Lost Sheep
Member
Welcome and thanks for asking our advice.
Edit: (After reading OCD1's post #33.) Err on the sie of caution. Don't shoot them. My post below is rather cavalier and bad advice for a new reloader.
May I be kindly snarky? Shoot them late in the day, around dusk and enjoy the show. Take video and post on Youtube and here.
Seriously, I would shoot the 25 you have loaded. Pulling bullets is a pain and Blue Dot WAS recommended for 125 grain loadings. Just because the powder manufacturer has changed their mind (unless they discovered a safety problem) is not sufficient reason for me to pull the plug on that load. Because it is Blue Dot's manufacturer who has changed recommendations, I give their advisory more weight, but it the reason is excessive muzzle flash and NOT dangerous pressures or unreliable ignition or other such risks to safety, I would just put on my eye and ear protection, make sure I am holding at arm's length and shoot'em up.
My 1979 Speer manual lists Blue Dot up to 15.8 grains for the 125 grain bullet. My 1997 edition of Modern Reloading lists Blue Dot up to 14.5 grains under the same bullet. If Blue Dot's maker's recommendation against use is based on muzzle flash, shooters have been putting up with (accepting) flash for a long time. I don't think 25 more rounds is going to hurt anything.
After I wrote the above, I read the letter that Alliant put out.
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18318&stc=1&d=1217100233
I think I would call the guy named in the letter at that phone number 540-839-8503 ([email protected]) and ask, specifically what the problem is and how is it that 30 years of using B.D. in .357 Magnum with bullet weights as low as 110 grains did not produce a safety problem before. If I could not get a straight, understandable and credible answer, I would consider avoiding Alliant powders in the future. But Alliant is a respected name, and I expect you will get a satisfactory answer. Please share with us when you do.
A picture of a spectacular ball of flame that 10 years from now, you can point to and say "Yep, that was my first handload." would be priceless.
About your next powder purchase:
Unique is a very versatile powder, but sooty. 2400 is good for 357. If you want light loads, Bullseye is pretty good and you get a lot of rounds out of a pound. But being very energy-dense, you have to be extra careful against a double-charge. It is also hard to see if you have left a case uncharged, which can be worse. Trail Boss is a powder that is good for new handloaders because it is easy to see that you have charged the case one time and only one time. It takes up a lot of volume for its weight.
In short. Call Alliant. Shoot the Blue Dot. 30+ years of experience says you are not going to blow yourself up. Switch to a "reduced flash" powder if you don't want the muzzle flash.
Lost Sheep
Edit: (After reading OCD1's post #33.) Err on the sie of caution. Don't shoot them. My post below is rather cavalier and bad advice for a new reloader.
May I be kindly snarky? Shoot them late in the day, around dusk and enjoy the show. Take video and post on Youtube and here.
Seriously, I would shoot the 25 you have loaded. Pulling bullets is a pain and Blue Dot WAS recommended for 125 grain loadings. Just because the powder manufacturer has changed their mind (unless they discovered a safety problem) is not sufficient reason for me to pull the plug on that load. Because it is Blue Dot's manufacturer who has changed recommendations, I give their advisory more weight, but it the reason is excessive muzzle flash and NOT dangerous pressures or unreliable ignition or other such risks to safety, I would just put on my eye and ear protection, make sure I am holding at arm's length and shoot'em up.
My 1979 Speer manual lists Blue Dot up to 15.8 grains for the 125 grain bullet. My 1997 edition of Modern Reloading lists Blue Dot up to 14.5 grains under the same bullet. If Blue Dot's maker's recommendation against use is based on muzzle flash, shooters have been putting up with (accepting) flash for a long time. I don't think 25 more rounds is going to hurt anything.
After I wrote the above, I read the letter that Alliant put out.
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18318&stc=1&d=1217100233
I think I would call the guy named in the letter at that phone number 540-839-8503 ([email protected]) and ask, specifically what the problem is and how is it that 30 years of using B.D. in .357 Magnum with bullet weights as low as 110 grains did not produce a safety problem before. If I could not get a straight, understandable and credible answer, I would consider avoiding Alliant powders in the future. But Alliant is a respected name, and I expect you will get a satisfactory answer. Please share with us when you do.
A picture of a spectacular ball of flame that 10 years from now, you can point to and say "Yep, that was my first handload." would be priceless.
About your next powder purchase:
Unique is a very versatile powder, but sooty. 2400 is good for 357. If you want light loads, Bullseye is pretty good and you get a lot of rounds out of a pound. But being very energy-dense, you have to be extra careful against a double-charge. It is also hard to see if you have left a case uncharged, which can be worse. Trail Boss is a powder that is good for new handloaders because it is easy to see that you have charged the case one time and only one time. It takes up a lot of volume for its weight.
In short. Call Alliant. Shoot the Blue Dot. 30+ years of experience says you are not going to blow yourself up. Switch to a "reduced flash" powder if you don't want the muzzle flash.
Lost Sheep
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