Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Blue Dot for reduced loads.

Google, "cat's sneeze", you will find some interesting reading on the Finn's use of reduced loads.

It was well below the max data listed by MM. I dropped down what I figured to be a safe amount, touched off what I thought was a safe starting load and whammy. Just popped the primer, didn't damage the extractor. It was with LC brass so who knows. I still us BD a lot but use a much lower starting load.

I have no personal experience with Blue Dot in rifle loads.....nor do I have a dog in that fight.....my reasoning is simply that if the manufacturer (Alliant) doesn't recommend it then I don't use it!

I'm not sure if Al Gore invented the internet.....but of this I am sure....the internet has invented a helluva lot of experts and some are truly worth listening to.....but sorting them all out is beyond me so I confine myself to published loads from the manufacturers and those with pressure testing equipment such as Hornady et al.....

So far I have all my fingers, both my eyes, and haven't blown up a gun. It's a lot more fun that way.

If you look at Lyman's reloading manuals you'll see many reduced loads listed that use pistol powders. I haven't gotten around to putting any blue dot reduced loads together YET, but bought a can for that express purpose. The last primer I blew was back in 1972. Stupid is, as stupid does...YMMV

Like the man says if you are worried about trying the loads "DON'T.
JEEZEE

Blue dot works very well in .300 whisper with 200 grainers 8 grains outta have you right at supersonic.

I've used Bluedot for the 308 and the 6.5x55. I stayed within Seafire's recommended max, worked up my loads slowly, and got great accuracy and no pressure signs. Nothing too difficult as long as the loader knows what they are looking for in regards to pressure signs, and uses their heads a little. For a fact, if a loader don't, won't or can't do that anyway, they have no business reloading.

" nor do I have a dog in that fight....."

vapodog,

Really?

Ive been using Blue Dot with seafires recommendations for a couple of years now, and have had no problems and great accuracy.

Proceedure is very important when using it, load one at a time.
Prime, charge and seat bullet.

2 charges will fit in the cases that i load it with very easily.

Obviously, we are all responsible for our own actions, but I choose to use them, and I've had excellent results in various cartridges.

If one is worried about printed data from a manufacturer, there are other powders intended for reduced loads. I've recently tried the Trail Boss powder in a 243 with darn good results. I've tried it with 75 grain Sierra HP's, and Hornady 100 grain BTSP's. I found best accuracy closer to the top loading, both around the 14.5 grain mark; these are sanctioned loads direct from the Trail Boss data: http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

It may be a little louder, but I'm getting 1" or less accuracy at 100 yards with little recoil and not much barrel heating; great for practicing field position shooting and for using up odds and ends of bullet boxes. Anywhere above 13.5 grains puts the powder level close enough to the neck that you can visually check the powder level and no way to double charge unless one is completely incompetent. Not sure how it will drop from the measure, I've been scooping with Lee scoops and trickling in to finish.