45 ACP with Blue Dot

PoFF

PoFF

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To make a short story out of long one, I ran out of my usual powder 1 week before our Provincials, and all local shops were out of it (and pretty much out of any powder). The only acceptable substitute I was able to put my hands on was Alliant Blue dot, with a Max Load of 8.5 grains for 900FPS with a 230 grains FMJ.

I know that working a load 1 week prior a major competition ain't a really a good idea, but there was no other choice left, I loaded 8.4 grains straight from the beginning, beign a slow powder I tought that there would be no big pressure spike, to be sure to make major on comp day...

Big surprise at the chrony the day of the match, the damned load flew at an average of 700 fps, not only 200fps under the load data (which was published for a 5" barrel, mine's 5" too), but putting me in minor...

After the match, I noticed that I had a lot of unburnt powder in the barrel and on my forearm. So I concluded that Blue dot is a hard to ignite powder, even if they recommend a standard LP primer (which I substituted for a CCI #300, which is similar, with a harder cup).

Would Magnum primers help? (I still have 2 pound of BD that I'll need to waste somewhere...)
 
In my experience, BD is extremely easy to ignite, but probably much to slow to be an ideal 45 powder. I'm not surprised you're getting unburned powder. Why it's so far below published data I can't explain, although a Magnum primer will probably increase speeds to a degree
 
Blue dot can produce pretty good vel. numbers but it is not very clean burning...I have tried it in .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .44 Mag. and all are the same...leaves a mess in the barrel and accuracy is nothing to write home about! Blue Dot is probably at it's best as a heavy load shotshell powder in the 10 and 12Ga.
 
I disagree, Ben. I found Blue Dot excellent in heavy loads in .357 and 9mm. My silhouette load was a 180 grn Speer TMJ drivven by a stiff load of it (the gun and load was accurate enough, the trigger operator produced some poor scores) and my plinking/IPSC load was a 125 @1600 or a 160 @ 1300.

I've found the some famously dirty powders, like 231 and BlueDot, just need enough pressure to burn clean.

I'd think you'd have to chuck a pretty heavy pumpkin to approach those pressures in .45ACP
 
Splatter said:
I've found the some famously dirty powders, like 231 and BlueDot, just need enough pressure to burn clean.
Click to expand...

Exactly right. I mostly use BD in reduced rifle loads (Hornet & 222) these days, and as long as you keep the pressures high-ish, it's clean enough
 
Blue dot has always worked well for me in .44 mag, .357 mag and 9mm full power loads. It is sometimes touchy as you are approaching max loads but is capable of excellent accuracy. Don't thik it would be my first choice in a .45 though.

44Bore
 
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