Blue Dot .357 mag tips?

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I'm aware of a caveat on the 125gr slugs with this powder but any tips for the 158gr jhp (XTP Hornady) is appreciated. evidently a 'good' crimp is required and magnum primers?
I have used AA#9 with both slugs and good results but out of that powder now.

 

[geo57]

Marlin, fwiw, in the past I loaded .357 cases with 10.5 grains of Blue Dot w/ 158 gr. bulk Win. jhp's and mag primers and it seemed pretty " peppy " in both recoil and blast from a Ruger GP100. ( And I'm not a recoil sensative guy ) . Alliant claimed this was a max load at the time. Lately, I have been loading a 158 gr. plated fmj flat point with 9.4 grs. of Blue Dot & mag primer in .357 mag cases and it is an accurrate and pleasant shooting load that still let's you know you aren't shooting a .38 spl. I have no reason to think that it won't work just as nicely with those bulk 158 gr. Jhp's, or possibly your XTP. This latter load is certainly not a full house load, so if that is what you seek, you'll be dissapointed . Best of luck and happy shooting.

 

[loadedround]

Again FWIW, I have been using Blue Dot in my med-heavy loads in my 44 magnums for years now; and it is also my go to powder for my 10mm with 175-180 gr jacketed bullets ever since I was the first kid on the block to start loading the big 10.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I have ran 10 grains of blue dot under winchester, remington, and hornady 158 JHPs, and 10.5 under a 158 Laser-cast HCSWC with good results.

These loads are right at the top of the charts, so approach with due caution given blue dots tendency to spike hard when you reach the top of it's useful operating pressure. I would also highly discourage the use of a magnum primer with this particular powder.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

thanks for the tips, I'm a newby with Blue Dot and all I've loaded for the .357 has been 158gr jsp over AA9 (out of that powder now) and 158gr cast over Red Dot (practice rounds)

 

[wally]

I would also highly discourage the use of a magnum primer with this particular powder

I consider this a feature not a big. One less thing to keep on hand, since I reload a lot of .45ACP and 9mm.

--wally.

 

[Slamfire]

I don't like Blue Dot. I don't recommend it for anything. My tip would be to avoid the stuff.

At charges less than full power magnum loads Blue Dot will show extreme spreads around 400 fps. The only loading that worked well in the 357 was with jacketed bullets. With lead bullets, at all loads, Blue Dot gave me leading.

I like 2400, and my load of 13.5 grs 2400 with a 158 grain anything is my "standard" load in the 357.

If you are only going to shoot full power magnum loads, H110/W296 is better. AA#9 is a good powder, but you are out of it.

Smith & Wesson M27					
					
158 JHP (W/W) 13.5 grains 2400 R-P cases WSP					
5-Aug-06	T = 102 °F				

Ave Vel =	1222		 		
Std Dev =	26.45				 
ES	72.12				 
High	1262				 
Low	1190				
 N =	5				 



158 LRN Valiant 9.0 grains Blue Dot CCI500 Midway cases 					
5-Aug-06	T = 102 °F		Accurate		
					

Ave Vel =	1203		 		
Std Dev =	29.22				 
ES	120.8				 
High	1261				 
Low	1141				
 N =	22				 

158 LRN Valiant 10.0 grains Blue Dot CCI500 Midway cases 				 	
5-Aug-06	T = 102 °F	v. Accurate		heavy leading	
					

Ave Vel =	1290		 		
Std Dev =	24.91				 
ES	88.15				 
High	1324				 
Low	1235				
 N =	20

 

[PA Freedom]

Ive used 10.0 gr Blue Dot with 158 gr cast SWC's and standard small pistol primers for years. Absolutely no problems. Very accurate and consistent. However, ive heard extremely bad things about this powder lately. Im gonna consider myself lucky and quit using it.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

thanks again for the feedback, I use Red Dot for the amount of 'plinking loads' with 158gr cast slugs I've shot with great results, one box of 50 I loaded to 1250 fps and little leading with ALOX, the other (about 200) I loaded to about 1000 fps again little leading. just the forceing cone area.
I'm out of the AA9 but do have about 1/2lb of the Blue Dot is the reason for the question.
I have 100 125gr XTP and 100 158gr XTP to load and I'm mindful of the caveat about the 125gr slugs. I'm going to load full-power loads with both and data I have has a listing for both w/the BD but as said I'm going to use something else maybe Power Pistol for the 125gr slugs - it's all else I have on hand except RD and BEye.

 

[fecmech]

I have had excellent results with Blue Dot in both the .357 and .44 mag with cast bullets. In the .357 I run 9.5 grs behind the Lyman "Keith" swc of 170 grs which gives me 1200 fps out of a 6" Ruger GP or about 1500 fps out of my Rossi lever gun.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

Marlin 45 carbine
I use Blue dot in several different 357 mag revolvers with no problem using Cast Lead or jacketed commercial bullets. Look at loading on the high end of the data, Start low and work up to what is comfortable for you and functions well in your pistol.

 

[joneb]

I tried Blue Dot for .357 mag and didn't care for it, the remainder of the BD I use for reduced loads for my .308 win. and for that it works quite well.