i just started reloading for the .40 and i bought a box of 500 180gr. TMJ bullets (montana gold - from wolf bullets) at the local store. i also bought a pound of blue dot and a brick of winchester primers. i'm using my once fired remington, federal and CCI brass. i'm shooting a glock 22. the hornady manual i have calls for 7.1gr of bluedot with 180gr. bullets for 900fps. i realize that bluedot is a slower birning powder suitable for magnum pistol calibers but it was reasonably priced ($27/lb) and they didn't really have a selection of pistol powders there at the store. so, my question is...is bluedot a suitable powder for my purposes? (casual plinking and target shooting) thanks a lot for any input guys!!!
bluedot any good for .40sw?
- Thread starter serbian
- Start date
Blue dot will work with the 40 S&W, but you will likely feel it is a bit snappy when compared to the faster burning propellants out there (Univesal clays, Tightgroup, etc). I used a max charge of blue dot with some remington 155 JHP bullets one time. Accurate but really snappy in my Para P16.
Blue Dot is a powder you use when you want high velocity (full power). There is a limit to how mild you can load it and still have accuracy. Your load sounds a bit mild. I suggest you load it up in .3 incrments to about 8.2 and see if the accuracy improves.
Some powder throwers will not throw flake powders very well.
A powder well suited to mid range loads that meters well is IMR SR7625. I load 5.5 grains in my 40 with cast bullets.
I use this powder to load all my handgun plinking loads.
Some powder throwers will not throw flake powders very well.
A powder well suited to mid range loads that meters well is IMR SR7625. I load 5.5 grains in my 40 with cast bullets.
I use this powder to load all my handgun plinking loads.
chestergolf
Member
- Location
- South Shore NS
I used bluedot (7.3 gr. with a 180 gr. MG at 1.18") and it was a very accurate load. I since switched to titegroup. My accuracy suffered a bit but the reduction in recoil more than makes up for it.
yeah, i loaded up some 7.1gr and 7.4gr bluedot loads with 180gr copper washed bullets. they definately kicked up a storm compared to the factory loads. and accuracy was less than with factory. i'll try to load up to around 8 grains (not more than a couple tenths over that) and see what that does for accuracy (i already know what it'll do for recoil). i dont even have a powder measure yet so i weigh every charge. thanks a lot for the input guys, its much appreciated.
