Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 40 grain V Max... Blue Dot and the 223

Went over shooting sage rats the past two Wednesday, so didn't have to share the fields with other shooters...

Decided to use the Model 70 Featherweight in 223, that I have owned for 15 years plus, yet is one of those rifles I keep 'saving' for some day in the future ( I do dopey things like that.. Ya do things like that when you were raised by parents who were raised during the Depression)....

So took it over and was using 14 grains of Blue Dot to fuel 223 cases, topped with a 40 grain V Max.....

I'd show some 'action pictures', but I think they would really freak out, and be used against us shooters by the PETA and anti hunting types....

But talk about flat shooting ( 3350 fps MV) for that type of service.. deadly accurate and that little 40 V MAX is definitely explosive once it hits.... turns them inside out, and cuts the new pups pretty much in half...

Recoil is low enough, you don't lose sight picture in the scope, especially on 4 to 6 power.. which was plenty good out to 150 yds or more...

Was thinking about the thread of the cost of 223 rounds....

18 cents for the V Max.. 3 cents for the primer, cases are pretty much free ( Winchester Nickle plated, bought as police range brass for 5 cents each delivered...an on their 10th plus reloads)... and 14 grains of Blue Dot is pretty cheap, considering $66 for 5 lbs, and 14 grains equal 500 rounds per pound of powder.... so I am certain I am in the ball park price of the 17 HMR... and it is definitely a heck of a lot more fun for the shooter than the 17 HMR.....

Solid hits put them 3 to 5 feet in the air most times...
get out peeking out of a hole, and the round hits the sage rat, and then ricochets off the dirt behind him, and the shrapnel from that really sends them flying in all directions.....

Finally easy on the barrel, and still didn't heat up a featherweight barrel, enough to loose accuracy.....

only went thru about 175 rounds.. but still overall a very satisfying day.... they really come out tho between 5 PM and 6:30.. so for those of you just starting out.. don't get discouraged when there doesn't seem to be a lot of them out around 4 PM...


PS.. Have pictures.. but not sure about posting them...

Don't make us any more jealous than we already are, you braggart.

.

Hey Seafire,

That 14 gr. charge of Blue Dot works well with the 45 Colt in a rifle,too.

I run only 10 grains of Blue Dot in my 45 LC, but that is with a 255 grain Lead Bullet out of an 1873 Colt, 3rd series reproduction...and pretty accurate, especially for a hand gun...

bet that would really hang a job on a sage rat or prairie dog...

Seafire, any loads for the Hornet with the 40g v-max and blue dot?

The factory actually use to list Blue Dot loads for the Hornet...
this was back in the 80s... an Australian forum member posted something that it was 6 or 6.6 grains... I'd start at 5 and work up...

that is all I can pass on for ya.. sorry..

Seafire,
That was probably me that posted the scan of that data. They published load data that included Blue Dot with jacketed projectiles circa the mid 80s (from memory) for the 221Fireball and a few others in the Australian Shooters Journal.

I ran that load above by the way through QL which estimates a much slower speed (about 3100fps), but what is significant is that muzzle pressure is reduced by about a third over a 'normal' 223Rem load at 3300fps. That in itself is a worthwhile gain when there's lots of shooting to be done and your on smaller farm lots.
Cheers...
Con

Thanks Con...

My speeds aren't out of Quickload...It was tested over my Shooting Chrony and a friends Pact....

but since most of my shooting has been between 25 to 200 yds, with the major between 75 and 150... 3350 or 3100... either way the load is more than up to the job...

some of these little guys are only as big and as long as two fingers...which isn't a big target at 100 yds, especially if they keep moving at 90 MPH, and start and stop...

but it is about as much fun as a guy my age can have while still have clothes on...

Seafire, would you consider building a load for the 204 using blue dot and the .204 40 grain VMAX?

Already have it done... just gotta find it...

will PM ya with it as soon as I can locate it on the computer here...

give me a day or two if you please...

thanks!

Very dangerous, just buy factory ammo please.

HaiPhong....

its dangerous for those who don't know what they are doing...

we know what we are doing...

thanks for "your concern".. but it is really not necessary...

Here ya go Cliff....found it...it was over on Accurate Reloading, archived back from 2008...


204 Ruger and Blue Dot

Rifle used: Ruger 77 Mk 2

Barrel: 22 inches

Primer used: Winchester Small Pistol

Bullets used: Hornady 32 and 40 grain V Maxes.


32 grain Vmax:

5grs: 1588 fps
6grs: 1849 fps
7grs: 2012 fps
8grs: 2300 fps
9grs: 2472 fps

10grs: 2709 fps
11grs: 2890 fps
12grs: 3012 fps
13grs: 3212 fps
14grs: 3372 fps


40 grain Vmax

6grs: 1734 fps
7grs: 1966 fps
8grs: 2197 fps
9grs: 2321 fps

10grs: 2546 fps
11grs: 2709 fps
12grs: 2874 fps
13grs: 2892 fps
14 grs: 3140 fps


Starting charges were determined based on work with the 223 cartridge.

Both bullet weight’s charges were stopped at 14 grains, as going higher didn’t show any real increase in velocity but did show pressure signs starting.

Accuracy was what I have come to expect with Blue Dot.

Small pistol primers were used based on availability.. this was done during a nationwide primer shortage. Small rifle primers would not show any potential increase in velocity or pressure, based on experience with the 223 case.

As always a prudent handloader will work up to max charges, to make sure they are safe in their rifle.

This is presented as for academic review only, as I can not be responsible for other people’s handloading procedures.

If the lighter charges are used, I recommend charging a case and seating the bullet first, before going onto the next cartridge as this will eliminate the potential of a double charge.

With a max of 14 grains per case, a pound of Blue Dot will yield powder for 500 rounds of ammo.

Many thanks!

Well, that was certainly interesting to learn. I didn't think with that small basal area on a 204 bullet that you could get similar speeds to a 223 in the 40 weight. Hmmmm.
I'd bet the "best" load will be somewhere around 13.4 or so, just a hair less than with a .223.

Seafire, Anything for the 7mm TCU with a 135-140 grain bullet using Blue Dot?

Thanks in Advance.

My apologies J....

haven't crossed that particular bridge.. between that case and those bullet weights, I'd say that would be beyond what Blue Dot would perform within...

too small of a case with that heavy of a bullet...

sounds like a good combo. I run the v max to similar speeds in the 222 rem. One of my favorite bullets.

Love the 222. Don't know if I've ever shot a more well mannered caliber.