Blue Dot Substitute?

[Patocazador]

Every place I check online doesn't have Blue Dot in stock. I've been checking for over a month .. keep getting shut out.

Is there another powder that duplicates Blue Dot's performance?

 

[Dave P]

Take a look at a burn-rate chart. Good place to start.

 

[joneb]

What do you use Blue Dot for?

 

[mdi]

I've used Blue Dot in a hand gun cartridges; .44 Magnum with 250-265 gr bullets, 9mm, .357 Magnum, mebbe more I jes can't remember right now. Blue Dot is between AA7 and HS-7, and Ramshot Silhouette is a bit faster than those...

 

[tcj]

I use H110 and N110 for my 44's. There is a warning out about using Blue Dot in 357 which is I have never used it for those loads.

 

[Rule3]

Pretty much ANYTHING

Bluedot is flaming dirt and should be eliminated It's spiky and only works at max or near max loads.
Maybe it's good in shotguns I can not say.
Try 2400 .

 

[trentcwwilson]

Pretty much ANYTHING

Bluedot is flaming dirt and should be eliminated It's spiky and only works at max or near max loads.
Maybe it's good in shotguns I can not say.
Try 2400 .

Flaming dirt...yea...I've never had issues with it other that it's not the cleanest stuff I shoot.

I use H110 and N110 for my 44's. There is a warning out about using Blue Dot in 357 which is I have never used it for those loads.

The warnings are warrante, but I've never heard from the reloaders near me having one issue with it. If you don't load near max, don't bother with it. If your gun can't handle it, don't bother with it.

Yes, there are better substitutes. For the longest time, Bluedot was all we could get around here. Now, I use Tite Group. Works just as good and not nearly as much powder.

 

[Rule3]

The Blue Dot Warning about 357 is with a 125 gr bullet. There is also a warning about use in the 41 magnum.

This will bring up the dead horse topic and all the folks that have used it anyway, Kinda like lead in a Glock

So if the powder company has issues with their own product why bother with it when so many other options are available (or used to be)

http://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/safety_notices.aspx


At Alliant Powder, we take safety seriously. That’s why we periodically test our products in different situations to be sure our use recommendations stay current. Check here for any safety notes or recall information. Stay safe and keep accurate.

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.

 

[sellersm]

It would help if you'd tell us what calibers/loads you're looking for? Ramshot True Blue is a good replacement for many calibers/loads... There are many others as well.

 

[hdwhit]

Looking at the burn rate chart in the Vihta Vuori Reloading Guide, 12th Edition, the following powders that are showing as being close to Blue Dot. They are also shown as being in stock at the on-line sellers I checked a moment ago:
* Ramshot Silhouette
* IMR Hi-Skor 800X
* Accurate No. 7

 

[John3921]

I use BD in 9mm, 10mm, and .357. I don't like it in the 9mm, but it's what I had. I found some BE-86 available locally that I'm going to try out. Alliant has load data available for many cartridges and the stuff seems to meter quite well.

 

[Buck13]

Longshot is pretty close. I've tried it in .43 Mag with 300 gr SWC-GC and 240 gr Noslers with decent results. Plated bullets (RMR HPs, IIRC) keyholed and wouldn't even stay on 8.5 x 11" paper at 50 feet, but I'm not blaming the powder.

 

[bob4]

My large box store in SWFL has had Blue dot for quite some time now. Have you checked yours?

 

[Patocazador]

Longshot is pretty close. I've tried it in .43 Mag with 300 gr SWC-GC and 240 gr Noslers with decent results. Plated bullets (RMR HPs, IIRC) keyholed and wouldn't even stay on 8.5 x 11" paper at 50 feet, but I'm not blaming the powder.

I've got 2 lbs of Longshot ordered. It should be here Tuesday. I bought it for shotgun loads but will try it in .40 S&W and .357 Sig.

Thanks

 

[OilyPablo]

My vote = Accurate No. 7 (or maybe No. 5)

 

[trentcwwilson]

I've got 2 lbs of Longshot ordered. It should be here Tuesday. I bought it for shotgun loads but will try it in .40 S&W and .357 Sig.

Thanks

Tried longshot in 357 magnum. Touch hot for plinking duty.

 

[Rule3]

I use Longshot in 9mm and 40 SW, just haven't gotten around ti loading 357 with it yet.

 

[trentcwwilson]

I think 7 grains is what I was told. Google and find out. She's pretty stout.

 

[Steve C]

Accurate AA#7 is very close to Blue Dot in burn rate and performance. Both are excellent for top velocity loads in the 9mm, .357mag and other high pressure cartridges.

 

[TimSr]

I've got 2 lbs of Longshot ordered. It should be here Tuesday. I bought it for shotgun loads but will try it in .40 S&W and .357 Sig.

I don't know, and am just asking the question. Is there sufficient load data available for using Longshot in your shotgun loads? Most of the advice pertained to pistol loads.

 

[Patocazador]

I don't know, and am just asking the question. Is there sufficient load data available for using Longshot in your shotgun loads? Most of the advice pertained to pistol loads.

Ballistic Products has it listed in their shotshell book.

 

[trentcwwilson]

I don't know, and am just asking the question. Is there sufficient load data available for using Longshot in your shotgun loads? Most of the advice pertained to pistol loads.

Must be plenty. The old man has a binder full of loads for it. I don't remember the powder charge, but I know it was pushing 1 1/8 ounce #7 1/2 shot at just over 1500fps. It let's you know it's there. There's many a days hunters come up from our dove field and ask who's shooting the cannon.

 

[John3921]

Longshot is a very good 3/4 oz. 28 ga. target powder. Often called loudshot

 

[Rule3]

I don't know, and am just asking the question. Is there sufficient load data available for using Longshot in your shotgun loads? Most of the advice pertained to pistol loads.

It IS a shotgun powder but as others it is good for handguns also.

LONGSHOT®
LONGSHOT™

This spherical powder is the most versatile shotshell heavy field propellant Hodgdon has ever produced. Great loads in 10 ga., 12 ga., 16 ga., 20 ga., and 28 ga. are shown in Hodgdon’s Reloading Data Center. This propellant provides true magnum velocities with superb patterns. In addition, LONGSHOT is the best choice for those competitors shooting games such as "Buddy", "Annie Oakleys" and more. LONGSHOT is the high velocity pistol choice in 38 Super, 40 S&W, and 357 SIG at lower than usual operating pressures. Available in 1 lb., 4 lb. & 8 lb. containers.

 

[Rule3]

I think 7 grains is what I was told. Google and find out. She's pretty stout.

Why guess? Look at the data. Hodgdon has a start load of 7.3gr max of 8.4 with a pressure of 31,700 to 43,200 cup for a common 158 gr XTP

That said you can use twice as much H110 get more velocity and LESS pressure as it is a tad faster burning than H110

Longshot is a LOUD powder much like Power Pistol is. It sounds potent