help, BLUE DOT powder Problems. 44 mag

[lone ranger]

I am reloading 44 mag for my revolver. I am using blue dot powder and large pistol primmers.
I am using the 3RD edition horady Hand book. It says " a 240grain prjectile can use 15.2gr, I figured that would be safe. According to Hand Loads.com ..the New blue Dot powder is way more powerful and MAX load is 15.5gr for 1550 FPS. Am I WAY wrong?? Did the Blue Dot powder get stronger?
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44%20Magnum&Weight=240&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

my book below

Acording to reloaders on different forums using Blue dot...with large pisol primmers, max load is 13gr. Whos right ??

I also used the same Blue Dot for reloading 9mm and didnt find them any hotter than factory 9mm.???

 

[Bitumen]

Switch over to H-110

 

[Rod]

I load 12 gr. of blue dot behind a 240 gr. SWC. . . Works fine for target shooting.

If you're worried, pull the bullets and cut back on the powder unless you're out there chasing down grizzlies. .

 

[tjsudbury]

The 9th edition of the Hornady handbook lists a starting load of11.8gr. of Blue Dot for 1100fps, and a max load of 15.0gr. for 1350fps, with a 240 gr XTP.

 

[lone ranger]

The 9th edition of the Hornady handbook lists a starting load of11.8gr. of Blue Dot for 1100fps, and a max load of 15.0gr. for 1350fps, with a 240 gr XTP.

Thank you, will be pulling the bullets. And I'll pick up a new Edition reloading book. Back to the reloading table...aaarrg.

 

[RSA1]

Hi all,

tjsudbury is correct in his post above. Also, the newest edition of Speer (#14) has an even lower safe max for BlueDot x 240gr bullet, which is 13.7gr.

The safety / principle involved here is to always use the most recent load data. Powder formulations change and safe maximum pressure levels do get changed, so older data cannot necessarily be used with todays powders. Another prime example is that of Unique in 357 Mag load data. Do not use load data from 50 years ago. Both the safe max and power formulation has changed. Also, use medium burning powders such as BlueDot in 44 Mag only with lighter bullets and not max velocities. It was not intended for max velocities with 240gr and heavier bullets!

Blue Dot works OK with light loads in 44 Mag, e.g. 180 -200gr bullets and I have used these for IPSC power factor up to 240, but that was just for safe play. If you want 44 Mag performance with 240gr bullets, yes as stated above, use H110 / Win296 or the newer Alliant PP 300-MP, but then us CCI 350 Magnum Large Pistol Primers.

 

[gunrunner8]

Blue Dot is my favorite powder for 20 &16ga, 357 mag, 44 Sp etc and I didn't notice much change in power or speed of burning over the years. I think those changes you mentioned lone Ranger are lawyer induced ones if anything else. IMHO your load in strong 44Mag revolver like Ruger Blachhawk, Redhawk or FA would be perfectly safe.

 

[lone ranger]

I loaded some at...11.8 12gr. will try them out at the range tonight. The gun I'm using is a smith & wesson Dirty Harry model with a 10 inch barrel.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

I load 12 gr. of blue dot behind a 240 gr. SWC. . . Works fine for target shooting.

If you're worried, pull the bullets and cut back on the powder unless you're out there chasing down grizzlies. .

This is the load I use in my .44 mag Rossi trapper and it shoots fine, does'nt stress the brass none
nor the LSWC bullets. For deer and black bear inside 75 yds. it will do the trick.

 

[Tex Critter]

Blue Dot is my favorite powder for 20 &16ga, 357 mag, 44 Sp etc and I didn't notice much change in power or speed of burning over the years. I think those changes you mentioned lone Ranger are lawyer induced ones if anything else. IMHO your load in strong 44Mag revolver like Ruger Blachhawk, Redhawk or FA would be perfectly safe.

I would agree with this more than anything else (for manuals published in the last 20 yrs). They all use different data/components/conditions for different test guns. Start low and work up observing excessive pressure signs like you're supposed to.

 

[BattleRife]

The safety / principle involved here is to always use the most recent load data. Powder formulations change and safe maximum pressure levels do get changed, so older data cannot necessarily be used with todays powders. Another prime example is that of Unique in 357 Mag load data. Do not use load data from 50 years ago. Both the safe max and power formulation has changed.

I think the biggest reason for the changed numbers is advances in pressure measurement. 40 years ago most reloading data was done using CUP, a semi-quantitative method not many steps above ballistic pendulums and witchcraft. Now that everything is done by transducers and strain gauges in repeatable pressure units, I imagine that a lot of the old data has been shown to be on the wild side.

 

[tgt40]

Lawyering has gotten better too..........