Blue Dot = Blue Dirt

[XD-40 Shooter]

Today I decided to experiment a little in my 357 mag with Blue Dot. The minimum listed load in my Lee book for 125 grain jacketed is 13.1 grains, I decided to try a reduced load at 12 grains. Let me tell you, at reduced loads, Blue Dot is dirty, dirty, dirty, my gun is covered in soot and there is some unburned powder granules, ick! If you're gonna use Blue Dot, run a midrange listed load, 13.5 grains should be about right, as 14.5 is the max listed. I've learned my lesson, full power loads with slower powders.

 

[sublimaze41]

Accuracy= Blue Dot = a little elbow grease. Great trade off if you ask me.

 

[Walkalong]

Blue Dot cleans up real well with enough pressure. It is like quite a few powders which just don't burn clean at low pressures, but clean up good to very good with enough pressure.

 

[Master Blaster]

Are you using a good solid roll crimp?

Insufficient crimp can cause the problem you are seeing. Bell the cases a bit less and use a firm roll crimp.

 

[CZ223]

speaking of Blue dot in the 357 Mag

Give this load a try per the Speer reloading manual 11th edition. 16.0 grains under a 125 gr JHP. This is not their max load, the max being 16.3. Their manual puts this load right around 1575 fps. Well let me tell you, the first and only time I used this load I was at an indoor range and I was puttin out about a 4 foot burst of bright blue and white light. EVERYBODY in that place stopped what they were doing to watch, in horror I suspect. If I remember correctly I fired 2 cylinders full and decided that was enough. Since then, 15 or 16 years ago, I have cross checked this load with other manuals that I have aquired. The Lyman 47th edition has a max load a full 3 grains below the 16.3 max in the Speer number 11. It will get you some attention I gurantee. By the way, I do not recomend using this load as I believe it is excessive if not dangerous. One guy there at the range that night took a half dozen rounds home with him and put them over a Chronograph at around 1800 FPS through his 10 inch contender and had to drive the cases out. On the upside he thought it was a pretty accurate load.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I have been using BlueDot in 44 mag for years and love it. As you stated it is very dirty at reduced loads. Just bump it up to midrange and you will find it burns cleanly and will give you great accuracy.

 

[joneb]

I have settled on 10.4 gr of Blue Dot behind a 158gr JHP using small pistol primers, this load has given me excellent accuracy in my new/old Ruger security 6 with a 2 3/4" barrel, but I originally developed the load for a 4" Colt Trooper and for me it runs clean in both firearms.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

My first batch of 357 loads with Blue Dot, I used 14.3 grains behind a 125 grain JHP, the chrono'd 1600 fps out of my 4" Tracker. My buddy, who lets me shoot on his property, asked me what cannon I was shooting, must have been pretty loud. It was accurate and clean, I fired 50 of'em. I've sinced backed off to 13.3 grains, since I don't want to subject my gun to a steady diet of max loads. 13.3 grains still gives me 1450 fps over the chrono, pretty much matches factory loads.

Another really accurate, mild load I've been using is 9 grains of Unique over a 125 grain JHP, this gives me 1300-1350 over the chrono and is laser accurate, clean, with a mild report. I really like this load.

For full power loads with 158 grain bullets, I prefer Winchester 296. 16.6 grains of 296 gave me 1300 fps, while 10.5 grains of Blue Dot was only giving me 1200-1230.

I've got one pound of Blue Dot, once that is used up, I'm going back to 296/Unique, I just like these powders better for my purposes.

 

[Chief 101]

I finally found a use for Blue Dot. Full loads in the 40 S&W. On another note, if I wanted a clean gun I would leave it in the safe.
Chief aka Maxx Load

 

[Clark]

In .223 at ~40,000 psi, 500 rounds of Blue Dot cleans up with patch that looks like it is following only one round fired.

It really burns clean, if the pressure is high.

 

[zxcvbob]

I tend to load everything at the high end of its range. The powders all burn better that way. If I want lighter loads, I switch to a different (usually faster) powder.

 

[JDGray]

Give this load a try per the Speer reloading manual 11th edition.

I've noticed alot of old manuals have been updated to lower levels, especially with W231

 

[Shell Shucker]

I like Blue Dot in "warm" 357 loads. Powerful, accurate, clean, and low charge weight per fps. I have not tried reduced loads with it; they probably are dirty. I have not noticed excessive flash. I shoot outdoors in the sunshine.

 

[P-32]

If you like your pistol, I would not use Speer 11 .357 Blue Dot Data. It's way too hot. I've been using Blue Dot in .357 for about 20 years. Started out using data from a Speer 9. Speer 10 didn't have Blue Dot data as they had a problem of some sort. Speer 13 is closer to the truth.

 

[lil ski]

I have used Blue Dot for years in my 44 mag and wouldn't trade it for any thing. One thing I will not rely on is a reloading book writen by a bullet company I will stick with one by the powder company. I have a Speer book that is a full 2 grains over what the power company has in there book for a max load.