Blue Dot for .40 S&W

recon14 · February 25, 2013, 07:04 PM

I have some Blue Dot and found a recipe on the Alliant page for 8.9 max with a 180 HP. My question is..has anyone used BD for the .40 and what did you think? Like it or hate it?

zplinker · February 25, 2013, 09:33 PM

Blue Dot can give you high performance loads, but you'll need to work your load up with your lot # of powder, the brass you chose, and the bullet you want to run. Substituting any one of those items can vary pressures significantly.

SVO · February 25, 2013, 10:11 PM

I haven't loaded any 40 S&W using Blue Dot but have used it in 10 mm Auto and 38 Super loads. My experience has been that it's a powder that delivers high velocity without pressure signs when loaded as recommended.

recon14 · February 25, 2013, 10:49 PM

Thanks guys...I loaded up some test rounds at 7.9 which is 1 under the Alliant recipe. Curious to see how they work.

Ruger45LC · February 26, 2013, 12:40 PM

Here are some of my Blue Dot loads. I haven't worked with Blue Dot much, but here's what I have, velocity is the average:

(Glock 35 w/6" KKM G24 barrel)

180gr Montana Gold JHP, 9.0gr Blue Dot @ 1.100": 1,201 fps (nicely consistent...13 fps extreme spread)

200gr Nosler JHP, 8.5gr Blue Dot @ 1.130": 1,165 fps

Alliant shows 8.9gr for a 180gr Gold Dot, I use the shorter 180gr MG JHP which is why my OAL is shorter as I want to get the base of the bullet around the same spot. I had loaded it longer to 1.125 but it was less consistent and averaged 1,177 fps.

FWIW, I get pretty much the same performance (1200 fps) using 6.5gr Unique or 7.2gr Power Pistol. Longshot does well, averaging over 1,300 fps with a 180gr bullet in a 6" barrel.

larryf1952 · February 27, 2013, 05:01 PM

I've used Blue Dot for many, many years in the .357 and .44 Mags, but I've never used it in the .40. It's a relatively slow, high pressure powder that SHOULD work OK in the .40 if you pay attention to what you are doing. In my experience, I've found that if it isn't run at a pressure that's close to maximum, it leaves a lot of unburned powder in your gun. I tried it in .38 Spl. when I was first getting into reloading back in the '70's, and it was awful for that, as the .38 Spl. is a low pressure round.

For the .40, I've found that more mid-range powders like #5, HS6, WSF and Power Pistol have done very well. I've used those with jacketed bullets ranging from 155 to 180 grains.

bedlamite · February 27, 2013, 05:37 PM

I've used it in the 40S&W, it's decent, although I switched to Longshot several years ago because of the higher velocity.

Fullthrottle · February 28, 2013, 12:33 AM

Ok you made me pull out my little black book....for reloading!
Looking at the .40 and blue dot.....I have tried in the past 6.5gns of blue dot using Rainier plated 180gn bullets, my notes are function properly and I acheived 2" grouping at 7yards and mild recoil(using a 4"XD). Some unburned powder...as my notes!

Another in my reloading diary was, Hornady XTP 180gn and 7.2gns of blue dot. Shot well 2" grouping at 7yds. My notes were shot well, dirty, some unburned powder.

Again this is in the past and what I noted. I prefer Acurate #5 or Power pistol for my .40, but blue dot will work.

recon14 · February 28, 2013, 12:39 AM

Thanks for all fhe suggestions. I had some.blue dot and really wanted to try it. Loaded up 40 rounds of diffdrent loads to see how they go. I'll report back after the range. Now if the weather aould just cooperate.

zxcvbob · February 28, 2013, 12:42 AM

Can you even stuff enough Blue Dot in a .40S&W to get the pressure up high enough to get it to burn? I thought it would overflow the case first.

recon14 · February 28, 2013, 06:24 AM

Alliant says max 8.9 with a 180 so I did up some 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0 loads to test with. At 8 it is pretty full but still not near maxed out. I'll post results when I get to the range. Again..wish the weather would cooperate..

Peter M. Eick · March 2, 2013, 01:33 PM

I agree that 8 grns is a nice 180 grn load. It is just about my standard for 40 and what I am loading right now. 180 grn LTCFP's with 8.0 grns of Blue Dot to 1.134 COL.

February 25, 2013, 07:04 PM	#1
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 52	Blue Dot for .40 S&W I have some Blue Dot and found a recipe on the Alliant page for 8.9 max with a 180 HP. My question is..has anyone used BD for the .40 and what did you think? Like it or hate it?

February 25, 2013, 10:49 PM	#4
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 52	Re: Blue Dot for .40 S&W Thanks guys...I loaded up some test rounds at 7.9 which is 1 under the Alliant recipe. Curious to see how they work.

February 27, 2013, 05:37 PM	#7
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 980	I've used it in the 40S&W, it's decent, although I switched to Longshot several years ago because of the higher velocity. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

February 28, 2013, 12:33 AM	#8
Fullthrottle Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2009 Posts: 238	Ok you made me pull out my little black book....for reloading! Looking at the .40 and blue dot.....I have tried in the past 6.5gns of blue dot using Rainier plated 180gn bullets, my notes are function properly and I acheived 2" grouping at 7yards and mild recoil(using a 4"XD). Some unburned powder...as my notes! Another in my reloading diary was, Hornady XTP 180gn and 7.2gns of blue dot. Shot well 2" grouping at 7yds. My notes were shot well, dirty, some unburned powder. Again this is in the past and what I noted. I prefer Acurate #5 or Power pistol for my .40, but blue dot will work. __________________ When seconds count, why is help minutes away?

February 28, 2013, 12:39 AM	#9
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 52	Re: Blue Dot for .40 S&W Thanks for all fhe suggestions. I had some.blue dot and really wanted to try it. Loaded up 40 rounds of diffdrent loads to see how they go. I'll report back after the range. Now if the weather aould just cooperate.

February 25, 2013, 09:33 PM	#2
zplinker Member Join Date: February 21, 2011 Location: way out here Posts: 89	Blue Dot can give you high performance loads, but you'll need to work your load up with your lot # of powder, the brass you chose, and the bullet you want to run. Substituting any one of those items can vary pressures significantly.

February 25, 2013, 10:11 PM	#3
SVO Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2009 Location: Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 585	I haven't loaded any 40 S&W using Blue Dot but have used it in 10 mm Auto and 38 Super loads. My experience has been that it's a powder that delivers high velocity without pressure signs when loaded as recommended.

February 26, 2013, 12:40 PM	#5
Ruger45LC Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 133	Here are some of my Blue Dot loads. I haven't worked with Blue Dot much, but here's what I have, velocity is the average: (Glock 35 w/6" KKM G24 barrel) 180gr Montana Gold JHP, 9.0gr Blue Dot @ 1.100": 1,201 fps (nicely consistent...13 fps extreme spread) 200gr Nosler JHP, 8.5gr Blue Dot @ 1.130": 1,165 fps Alliant shows 8.9gr for a 180gr Gold Dot, I use the shorter 180gr MG JHP which is why my OAL is shorter as I want to get the base of the bullet around the same spot. I had loaded it longer to 1.125 but it was less consistent and averaged 1,177 fps. FWIW, I get pretty much the same performance (1200 fps) using 6.5gr Unique or 7.2gr Power Pistol. Longshot does well, averaging over 1,300 fps with a 180gr bullet in a 6" barrel. __________________ Praise Yahshua Ha Mashiach!! Repent America!

February 27, 2013, 05:01 PM	#6
larryf1952 Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2004 Location: KCMO Posts: 433	I've used Blue Dot for many, many years in the .357 and .44 Mags, but I've never used it in the .40. It's a relatively slow, high pressure powder that SHOULD work OK in the .40 if you pay attention to what you are doing. In my experience, I've found that if it isn't run at a pressure that's close to maximum, it leaves a lot of unburned powder in your gun. I tried it in .38 Spl. when I was first getting into reloading back in the '70's, and it was awful for that, as the .38 Spl. is a low pressure round. For the .40, I've found that more mid-range powders like #5, HS6, WSF and Power Pistol have done very well. I've used those with jacketed bullets ranging from 155 to 180 grains.

February 28, 2013, 12:42 AM	#10
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 3,653	Can you even stuff enough Blue Dot in a .40S&W to get the pressure up high enough to get it to burn? I thought it would overflow the case first. __________________ "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun"

February 28, 2013, 06:24 AM	#11
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 52	Re: Blue Dot for .40 S&W Alliant says max 8.9 with a 180 so I did up some 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0 loads to test with. At 8 it is pretty full but still not near maxed out. I'll post results when I get to the range. Again..wish the weather would cooperate..

March 2, 2013, 01:33 PM	#12
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,566	I agree that 8 grns is a nice 180 grn load. It is just about my standard for 40 and what I am loading right now. 180 grn LTCFP's with 8.0 grns of Blue Dot to 1.134 COL. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!