Alliant Blue dot for .357/38 special

[UCSPanther]

I bought a container of Alliant Blue dot, first for use in reloading for my Walther P1. However, I found that it burned too slowly to cycle the action, but seemed to generate higher pressures than Clays universal (Another powder that I have been using with my P1, and seems to work satisfactorily), so I decided to stop using it to reload my 9mm cases.

Long story short, I bought a Puma M92 lever gun in .357, and I was wondering if Blue Dot works well in .357 or .38 special rounds?

 

[sniper58]

I just tried blue dot in my Pedersoli .357 carbine. Cast 158 gr bullets and it worked well.

 

[Splatter]

BlueDot wouldn't cycle your Walther? Did you try adding more? Or using a heavier bullet?

As for .357, ja, works great, especially in heavier loads, 1600fps with a 125 grn bullet and 1300 with a 158 grn were my standard loads in my Ruger 4" Security-Six and GP-100

 

[easyrider604]

There was an Alliant bulletin that warned against using full Blue Dot (14 grains, IIRC) under a 125 grain bullet as that could create a high pressure situation and damage the revolver. Stick with 158 grain bullets over 10.7 grains BD and you'll be fine.

I had loaded a few boxes 125 grain PHP and 14 grain Blue Dot by the time I read the safety bulletin, so I shot some in my Marlin 1894C. Worked fine but velocity far exceeded the max recommended for plated bullets so accuracy suffered.

 

[Snowboy]

I put 10,4GR with Campro 158GR plated bullets and it works fine and accurate in my .357

 

[pilon]

There was an Alliant bulletin that warned against using full Blue Dot (14 grains, IIRC) under a 125 grain bullet as that could create a high pressure situation and damage the revolver. Stick with 158 grain bullets over 10.7 grains BD and you'll be fine.

I had loaded a few boxes 125 grain PHP and 14 grain Blue Dot by the time I read the safety bulletin, so I shot some in my Marlin 1894C. Worked fine but velocity far exceeded the max recommended for plated bullets so accuracy suffered.

When Blue Dot was a Hercules product the max load listed for 125g bullet was 14.5g @1795fps.
I have used that load and it was superbly accurate out of my 6" GP100.
Glad I happened along this thread!

 

[vagrantviking]

I've used Bue Dot with good results in my .44 mag and know a few people who have had luck wiht it in the 357 also.

 

[Ganderite]

It is a good powder for high velocity loads.

For ordinary tatgert and plinking loads, Unique, 7625 and TiteGroup would be better choices. I have found IMR SR7625 to meter well and be very linear from mild up to hot loads. It is not a ball powder.

 

[UCSPanther]

BlueDot wouldn't cycle your Walther? Did you try adding more? Or using a heavier bullet?

I was using a 124 grain slug with the starting load listed for Blue Dot in the Hornady reloading manual. I probably wasn't using enough, but I am leery of overtaxing the aluminum frame on the P1.

As for .357, ja, works great, especially in heavier loads, 1600fps with a 125 grn bullet and 1300 with a 158 grn were my standard loads in my Ruger 4" Security-Six and GP-100

I'll have to try it. Probably will get better performance with a 16" barrel...

 

[savagefan]

It works okay in my M94c but I get better results with W296.

 

[punkrockboy]

I use blue dot in my 586 .357, works great ( 158 gr bullets)

 

[Cal45]

What grain bullet are you using for 357?

 

[Ganderite]

The OP says he wants a load for an alloy frame P1. Blue Dot is for hot loads. A fast or medium powder would be a better choice for a light to medium load.

Say 3.2gr of tTtegroup under a 125 or 135 gr 9mm bullet. This is what I load for the kids to shoot.