Blue Dot loads in milsurps/mbr's PICS ADDED pg.3

zippy_the_wonder_chimp

zippy_the_wonder_chimp

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Just searched this forum 3 years back for posts on mid power Blue Dot loads in milsurp rifle calibres
/MBR calibres and couldn't find anything relevant. Google has given me info on reduced Blue Dot loads-
not what I'm looking for.

Calibres are .303 British, 7.62x54mmR, 7.5x55mm, 7.62x51mm, etc.

I'm aware of pressure issues/inconsistancies with Blue Dot and wouldn't be aiming for a max load,
just want info on safe, mid power loads with whatever bullets you may have used.


Thanks,
zip
 
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Its not really a rifle powder. Mainly Shotgun and pistol, likely why you are having a hard time finding any info

Edit: just checked alliant's website. No info listed for any rifle caliber. Not saying you cant, but be weary of any data you find unless you really trust the source
 
Do a search on "the load" Likely not here but let google be your friend. Lots of good info is out there , just have to be open to it. As far as consulting an Alliant manual for anything ? If you have access to it look towards 2400 for a reduced power load powder. Also if you are wanting cheap plinking loads, SHOOT CAST!!!! I am shooting a 202 gr gas checked cast sized to .314" out of my parker hale sporter 303 BR with 19.2 gr of 2400 and a large pistol primer ! It will shoot to 1.5" @ 100 yds and recoil like a .22 not to mention being rather economical to shoot.
 
I have used 7 gr of blue dot with .311 cast round balls in .303 and 7.62x54
It's quiet an low recoil...I tried it with jacketed bullets and stuck a couple in the barrel so I kinda gave up on that for the time being...doesn't burn very consistently in the big cases but ill do some more testing when I get some time.
I bought a can of the stuff to experiment with but now that I've tried trail boss it's gonna take a long time to use up my blue dot ;-)
If you haven't tried trail boss, pick some up !!
I haven't gotten to mess with it much either but I have tried 10gr trail boss charge behind a 220gr jacketed rn in .30-06, no accuracy testing but it seems to shoot nicely.
 
You may want to look into things like burn rate and port pressure......blue dot is a damn good pistol powder.....IMR 4895 is a damn good rifle powder
 
I punched up some quickload loads in .303 with blue dot, and found that 18-20 grains in .303 THEORETICALLY would work well with a 150-170 cast bullet. Haven't tried them out yet, though!! If you do, let us know! I KNOW for SURE that 13 grains of red dot, 25 grains of 4227 and 32gr of 5744, and 40 grains of 4895 both work great with 180gr cast. Extrapolating from the burn rate chart, 18-20 of blue dot seems a likely win.
 
mwjones said:
I punched up some quickload loads in .303 with blue dot, and found that 18-20 grains in .303 THEORETICALLY would work well with a 150-170 cast bullet. Haven't tried them out yet, though!! If you do, let us know! I KNOW for SURE that 13 grains of red dot, 25 grains of 4227 and 32gr of 5744, and 40 grains of 4895 both work great with 180gr cast. Extrapolating from the burn rate chart, 18-20 of blue dot seems a likely win.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll start at 18 grains and work up VERY slowly, being mindful of pressure issues with this Blue Dot powder I have.
 
Maybe try some at 17 and 17.5 first just to be sure :) That's where I was going to start with 150gr bullets.
 
17gr looks like it might be a decent start in 7.62x51 and 7.62x54r as well. I don't have the brand new program, i have the latest windows xp version, and it only has jacketed bullets. I've measured and punched in my own numbers a bit for my own cast bullets, so take that for what it's worth. Jacketed bullets are really not going to see their potential with 1700fps loads, and are quite a bit more expensive if you're just looking for a light plinking load.

Keep in mind, quickload tells ME that they assume no responsibility and it's for reference only, so I have to say the same :)
 
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DRG makes cast bullets. I use them in my pistols. I accidently bought a box of 165 gr 30 cal cast bullets one day. I thought they were 165gr 357 bullets.

But they do make good cheap plinkers. I think 500 costs around $30.

I have often used red dot, green dot and unique to drive rifle cast bullets. No filler needed. Have not tried Blue dot, but I see no reason why it would not work, but because it is so fast, compared to a rifle powder, I would not want to see more than 1500 fps out of it unless i had some manual data to guide me.
 
Ganderite said:
DRG makes cast bullets. I use them in my pistols. I accidently bought a box of 165 gr 30 cal cast bullets one day. I thought they were 165gr 357 bullets.

But they do make good cheap plinkers. I think 500 costs around $30.

I have often used red dot, green dot and unique to drive rifle cast bullets. No filler needed. Have not tried Blue dot, but I see no reason why it would not work, but because it is so fast, compared to a rifle powder, I would not want to see more than 1500 fps out of it unless i had some manual data to guide me.
Click to expand...

Thankfully, I have lots of cast bullets to mess around with and will definitely take it slow and report back if I still have all my fingers or not!
 
pics added...

dummybullets_zps8c47b31c.jpg

dummyrounds_zps52edb2e5.jpg

Wah, turns out I have tons of .308 ish cast bullets. The only .312 cast rifle bullets I have are just over 200 grains- may test them later.
Anyway- here are the dummy rounds. They all chamber well, dimms are: 2.623" OAL for the short cast pistol bullet round, 3.060" for the 150 grn,
and 3.065" for the 174 grn. The middle dummy round looks longer but it's an illusion through my cheap phone camera.
 
zippy_the_wonder_chimp said:
Thanks for the replies. I can find info on reduced Blue Dot loads no problem,
was hoping for close to regular, mid power loads with that powder,
as Blue Dot is the most abundant powder I have and my fave IMR 4895
is $30 + a pound... :(
Click to expand...

Maybe find some body to trade with. I have used BD in many small caliber loads and did see data for 243. I think the starting point is 60% of cases capacity. FS
 
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