Blue dot in 357 mag
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Toprudder
Member
Hard to imagine anything with more flash and bang than H110!
Hondo 60
Member
Ya, but it's spectacular just as dusk is setting in.
Gets them early teenagers just giggling with awe.
Gets them early teenagers just giggling with awe.
It works very well as reduced velocity rifle powder. That is where it ends.
I was shocked the first time I pulled the trigger. I love H110 in the 357 and 44. The velocity and accuracy are hard to beat.
Toprudder
Member
Works great in 460 as well.
It burns clean at high pressure. Definitely lights up the sky.
Almost any powder burns "dirty" when loaded below it's optimum pressure. I have several good loads for Blue Dot in for my 44 magnums and 357 Magnum. While I have more "modern", "new and improved", I'll continue to use Blue Dot mainly because it works...
Last edited:
Salmoneye
Member
Remember...
Alliant specifically recommends NOT using Blue Dot with 125 grain bullets in .357 mag, and not at all in .41 Mag...
https://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/safety_notices.aspx
Alliant specifically recommends NOT using Blue Dot with 125 grain bullets in .357 mag, and not at all in .41 Mag...
https://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/safety_notices.aspx
375supermag
Member
Hi...
I have been using Blue Dot in my .357Mag revolvers for decades with no problems and complete satisfaction and excellent accuracy. I do not use it for full power loads...I typically use 2400 and W296/H110 for full power loads and jacketed bullets.
I use it with commercial cast 158gr LSWC in half a dozen revolvers. I quit using it with 125gr bullets in the .357Mag when the warning came out years ago. I also quit using it in the .41Mag at the same time and for the same reasons.
I have been using Blue Dot in my .357Mag revolvers for decades with no problems and complete satisfaction and excellent accuracy. I do not use it for full power loads...I typically use 2400 and W296/H110 for full power loads and jacketed bullets.
I use it with commercial cast 158gr LSWC in half a dozen revolvers. I quit using it with 125gr bullets in the .357Mag when the warning came out years ago. I also quit using it in the .41Mag at the same time and for the same reasons.
I do not like Blue Dot. I tried the powder in 9mm, 38 Spl, 357, 44 Spl, 44 Magnum, 45 ACP and 45 LC.
The only application that worked well was with Jacketed bullets in the 357. Even then, I got leading with cast bullets in the 357 at velocities with the same bullets that did not create leading with 2400 and AA#9 . Guess what powders I recommend in the 357 Magnum: H110, 2400, and AA#9. I have no idea why 357 Magnum cast bullets leaded with Blue Dot, but they did, and I don't like cleaning out leading. Blue Dot burns poorly at anything but Magnum pressures. With non magnum loads, I had teaspoons of unburnt powder rolling around in my fired case box. In non magnum loads, my chronograph data shows huge extreme spreads, around 200 fps, showing that the powder is not burning completely. I consider high extreme spreads as risky. I want a smooth, consistent pressure curve and weird and erratic pressure curves can only create trouble.
I did shoot it in 45 ACP. Even when the velocity average was 800 fps in a M1911, it gave a very hard recoil. Which indicates a high residual breech pressure at unlock. Maybe if you are shooting something like a Thompson, or a blowback submachine gun that has a heavy breech block, it might work well. But I don’t want to peen the frames of my pistols.
I think it is an awful powder and don’t wish it on any one.
But, go back to your Oct 2006 Handloader magazine and the Propellant Profiles article by R.H. VanDenburg Jr . The author really bally hoo's Blue Dot. He starts off with a tried and true literary device: the author just happens to have a conversation about the product he is promoting. These conversations are sometimes with “wise gray beard”, some “unnamed celebrity”, or in this case, an “energetic young man”. You can rest assured that the conversation never took place.
Nothing in the article involves any other research than a reiteration of the Alliant Reloading guide, No extreme spreads of velocities, typical statements “perhaps ideal..”, “ is a favorite of many…” ends article with “Blue Dot is an exceedingly useful powder”. I really dislike advertising dressed up as editorial content.
The only application that worked well was with Jacketed bullets in the 357. Even then, I got leading with cast bullets in the 357 at velocities with the same bullets that did not create leading with 2400 and AA#9 . Guess what powders I recommend in the 357 Magnum: H110, 2400, and AA#9. I have no idea why 357 Magnum cast bullets leaded with Blue Dot, but they did, and I don't like cleaning out leading. Blue Dot burns poorly at anything but Magnum pressures. With non magnum loads, I had teaspoons of unburnt powder rolling around in my fired case box. In non magnum loads, my chronograph data shows huge extreme spreads, around 200 fps, showing that the powder is not burning completely. I consider high extreme spreads as risky. I want a smooth, consistent pressure curve and weird and erratic pressure curves can only create trouble.
I did shoot it in 45 ACP. Even when the velocity average was 800 fps in a M1911, it gave a very hard recoil. Which indicates a high residual breech pressure at unlock. Maybe if you are shooting something like a Thompson, or a blowback submachine gun that has a heavy breech block, it might work well. But I don’t want to peen the frames of my pistols.
I think it is an awful powder and don’t wish it on any one.
But, go back to your Oct 2006 Handloader magazine and the Propellant Profiles article by R.H. VanDenburg Jr . The author really bally hoo's Blue Dot. He starts off with a tried and true literary device: the author just happens to have a conversation about the product he is promoting. These conversations are sometimes with “wise gray beard”, some “unnamed celebrity”, or in this case, an “energetic young man”. You can rest assured that the conversation never took place.
Nothing in the article involves any other research than a reiteration of the Alliant Reloading guide, No extreme spreads of velocities, typical statements “perhaps ideal..”, “ is a favorite of many…” ends article with “Blue Dot is an exceedingly useful powder”. I really dislike advertising dressed up as editorial content.
I've used Blue Dot and liked it in 357 Magnum (158-160 gr SWC), 38 Super (130 FMJ), 38/45 Clerke (130 FMJ), and 40 S&W (180 gr TC). I did not care for Blue Dot in 9x19 (124 FMJ).
I used Blue Dot the most in 357 Magnum and loaded a round just a bit lower than full power. Blue Dot worked well with my cast bullets. My full power loads for 357 Magnum are loaded with W296 and loaded with jacketed bullets. 2400 and IMR 4227 never really made me excited.
I stopped using Blue Dot in the early to mid 1990s as I stopped shooting many full power or near full power loads in the 357 Magnum. Other powders do better at the 900-1000 fps velocity level that I like to shoot in the 357 Magnum.
For the semi-auto cartridges, I now use alot of True Blue and AA#5. I have a couple uses for AA#7 as well.
The metering of Blue Dot was never a problem for me. I still use lots of Unique and 700-X, both flake powders.
I did buy a pound of Blue Dot back during the powder shortage but I have not opened it yet. I still have uses for it.
I used Blue Dot the most in 357 Magnum and loaded a round just a bit lower than full power. Blue Dot worked well with my cast bullets. My full power loads for 357 Magnum are loaded with W296 and loaded with jacketed bullets. 2400 and IMR 4227 never really made me excited.
I stopped using Blue Dot in the early to mid 1990s as I stopped shooting many full power or near full power loads in the 357 Magnum. Other powders do better at the 900-1000 fps velocity level that I like to shoot in the 357 Magnum.
For the semi-auto cartridges, I now use alot of True Blue and AA#5. I have a couple uses for AA#7 as well.
The metering of Blue Dot was never a problem for me. I still use lots of Unique and 700-X, both flake powders.
I did buy a pound of Blue Dot back during the powder shortage but I have not opened it yet. I still have uses for it.
Toprudder
Member
For forty years I have used Blue Dot, first for 1,340 fps 2-3/4" 12ga "baby" magnum 5/8oz loads, then 1,450 fps 125gr JHP factory full power equivalent in.357 mag, and later in miscellaneous loads in the .41 mag.
The year Speer posted their advise to not use BD in the .357 mag with 125gr bullets and then not to use in the .41 mag the NRA national convention was held in Phoenix. I stopped by the Alliant booth and had a discussion with 2 of the companies powder and load specialists regarding the use of BD and the loads I had been using with good results for years. They said that since I had developed my loads and have no pressure signs there was no reason not to continue using BD. The reason for the BD warning was the large disparity of maximum charge levels found in published data.
The year Speer posted their advise to not use BD in the .357 mag with 125gr bullets and then not to use in the .41 mag the NRA national convention was held in Phoenix. I stopped by the Alliant booth and had a discussion with 2 of the companies powder and load specialists regarding the use of BD and the loads I had been using with good results for years. They said that since I had developed my loads and have no pressure signs there was no reason not to continue using BD. The reason for the BD warning was the large disparity of maximum charge levels found in published data.
JimKirk
Member
I shot quite a bit of Blue Dot in my Model 57 (41 Magnum)... I don't ever remember having any problems with it at all....
I always worked up my loads too .... I guess that may have been the reason .....
I always worked up my loads too .... I guess that may have been the reason .....
I have to agree with you. I haven't seen weird results from Blue dot, but I didn't push it in anything I loaded it in.
I like it in 40, but it didn't give the fireball that I get from the 357.
Blue Dot is great in medium to heavy 12 gauge loads. I used to use it for some 180gr sfp that I came across (I think they might have been Remington's). I now use Alliant's 300-MP for heavy loads. Another thing that I have heard a few years back, don't use it in the winter time, very temperature sensitive.
JimKirk
Member
I forgot to say Blue Dot will work OK in the 357 SIG also .... but I like some of the other powders better ... but Blue Dot will yield pretty high velocity ...
ssyoumans
Member
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Blue Dot is a top powder for 10mm with 155gr to 180 gr bullets. Get a little more umph than with Power Pistol. Also handy for reduced loads in numerous rifle calibers with extreme caution.
I go thru a few cans per year. I hope they don’t discontinue it.
I go thru a few cans per year. I hope they don’t discontinue it.
my 357 magnum, 180 grain lead bullet load is a max charge of blue dot. goes 1200 fps at the chrony out of my 4.625" blackhawk. it's a fast and accurate load.
I tried bluedot with a 158 grain lead swc and got leading past 1250 fps. so, this powder can be too good with certain loads.
luck,
murf
I tried bluedot with a 158 grain lead swc and got leading past 1250 fps. so, this powder can be too good with certain loads.
luck,
murf
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