I'd just like someone to help with me this reload recipe and make sure it's OK. I've got 240 grain Rainier flat point bullets, and loaded some of them with 14 grains of BlueDot. Rainier's web site says to use lead bullet data, and based on a Nosler reload manual I've got, the 14 grains of BlueDot should be OK (fairly hot, but that's what I want). But I'd just feel better about it if someone here could double check me. Thanks, Neil.
Could someone check this 44mag recipe
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You should not push those plated bullets much over 1000 fps. The copper is very thin and you'll have a severly leaded barrel on your hands.
The Bushmaster
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If it's in the manual and you have a quality firearm in good condition it should be good. However...One should not start from the top of the chart...One should start from the bottom of the load data chart and work up watching for signs of over pressure and leading of the barrel. What may be hot for one gun maybe a Ka-boom for another...
I shot almost entirely lead bullets through my 629 and I've done quite a bit of data searching to wade through all the contradictory advice.
My "practice" load (for IDPA) for a while was a 240 gr. LRN over 9.6 gr. of Herco for about 1150 fps. That is the load I settled on to STOP the leading I was getting with slower loads.
My chamber throats were undersized from the factory and would swage the bullets down to .428 before then entered the barrel. The hotter charge would obturate the bullets faster and get them to swell up and seal in the barrel whereas the lighter charge let a lot of gas blow by, melting lead all down the barrel. I used to get it out in CHUNKS.
Now I've had the throats opened up to .431 and things are peachy. I can get away with almost no leading with loads down around 850 fps.
But I still don't get leading with even my MAG loads which are 300 gr. Lead Truncated Cones over 21 gr. of H110 moving at over 1200 fps.
Allll that being said: My .44 Mag load book lists Lyman data for a 245 gr. cast lead slug as STARTING at 15.0 gr. of Blue Dot (at 941 fps) and topping out at 18.4 gr. (1196 fps). (This is from a 4" barrel.)
The data in that book from RCBS says a 240 gr. flat point slug should get between 17.5 and 18.5 gr. of Blue Dot. They say that would get you between 1438 and 1527 fps. (This is from a 7-1/2" Blackhawk.)
Ain't it grand how they can't even get close to agreeing with each other. Best advice is to start low and work up.
You should do just fine with your load, but it isn't really hot enough to be on the loading chart! I guess that counts as "starting low."
-Sam
My "practice" load (for IDPA) for a while was a 240 gr. LRN over 9.6 gr. of Herco for about 1150 fps. That is the load I settled on to STOP the leading I was getting with slower loads.
My chamber throats were undersized from the factory and would swage the bullets down to .428 before then entered the barrel. The hotter charge would obturate the bullets faster and get them to swell up and seal in the barrel whereas the lighter charge let a lot of gas blow by, melting lead all down the barrel. I used to get it out in CHUNKS.
Now I've had the throats opened up to .431 and things are peachy. I can get away with almost no leading with loads down around 850 fps.
But I still don't get leading with even my MAG loads which are 300 gr. Lead Truncated Cones over 21 gr. of H110 moving at over 1200 fps.
Allll that being said: My .44 Mag load book lists Lyman data for a 245 gr. cast lead slug as STARTING at 15.0 gr. of Blue Dot (at 941 fps) and topping out at 18.4 gr. (1196 fps). (This is from a 4" barrel.)
The data in that book from RCBS says a 240 gr. flat point slug should get between 17.5 and 18.5 gr. of Blue Dot. They say that would get you between 1438 and 1527 fps. (This is from a 7-1/2" Blackhawk.)
Ain't it grand how they can't even get close to agreeing with each other. Best advice is to start low and work up.
You should do just fine with your load, but it isn't really hot enough to be on the loading chart! I guess that counts as "starting low."
-Sam
The Lee book starts with 15.2gn and tops out at 16.6gn of Blue Dot. Thats for a lead 240gn bullet. So I don't think that will be to hot a load.
I've used 15.0 gr Blue Dot behind a 240gr plated bullet. My notes indicate its a "medium" magnum load.
14.8 to 16.9 for a 44 mag. loaded with 240 gr. over Blue Dot. The 16.9 is a maximum number, and not to be exceeded! A 16.9 load if used, may exceed 1300 fps....
Please consult a reloading manual for verification of safe loads. Enjoy!
Please consult a reloading manual for verification of safe loads. Enjoy!
Mr.Revolverguy
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Wow I feel like I can finally help someone here and contribute
I have used Bluedot for a very long time and it is the only powder I use in 44 mag now and I did try trail boss but for some reason in 44 mag it was very dirty. Trailboss in 45acp is now my standard load. For 12 years I have been putting 14.9 grains over a 240 grain lead FP. 9 months ago at added cost and due to moving to an indoor range I went to rainer using the same load. They chrono at (average) 980 for me with this load and not what I would call hot but middle of the road. I use WLP for my 44magnum loads and this load is very accurate for me. I have found if I go below this my 629, Ruger 4inch and raging bull will not group well.
To be on the safe side I will not publish vendor names because I have had heated debates with lawyer friends whom I frequent the range with on, legally could I get in trouble about posting data from load manuals. Copy write infringement but I digress.
One load manual of mine has this for 240 grain lead FP
14gr start and 15.5gr DO NOT EXCEED
Another manual has
14.9gr start and 15.9gr DO NOT EXCEED
Another manual has for 245gr lead FP
14.5 start and 16gr DO NOT EXCEED
Now I can say from experience I have driven the Rainier in 44 mag up to 1150FPS and have not seen any jacket separation that is always mentioned here about keeping them under 1000FPS. I also use Rainers for 500S&W and have had great success there as well and they are surely not under 1000FPS I have chrony'd them but we are talking about 44mag here
For what it is worth that is my experience pertaining to your question and I hope that helps. But I would also ask that you please go out and get yourself a FEW load data manuals to go by. Though I trust the community here on THR and know some of them personally. I still to this day even double check my dads loads with my load manuals before ever trying to duplicate them or use them. I guess I should give the old guy credit for this bluedot load as well
I have used Bluedot for a very long time and it is the only powder I use in 44 mag now and I did try trail boss but for some reason in 44 mag it was very dirty. Trailboss in 45acp is now my standard load. For 12 years I have been putting 14.9 grains over a 240 grain lead FP. 9 months ago at added cost and due to moving to an indoor range I went to rainer using the same load. They chrono at (average) 980 for me with this load and not what I would call hot but middle of the road. I use WLP for my 44magnum loads and this load is very accurate for me. I have found if I go below this my 629, Ruger 4inch and raging bull will not group well.
To be on the safe side I will not publish vendor names because I have had heated debates with lawyer friends whom I frequent the range with on, legally could I get in trouble about posting data from load manuals. Copy write infringement but I digress.
One load manual of mine has this for 240 grain lead FP
14gr start and 15.5gr DO NOT EXCEED
Another manual has
14.9gr start and 15.9gr DO NOT EXCEED
Another manual has for 245gr lead FP
14.5 start and 16gr DO NOT EXCEED
Now I can say from experience I have driven the Rainier in 44 mag up to 1150FPS and have not seen any jacket separation that is always mentioned here about keeping them under 1000FPS. I also use Rainers for 500S&W and have had great success there as well and they are surely not under 1000FPS I have chrony'd them but we are talking about 44mag here
For what it is worth that is my experience pertaining to your question and I hope that helps. But I would also ask that you please go out and get yourself a FEW load data manuals to go by. Though I trust the community here on THR and know some of them personally. I still to this day even double check my dads loads with my load manuals before ever trying to duplicate them or use them. I guess I should give the old guy
credit for this bluedot load as well - Status
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