Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hey Seafire

Tried some of your Bluedot loads in my .30-06 Encore pistol & I am quite pleased. Used 125 gr Nosler BT's. I started the range session today with a few 150's loaded over a dose of IMR 4064. Recoil was stout to say the least. The first load of BD that I tried was 23 gr. and I wondered where the recoil went to. Went up to 25 grs and the recoil was starting to get more noticable but still quite easy. Much easier to control the pistol while under recoil that the loads of 4064. At 25 gr I was getting no signs of pressure. I think the sweet spot is going to be around 24.5 to 25 grains.

I did notice one thing. It seems like there was a noticable shift in point of impact going from like 23 to 24 gr. Did not know if that was me or the load.

Glad it is working out for ya Joe...

I keep it at 25 grains for max... and of course make sure you don't do a double charge... that can be avoided by charging the case and then seating the bullet before going on to the next cartridge...

for a friend's wife, last several seasons have loaded 20 grains with a 110 grain SP, so far accounting for 3 blacktails, one shot each...out of an 06...

the point of impact shift, I haven't noticed it in my rifles...

At Seafire's suggestion, I loaded some at 20 grains of Blue Dot with 150's in the old '06 for my wife to play with. She was off-handing pop cans at 40-50 yards. Worked good to get her to quickly acquire a target, and when she drilled her moose at 60 yards with the 150 TSX and H4895, she thanked me for the light practice loads, so I pass it on to you, Seafire - - - - THANKS!

I am hyper about checking each case to make sure it is not double charged. On of my reloading procedures ever since I can remember is to look down each case before seating the bullet. At 23 grains where I started if it was double charged the powder would be up to about the top of the neck. I filled a case with BD to the bottom of the neck & then weighed it out. It was right at 43 grains. I don't think I will ever go below 23 for a hunting load.

I am going to give these BD loads a whirl on deer & antelope. Maybe even elk.

I have been loading my 7x57 with 17.2gn BD under a 160gn cast bullet for just over 1900fps and excellent accuracy. Definately a killing combination and using Seafires load parematers has bought a whole new area to my shooting pleasure.
Only use BD in my small 20 cal cartridge now and have spectacular sucess on rabbits etc.

Von Gruff.