Issues with my first batch at the range

[varodd]

So I loaded up my first batch of 38spl and took them to the range. They did well and had only a slightly larger grouping but hitting the same group location as the factory .357 ammo I took along with. One thing I noticed was that I was getting unburned powder while dropping my empties. Can anyone give me some hints as to what would be causing this?

Load info

38spl brass
Sierra .357 110gr JHP Blitz
9.2gr of Blue Dot
Remington Magnum Primer
Source of load info is Sierra 5th edition.

 

[beatledog7]

Seems like a very hot load to me. Lee 2nd says max is 7.8gr. Why magnum primers?

 

[varodd]

The Sierra 5th addition manual load info for the Blue dot indicates Mag primers with a start load of 8.8gr and 10.4 as the max

 

[foxs]

How much crimp are you putting on it?

 

[rcmodel]

Not enough of the wrong powder.

IMO: Blue Dot is a poor choice for .38 Special.

rc

 

[murf]

alliant shows a regular primer for use with bludot in all their reloading data.

bludot is probably too slow for a 115 grain bullet in a 38 special loading. will work great in a fast 357 mag loading.

try unique, bullseye, or w231 if you are going to keep to 38 special pressures and speed.

murf

 

[Sport45]

IMO: Blue Dot is a poor choice for .38 Special.

rc

I think the same way. I bought a pound of Blue Dot to try to replicate a .38 +P load and never could get consistent ignition or velocity and it left an amazing mess of unburnt powder on the bench.

I still have most of the pound in the closet as I have yet to find anything I like using it in.

 

[kingmt]

Blue Dot is the right speed for small projectiles in 223 & 243.

Couple of guesses for the 38 one heaver bullets & standard primers. The mags may be kicking the bullet out before the power gets light. You could move the bullet deeper or add more powder also.

 

[rcmodel]

Loading a 110 grain .357 bullet deeper in a .38 revolver case is not an option.

The crimp cannulure is where it is on the bullet.
And you can't change that!

rc

 

[witchhunter]

I see a lot of people posting bad choices of powder for certain calibers here. It probably has to do with the lack of available "best option" components. Please ask, members here are very helpful with loading recipes. We have all tried to use loads that are listed in a manual, but it might not be one of the best choices. for a reason.

 

[varodd]

Unfortunately the only reason I got the Blue Dot was it was the only available powder i could find that was listed in the book for the 110gr blitz in 38 spl.

I am looking at the book and in 357 mag I have a option of using 2400 I do have a lb of it, any thoughts on if this would be a better option for using up these bullets?

My only other powder options are IMR4227 and IMR700x, but I don't have a direct recipe for this particular bullet for those powders.

 

[rcmodel]

I have a option of using 2400 I do have a lb of it, any thoughts on if this would be a better option for using up these bullets?

IMO: 2400 is always a better option then Blue Dot.

But even then, 2400 isn't a good powder for reduced pressure loads necessary in a .38 Special.

If you want to use the bullets, use them in .357 Mag, and load them hot enough to get a good powder burn.

That will take 25,000 - 30,000 PSI for starters with either powder.

rc

 

[varodd]

Thanks RC, I looked in my Lyman book (it actually lists pressures) and compared it to my Sirrera Book, It looks like a start load of 18.2gr of 2400 in a 357 mag case should bring the pressure up to those levels for that 110gr and are in the safe range. I will load some up sometime this week and give them a try.

After that I will have just my Hornady 125gr, Lyman shows the 2400 being the most accurate powder for that bullet so hopefully I wont have to many issues with it.

 

[foxs]

What? I have used blue dot with heavy bullets for years in 41 mags and 44 mags.

 

[rcmodel]

But the OP didn't ask about heavy bullets in .41 & .44 mag.

He ask about 110 grain bullets in a .38 Special.

Not the same thing, a tall.

rc

 

[ljnowell]

Not enough of the wrong powder.

IMO: Blue Dot is a poor choice for .38 Special.

rc

I'm with RC on this one. This is like the discussion a few times before on 2400. Will it work? Sure it will. Will it work ok? Sure it will. Is it best? No. Not even close. There are many more powders that will get equal performance at lower pressure and burn better in the 38 special.

 

[Hondo 60]

bludot is probably too slow for a 115 grain bullet in a 38 special loading.

that's why you're getting unburned powder.

I agree that it's not the best powder for 38 Spl.
Try Tite Group or Bullseye, they're much better (and faster burning)

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My only other powder options are IMR4227 and IMR700x, but I don't have a direct recipe for this particular bullet for those powders.

700-X is probably the best choice that you have for 38 special. If you can use 110 JHP data (I don't know!) Hodgdon lists loads in their database. 4227 is too slow, 2400 is a little faster.

 

[wankerjake]

Hodgdon has data for the 110gr XTP and 700x. That would most likely work better for you in 38spl.

 

[rg1]

Alliant warns NOT to use Blue Dot for 125 grain bullets in .357 Mag and should have included 110 grain as well or better yet to not use Blue Dot in .38Special at all. I've personally seen blooper loads and bullets stuck in barrels trying to use Blue Dot in .38 Special. You could actually see some bullets in the air and they'd hit the ground a few yards out. Poor ignition even with heavy crimps and velocities so low that you could have thrown the bullets faster and farther. I'd go so far to say using Blue Dot in .38 Special is very dangerous! Got to be a more appropriate powder on the shelf. I can see new reloaders seeing data in the books and trying it with powder so scarce but don't waste your bullets and primers with this powder in .38's.

 

[9w1911]

Well blue dot is famous for leaving powder in cases in many pistol examples. It does burn clean in my rifle but it has the time to burn there not in short barrels.