Blue dot for cast and reduced loads in rifle.

[CoalCrackerAl]

This has been picking at me for awhile now. I can't find any published data on it. They have rifle loads for the other dot powders and powders close to the same burn rate as blue dot. Im wondering why no loads listed for blue dot. I would think that someone would have done testing for it. To determine what pressures are generated and how effective of load it would be. Anyone else ever wonder about it?

 

[FROGO207]

I have played around with Blue Dot in the past. You need to keep it near a max load to burn completly and cleanly. Then it tends to be spikey at the same time especially with light bullets. There is even a caution not to use it with light bullets in 38 SPL loads. The older Alliant data books had data for it if you want to see what worked and these days there are many propellants that work as well that are more forgiving.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I remember seeing many loads for BlueDot in rifles.
There was a guy doing the testing, he wasn't part of a ballistic lab. I think he posted on one of the other forums, but it's been years.

I can't remember his screen name. Something to do with water.
SeaBreeze, or Sea- something or other ?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Yes Seafire is his nick. I found his data. I want to use up my B.D. I have issues with it not burning well in handgun loads. Im spoiled with unique for wheel gun loads. And i don't find Blue dot working well in semi-autos for me. In 10mm it does well at close to max loads with magnum primers. But that kills the brass faster. I like lite loads for target shooting.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Yes Seafire is his nick. I found his data. I want to use up my B.D. I have issues with it not burning well in handgun loads. Im spoiled with unique for wheel gun loads. And i don't find Blue dot working well in semi-autos for me. In 10mm it does well at close to max loads with magnum primers. But that kills the brass faster. I like lite loads for target shooting.

I've used the Seafire method in 30-40 Krag, 30-30, 308, and 223. It works well.
Since it's not pressure tested. You are going at your own risk.

 

[Charlie98]

The older Alliant data books had data for it if you want to see what worked and these days there are many propellants that work as well that are more forgiving.

Alliant also issued a warning about using it in any .41MAG load. I've actually loaded it in .41... where I was not impressed with it, nor in .38/158grn cast loads... although I'll admit, I was not running it like it should have been... at the upper end of data. People call Unique dirty... not until you've used BlueDot in mid-range loads!

It seems like it would be a good fit in rifle/carbine loads... much like 2400 or IMR4227, but my concern would be the pressure peaks.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

i don't find Blue dot working well in semi-autos for me. In 10mm it does well at close to max loads with magnum primers

And that’s why there’s so little data.
Blue Dot is good for max load.45ACP and 9mm but there are better powder options. It’s a good powder for .44Spl 240gr SWC loads, especially for longer barrels - 6” and longer. It’s a fair substitute for 2400 or 110 in a .357Mag with 160gr and heavier hard cast if you really need a flash-bang load. I tried it in.40S&W against the advice of others and quickly discovered why that was a mistake: accuracy and consistency were AOL.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The flash bang loads would be fun from my 44 mag rifle when the sun is setting. Im debating to load some .223 55 grain jacketed at 10,11 and 12 grains. I run 15 grains of 2400 in it. And they show no over pressure signs. Im not going to jump into it just yet. My rifle is a Savage Axis.