243 blue dot loads
- Thread starter ackleyman
- Start date
Rustydust
Active member
Thanks for posting that, Ackleyman.
For those that have never tried Blue Dot in their .243 (or other) rifles you are most likely in for a pleasant surprise if you do. When using 19 grains of it in my .243 along with the 55 grain Nosler I consistently get one hole five shot 100 yard groups. If I am using my .243 AI I use 20 grains of BD with the same results. Both right at 3000 fps and both launch a ground squirrel really really well. Quiet and accurate and as long as you dont stretch the range too far they are deadly. Wonderful!
Oh, and not much worry about wearing out a barrel with this combo either. A 100 rounds of brass might last you the rest of your life too.
For those that have never tried Blue Dot in their .243 (or other) rifles you are most likely in for a pleasant surprise if you do. When using 19 grains of it in my .243 along with the 55 grain Nosler I consistently get one hole five shot 100 yard groups. If I am using my .243 AI I use 20 grains of BD with the same results. Both right at 3000 fps and both launch a ground squirrel really really well. Quiet and accurate and as long as you dont stretch the range too far they are deadly. Wonderful!
Oh, and not much worry about wearing out a barrel with this combo either. A 100 rounds of brass might last you the rest of your life too.
Some years back there was a gent on a forum really pushing the use of blue dot in a whole bunch of cartridges. He swore that there was no need for any other powder.
I have never been a fan of small doses of fast burning powder. I have seen guys that have some kind of formula they use for bullseye in bottle neck cartridges with cast bullets. To eaches own.
I had bought some BD to try Calhoons load in 223, never got around to it.
I had just started playing with cast and was looking at TC 30-30 data. Found some for blue dot. Initial results at the bench showed very good promise. At an IHMSA match it went crazy shooting Creedmoor. Might strike 2’ low at 150. Next shot may hit center. I just new I had some kind of bad issue. Long story short after a fair bit of fooling with several things it was very position sensitive.
Load and tip the barrel up, all was good. Mess around and let the powder lay flat or forward and it shot low a bunch. Crazy thing was the chrono readings showed no difference.
YMMV just my findings.
I figure guns are expensive and powder is cheap.
I have never been a fan of small doses of fast burning powder. I have seen guys that have some kind of formula they use for bullseye in bottle neck cartridges with cast bullets. To eaches own.
I had bought some BD to try Calhoons load in 223, never got around to it.
I had just started playing with cast and was looking at TC 30-30 data. Found some for blue dot. Initial results at the bench showed very good promise. At an IHMSA match it went crazy shooting Creedmoor. Might strike 2’ low at 150. Next shot may hit center. I just new I had some kind of bad issue. Long story short after a fair bit of fooling with several things it was very position sensitive.
Load and tip the barrel up, all was good. Mess around and let the powder lay flat or forward and it shot low a bunch. Crazy thing was the chrono readings showed no difference.
YMMV just my findings.
I figure guns are expensive and powder is cheap.
I have shot untold thousands of Blue dot loads in a 223 on ground squirrels and P. dogs. 1.25" groups at 200 with 40g bullets is the norm.
Cast bullets on a squirrel field would be a dangerous proposition with them bouncing all over, I tried some gas check 62's a long time ago.
600 rounds inbetween cleanings on 223's with 12-14g of blue dots and 40g, and went to 900 rounds on a 221 FB inbetween cleanings with 10.6g Of Blue Dot. Barrel does not get the heat also.
Cast bullets on a squirrel field would be a dangerous proposition with them bouncing all over, I tried some gas check 62's a long time ago.
600 rounds inbetween cleanings on 223's with 12-14g of blue dots and 40g, and went to 900 rounds on a 221 FB inbetween cleanings with 10.6g Of Blue Dot. Barrel does not get the heat also.
I only mention my experience with blue dot as I know I am not the only one to have had the position issue with it.
My reference to cast bullets and blue dot was in no way intended for prairie dog towns. Cast bullets on a dog town may even be worse than FMJ ammo.
The mention of the cast was only in reference to MY findings with blue dot, which was also a load out of a published data.
Carry on
Merry Christmas
My reference to cast bullets and blue dot was in no way intended for prairie dog towns. Cast bullets on a dog town may even be worse than FMJ ammo.
The mention of the cast was only in reference to MY findings with blue dot, which was also a load out of a published data.
Carry on
Merry Christmas
DannoBoone
Active member
Rusty, I'm not getting near the accuracy you have gotten. But
then, I have been using Dog Town bullets. Luckily, the Blue
Dot loads were more for fun while fire-forming brass, so no
biggy. Good way to turn the .243 into .223 and save on barrel
wear!
then, I have been using Dog Town bullets. Luckily, the Blue
Dot loads were more for fun while fire-forming brass, so no
biggy. Good way to turn the .243 into .223 and save on barrel
wear!
Rustydust
Active member
Originally Posted By: DannoBooneRusty, I'm not getting near the accuracy you have gotten. But then, I have been using Dog Town bullets.
I have been using the 55 grain Nosler (PN #17250) Varmageddon. Not sure of the OL or the primer off hand but these are the bullets. Just a couple of months ago I was at the 100 yard range and shot four in a row three shot 3/8" groups with it and one 5 shot group that you could not poke your pinky though. I took pictures of the targets and sent them to Ackleyman so he could see how well they worked for me. I am very much looking forward to springtime so I can put a few unlucky ground squirrels in orbit with this load. I got some earlier this year and decided right then that this was the squirrel load for me and this gun. Just too much fun.
I have been using the 55 grain Nosler (PN #17250) Varmageddon. Not sure of the OL or the primer off hand but these are the bullets. Just a couple of months ago I was at the 100 yard range and shot four in a row three shot 3/8" groups with it and one 5 shot group that you could not poke your pinky though. I took pictures of the targets and sent them to Ackleyman so he could see how well they worked for me. I am very much looking forward to springtime so I can put a few unlucky ground squirrels in orbit with this load. I got some earlier this year and decided right then that this was the squirrel load for me and this gun. Just too much fun.
I load 14-15 grains of Blue Dot, 40 gr Vmax(moly) and FC 205 primer in a R700 26" Varmint. Last time I checked the chrono said 3200 fps ish. 3/4 inch groups were the average, some smaller if I did my best on the trigger. What really amazed me is how many rounds you can shoot before the barrel needs some cool off time, roughly 25+ shots on a 70* day. The second thing to note is the brass comes out of the chamber cool to the touch. Shooting ground grizzlies, ammo laying in the sun, brass extracted and cooler than when loaded....weird.