 Mag.

I thought they said not to use it with any .357 loads anymore. Not to get off topic but, I am really questioning it though. I bought a 1lb container of Blue dot in May of last year and fired my first .357 reloads consisting of a 125gr bullet over 13grains of Blue dot in June out my SP101. I didn't see any signs of high pressure or anything. Just wondering if Aliant is being overly cautious. Is there anyone still using Blue dot for .357's?

 

[Jayhawker]

This is taken from Alliant's website:



Safety Notice

"Alliant Powder periodically reviews and tests their published reloading data to verify that our recommended recipes have not changed over time.

During the latest review Alliant Powder discovered that Alliant Powder's Blue Dot® should not be used in the following applications:

* Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 357 Magnum load using the 125 grain projectile (Blue Dot® recipes with heavier bullet weights as specified in Alliant Powders Reloading Guide are acceptable for use).
* Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 41 Magnum cartridge (all bullet weights).

Use of Blue Dot® in the above cases may cause a high pressure situation that could cause property damage and serious personal injury.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter."

I suspect their association with Speer, who now does all of Alliant's load testing for publication has something to do with the Blue Dot warnings. Maybe Speer stumbled on something Alliant didn't know. Nonetheless, unless the powder formulation changed, I, for one, never saw any indication of high pressure problems. I've got 3 or 4 pounds of Blue Dot that I'd love to have Alliant buy back from me. I sold my .357 and the .41 Mag is the only pistol I have that can use it. I was just wondering if others have ignored the warning because they did not see any new problems with Blue Dot and their .41 Magnum.

 

[depoloni]

Those of you with access check the most recent edition of Reloader Magazine. In there somewhere (327 mag article I believe) there is a further explanation of the changes. Saw it when reading yesterday. Essentially due to a change in ownership, and relocation of the production line to a different state/factory, the "newer" version of Blue Dot is slightly faster than the "traditional" one thus the warnings.

Given that heavy bullet loads in 357, and virtually all weights in 44mag are still an option I'm not sure what the "dead in the middle" 41mag's big problem with the powder is, changes or not. Please note that I'm paraphrasing the article also, but someone could certainly verify it. It's late