44 mag blue dot light load

[TxAg]

Gun is a 4" 629. Loading 44 mag brass. Bullet is a missouri bullet company 240gr Keith.

I have been loading with 10.7 gr of unique. This is the lee manual starting load.

I like it and it is very accurate.

I have a bunch of blue dot on hand.

Any suggestions of a blue dot load for this plain base bullet?

Looking for something similar or a little lighter but still a hog killer.

Am I barking up the wrong tree?

I've got an SBH that I'm loading barn burners in with jacketed bullets and W296.

The 629 is more for fun and woods carry.

 

[rcmodel]

14.5 grains should give you around 1,000 FPS.

Probably +/-100 more then you are getting with the 10.7 Unique load.

rc

 

[TxAg]

Thanks. I was going to load some up and try them out this weekend. I'll give you a report.

 

[MovedWest]

I've always had better luck with Blue Dot when I loaded it on the heavier side. It tends to burn a little better for me that way. Unique has always done me well for the lighter stuff.

If you like RC's recommendation let us know. I've got the better part of a lb I'd like to find a use for.

-MW

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Blue Dot does like pressure to burn well.

That load may well be dirty, but who cares when shooting cast bullets?

The bullet lube mess is going to over-power any dirty powder burn anyway.

rc

 

[joed]

That 14.5 gr load sounds good. I shoot 15.0 gr of 2400 in my .44 Spl and it gets right about 1000 fps. Haven't tried blue dot yet.

 

[TxAg]

Will definitely let you know. I like the unique load but it leads the barrel some Blue dot is a little slower so maybe that will help.

J

 

[TxAg]

Loaded up some rounds and went to the range yesterday. I think RCMODEL was right on with his advice. The load seemed very similar to the unique load I have been shooting (10.7gr). I want to say that it had a little less felt recoil but I am not very sensitive to recoil so i am probably not a very good judge.

14 to 14.5 grains of bluedot burned clenaer than the lighter loads. It did have a pretty good smoke screen. Good accuracy that I attribute to the gun and the load and not to me. I think this will be a good, cheaper cast load for practice and for carrying around in the 629. I think it would do a number on a hog if I got lucky and stumbled upon one bumming around in the woods.

So about leading? Before this past six months I haven't shot any cast but comparing the prices at mbc versus the xtp's I shoot out of my ruger SBH I have to say I don't mind putting up with a little extra cleaning for the extra rounds down range $ for $. My questions are what is normal? Should I expect some leading no matter what? It is a new gun and I haven't shot a single jacketed round out of it. As it breaks in should I see less leading? As I said before I don't plan on shooting full house mags out of it. Something between 44 special +p and 44 mag.

J

 

[area51]

I think RCMODEL was right on with his advice.

He is always pretty much on the money !

I think I'll try out that load on my 629-2. How do you like the Missouri stuff ? As far as cleaning , some Chore Boy usually does the trick. I want to try some Gunzilla. I hear is pretty good stuff.

 

[loadedround]

I've been using Blue Dot for medium-heavy loads in my two 44's for years and am very pleased with it. It is dirty, but not quite as dirty as 2400.

 

[Slamfire]

I tested Blue Dot, using Hercules data, in 9mm, 38 Special, 357, 45 ACP, 45 LC and 44 Magnum.

The powder only works well at full power magnum loads.

In the 38 Special and 45 LC, both low pressured rounds, the Extreme Spreads were in several hundred feet per second. Most pistol powders the extreme spreads are around 75 fps or less.

When I get velocity variations that wide, I don't trust the powder. That tells me I have combustion instability, the pressure curve is not nice and smooth and even, and I don't want to be behind such a combination.

 

[Sam1911]

Blue Dot does like pressure to burn well.
That load may well be dirty, but who cares when shooting cast bullets?
The bullet lube mess is going to over-power any dirty powder burn anyway.

Once upon a time, I went through a pound of Blue Dot working up a competition load for my 629. The unburned crumbs of powder were bad enough to foul under the star and 'most everywhere else too! Not a big deal for range plinking, but trying to run the gun fast for a couple hundred round match or several weeks of practice was annoying.

I don't like to have to clean that much.

Using TrailBoss or other cleaner powders -- and cast lead of appropriate hardness -- I can go 500-1,000 rds between cleanings. BIG difference.

 

[area51]

other cleaner powders

Such as.... Do share, please.

 

[Rule3]

Blue Dot is Flaming Dirt.
If not loaded to max forget it.

 

[Sam1911]

Such as.... Do share, please.

Well, like I said, I use a LOT of Trail Boss. Really fills up the cases and produces a good middling load. I've run >10,000 of them through my 629. That's something around 5-6 gr. under a 200 gr. LFP-RN bullet (usually Missouri Bullet Company), in a .44 Spc. case.

It's been a while since I used much else for mild loads in that gun.

 

[mdi]

I have a favorite load of 15.5 gr Blue Dot under a 265 gr. RNFP that my Puma loves too. I also use this load with a 245 gr. SWC (cast of wheel weight alloy) that shoots well in my other .44s.

The key to shooting lead free is bullet fit. I size my bullets to the same size as my revolver cylinder throats (throats .431", bullets sized to .431"), and .001"-.002" over groove diameter in my Contender and Puma carbine. I get very little leading in any of my 5, .44 Magnums shooting cast bullets...

 

[dsb1829]

Blue Dot is Flaming Dirt.
If not loaded to max forget it.

+1

Too much smoke, mess, and unburnt powder when loaded light. In my 10mm it actually gets more accurate at hotter loads too.

 

[hdbiker]

I love Blue Dot in medium to medium heavy 240 gr. cast bullet loads in my .44 mag,clean burning and very accurate.biker

 

[TxAg]

hdbiker, how big of a charge of powder for your medium and medium heavy loads? Gas-checked bullets or no?

Thanks,
J

 

[JLDickmon]

Blue Dot is Flaming Dirt.
If not loaded to max forget it

lolz