blue dot and 45 colt

[prestonjr]

12 grains to 15 grains of blue dot powder research says at 15 grains its at 1200 per fps with a 255 grain cast swc. Research doesn't say what make of pistol they using. Knowing blue dot hot powder anybody that load to much for a newer Vaquero

 

[Salmoneye]

From what I am seeing, anything over 13gr Blue Dot with that bullet is going to be in +P territory, and should not be used in the New Vaquero...

 

[Big Nugget]

Just a FYI

Out of my 5 1/2" Blackhawk I'll get 890 fps average with 12 gr Bluedot under a Mo bullet Cowboy #9 (255 Grain SWC)
Win brass
Win Lg pistol primer

 

[Slamfire]

There are better choices than BlueDot in the 45 LC. In my testing, the extreme spreads were too wide, indicating that this powder is inappropriate in this application. BlueDot is a magnum powder and does not burn well at lower pressures. However, it will go bang if you have nothing else.

If you do, I recommend Unique. This is an old staple in the 45 LC.

[SIZE="3"][B]5 1/2" USFA Rodeo [/B]						
						
250 LRN (.452") 8.5 grs Unique  thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers						
12-May-02	T = 80°F					
						
Ave Vel =	855	 	 	 		
Std Dev =	16	 	 			
ES	59.91	 	 			
High	885.4		 			
Low	825.5		 			
Number Shots	12					
						
						
250 LRN (.452") 11.5 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP						
11-Sep-05	T = 85 °F	shoots close to  point of aim acceptable accuracy				
						
						
Ave Vel =	845					
Std Dev =	48					
ES	183.6					
High	933.3					
Low	749.7					
N =	18					
						
						
						
250 LRN (.452") 12.0 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP						
11-Sep-05	T = 85 °F	shoots close to  point of aim good accuracy				
						
Ave Vel =	904					
Std Dev =	44					
ES	149.6					
High	955.2				 	
Low	806				 	
N =	15	[/SIZE]

 

[murf]

there is another post running about a s&w model 25 and using blue dot and hs-6. both his and your firearm are chambered for the 45acp cartridge and will handle +p loads (saami max is 23,000 psi). suggest you go over there for info and good references (taffin and linebaugh).

murf

 

[suemarkp]

Agree with the others that Unique seems to be an optimal powder. Blue dot will do better with the heavier bullets, but it is diminishing returns for more a bunch more powder added. Same with 2400. These both do better at higher pressures.

The heaviest load I have is 13gr for a 250gr LSWC giving about 975 fps (1.600 OAL and CCI 300 primers). It isn't pressure listed, but was still within the normal limit.

12.5gr of Blue Dot was listed for a 285gr LRN at around 960 fps.
9gr of unique should give about 950 fps with a 255 LSWC
17 to18gr of 2400 should give about 1000 fps (1.600 OAL) with a 255 LSWC

 

[Don McDowell]

After 40 someodd years of shooting Unique in the 45 colt. I have come to prefer bludot . 12.9 grs with a 250 gr cast, as per Alliants web page recipe gives over 900 fps from a 5.5 inch barreled Vaquero, and does a touch over 1100 in my Winchester trapper, and delivers very good accuracy in both guns.

 

[USSR]

I agree with SlamFire1, using a slow burn rate powder such as Blue Dot for sub-1000fps loads makes zero sense. You say that you have a "newer Vaquero", do you mean a New Vaquero that is made using a smaller frame than the old Vaquero? If so, then you should stick to the sub-23,000psi loads that murf mentioned in his post. If you don't intend to go over 1,000fps with your load, then there are a ton of powders that will work. Just about any powder suitable for 12 gauge target loads will work, as well as: Unique, W231/HP38, AA#5, and HS-6.

Don

 

[Don McDowell]

Check out the load guide on Alliants site. 12.9 grs with a 250 gr bullet is within saami spec for the 45 colt. And it does shoot very well..

 

[Vern Humphrey]

5 1/2" USFA Rodeo

250 LRN (.452") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers
12-May-02 T = 80°F

Ave Vel = 855
Std Dev = 16
ES 59.91
High 885.4
Low 825.5
Number Shots 12


250 LRN (.452") 11.5 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP
11-Sep-05 T = 85 °F shoots close to point of aim acceptable accuracy


Ave Vel = 845
Std Dev = 48
ES 183.6
High 933.3
Low 749.7
N = 18

That extreme spread is telling you something. I suspect the pressure is not high enough with that charge of Blue Dot to fully combust.

 

[prestonjr]

thanks for the help you guys are great

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My current favorite 45 Colt powder is HS-6. If you are generating 1200 fps in a 45 Colt load I would not shoot that load in a New Vaquero. The pressures are probably way too high. Try to use only trusted published load data.

Using a 250gr LSWC bullet Alliant lists 12.9gr Blue Dot as the Max charge w/velocities just over 1000 fps...
http://alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gtypeid=1