Another dumb Blue Dot question

G

Greybeard

New member
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I know this sounds silly to most of you, but here goes, Is their more then one kind of Alliant Blue Dot powder? Just picked up my first can at Costa Mesa gun show to work up some .223 loads. Whats confusing to me is the label, it says "smokeless magnum shotshell & handgun powder" I guess the question is, is their a regular Blue Dot + a Magnum Blue Dot? I'd rather ask a dumb question and be on the safe side. Thanks for any help I can get.

Good hunting ... Emilio ..Pico rivera, Ca. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
There's never a silly question about things that go boom. Blue dot is NOT the right powder for the .223. Way too fast of a burn rate. I'd stick with the powders in this burn rate:

H-322, Hodgdon
Benchmark 2, Hodgdon
AAC-2230, Accurate
IMR-4895, IMR
H-4895, Hodgdon
H-335, Hodgdon
BL-C(2), Hodgdon
AAC-2460, Accurate
W-748, Winchester
Reloader 12, Alliant
N135, Vihtavuori
IMR-4064, IMR
Varget, Hodgdon
 
There is only one Blue Dot powder and it is used for reloading shotgun and handguns. Unless you are trying to reload some of the reduced .223 loads that have been posted on this board, Blue Dot is not the powder to use for the .223.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Steve M.
Thanks for the reply, you'r right, I'm going to work up some reduced power loads with the Blue Dot. I normaly use 748 or 2230 for my .223 loads. The low power loads that were poasted for Blue Dot sound interisting so I figure on giving them a try.
Also thanks for any other replys.

Happy hunting ... Emilio ... Pico Rivera, Ca. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Dude,

There is a difference in Blue Dot powders if you got some of the earlier Blue Dot that was manufactured by the Hercules Powder Company, before it was called Alliant Powder Company.

I still have some around the shop and I always used it for loading heavy shotshell loads. 1 1/8 oz and larger, but since there is no more lead shot used for migratory waterfowl, I just have it there maybe for a turkey load if I ever get into turkey hunting.

There should still be some reloading data out there somewhere. I would go to the Alliant Website (they must have one, right?) and find out. You can probably stop in one of the sporting goods stores in your area and find a small reloading handbook (and free) too!

I'd sooner hear you were not going to use it for a .223, especially when there are so many other great powders for that cartridge.
 
Greybeard, I have used both the old (Hercules) and the new (Alliant), with no change in performance.

Bluedot works very well for reduced loads in the 223. MY 16" contender does quite well with it.

I use 12.8 gr with a 40 Sierra SP for .5-.75" groups.

Or with the 55 Sierra Blitz I use 12.6 gr, for consistent .5" groups.

Bluedot is one of my favorite powders for p.dog and rockchuck shooting as it gives me velocities close to full loads yet I can shoot about 3 times more rounds before the barrel heats up.
 
Blue Dot has worked extremely well for me in my .223's also. I've never tried it with anything heavier than 40 gr. bullets, and mostly with the 35 gr. Vmax. About 12.5 gr., with the 35 Vmax, makes a very accurate, pleasant and fun "gopher load". Very minimal recoil and muzzle blast much lower than "regular" .223 loads, my Wife and Son like shooting that load a lot. Cheap, fun, accurate and makes p-dogs come all unglued, what's not to like? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

- DAA
 
I have used the bluedot loads very successfully for a 14" contender. I used bullet weights from 40-50grs and alwasy started at 10gr and worked up very slowly. I have also used it to make a 22lr and 22 wmr eqivelent for my 222 rem. It works great on small game.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Thanks alot for the replys, Blue dot and Daa, that's the kind load information I was looking for. I plan to use a new Rem. .223 ADL with a 24 inch barrel and fire 40 gr. Sierra H.P. Do you guys think that a Blue Dot load would work well in my Remington? And how many grains of Blue Dot would be a good place to start. Thanks for any more load info. anyone can send.

Happy hunting ... Emilio ... Pico Rivera, Ca.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
They ought to work just fine in your Rem. As far as where to start, for the 40's, I'd start at 11.5 and work up very carefully. In my Model Seven, 12.5 gr. is max. with the 35 gr. bullets. Remember, these are low noise, low velocity loads but they are NOT low pressure loads! Chamber pressures will be running right up there with full velocity/noise loads.

- DAA
 
Hi Bluedot
Your load of 12.6 grs. of bluedot powder with a 55 gr. bullet in the .223, is it a max. load, do you know the velocity, what guns are you shooting with this powder? I have over 2000 55 gr. bullets and would like to try them in the .223 with bluedot powder, I have a 14 inch contender and a rem. 788 .223. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks Joe
 
Drags, the 12.6 gr load with 55 sierra's is close but not quite max. I am using them in a 16" contender. I think for shorter barrels bluedot is the best thing going as it gives up very little velocity to other powders but has considerably less recoil and generates far less heat. and the accuracy is outstanding.

I don't have a chrono so can't give you exact speeds but the people I know that have chrono'd it said 2600 fps.

Another option that has worked very well in every 223 I have shot is 21.5 H4198 with 55 gr bullets, real tack driver, is close to max, start 1 gr low and work up .2 at a time.
 
Bluedot, thanks for the reply. What primers do you use for the bluedot loads? What I'm going to use these loads for is a low report load in populated areas and for close range shooting. Do you think this is the right way to go? It sounds like a great .223 contender load for the low report purpose, do you think it will work in my 24" barrel rem. 788 .223 rifle?
thanks Joe
 
Since I shoot a .220 Swift, I really like the idea of reaching the same velocities with less powder and therefore less heat to the bbl. Does anyone know of a reload for .220 swift with bluedot? How is the accuracy. I've been using Varget and 55gr Nosler Balistic Tips and dang near get one hole from 5 shots at 100 yards. But 5 shots in 2 minutes and the bbl is starting to get warm. 8 shots in two minutes of P-Dog killin and its down-right hot.
 
I am not sure about the .220 Swift with Blue Dot, but I do know a couple guys that have tried it in their .22-250's with good results. I tried Blue Dot in a .243 Winchester Savage Striker Handgun I had with 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. While the velocity was a little less than I was after, they were quite accurate and fun to shoot.

Larry

PS. Go to the link below and post your question about Blue Dot in the .220 Swift and I am sure you'll get an answer. GGVG
 
I guess I'll play dumb here, I've never heard of loading a 22-250 with bluedot. Is this just a low velocity powder or are you getting higher end velocities with this powder? And, did I understand correctly? you get similar velocities but less heat?
 
The velocity is less with the blue dot loads but not horribly so. The muzzle blast is reduced a lot and barrel life is much better. In the real short barrels, there is almost no loss in MV.

Like has been said;
These are full pressure loads and must be worked up to carefully as pressure peaks rapidly with this fast powder.

Jack
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top