9mm and bluedot

farmall · March 10, 2005, 11:29 PM

im wanting to use up a large supply of blue dot that i have, i see that lee's modern reloading lists 8.0gn as start and max both, for 115gn jacketed bullets. is this safe? i see many max loads with this powder/bullet weight maxed out around 6.5-6.9gn. plan on using win 115gn hp bulk bullet, win cases and fed sp pimers col 1.169. if anyone can reccomend a known safe blue dot load with shorter c.o.l. id appreciate it. thanks to all who reply!!!

**Mike Irwin** · March 11, 2005, 12:22 AM

Blue Dot will work in 9mm (I don't know about that particular load), but you can always tell the BD shooter at the range by the amount of unburned powder he's leaving behind, and by the size of the muzzle flash when he shoots.

I've tried Blue in .38/.357 and a couple of other cartridges, and it can be frightfully dirty (as can Red Dot). You can, however, make some real thumper loads with it in the larger calibers, like .41 and .44 Mags.

.45 Vet · March 11, 2005, 08:58 AM

In the smallish 9mm case, anything much over 5 1/2grs is going to be nearing a compressed load. If you're using a progressive loader watch-out for powder spills as you index.

Arub · March 11, 2005, 07:52 PM

The Alliant manual lists 8.0 grains as a max load for the 115grain fmj (min oal of 1.120). I just don't see how you can get that much powder into casing.

Lots of luck.

Stephen A. Camp · March 11, 2005, 11:25 PM

Hello. This Blue Dot 9mm load has been satisfactory for me:

Based on 10 shots fired 10' from the chronograph screens, average velocity is
1166 ft/sec from a Browning Hi Power and 1168 from a CZ-75. It gets 1024 ft/sec from the Springfield XD.

Best.

HQBrass · March 15, 2005, 04:13 PM

I loaded some9mm w/ 7gr. BD under a 115 Berrys round nose, max. OAL, and shot them out of a G-17C. Big flame, big bark and a unburnt powder in the face and big flakes all over the place. I don't think BD is very good for small cases, for that matter I didn't care for it much in 45 acp either. I have about 4 lbs of the stuff I hope I can get a good 44mag lever gun load out of.

Sturm · March 22, 2005, 02:06 PM

Like Mr. Camp, I have used Blue Dot in 9mm loads for years. It will compress easily and that is a good thing, because the closer you get to a maximum load with Blue Dot, more uniform ignition and performance can be expected. From a SIG P-226, with Winchester 115 gr. JHP's and WSP primers, Win brass, nothing has ever shot better. At 50' I have gotten many sub 1" groups. 8.0 grs. is a safe load, but you will need to load to a proper OAL. In the SIG or other long throated pistols, I loaded it to 1.142" (29mm) for shorter throated pistols like the CZ 75, I load to 1.122" (28.5mm) and this is a typical length you will find with factory JHP ammunition. For FMJ, stick with 1.142" or longer. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

BigBoreKindaGuy · March 24, 2005, 12:06 AM

Do the shooters around you a favor...dump the bluedot and switch to a powder that doesn't rival the 1980's smog of Los Angeles. Bluedot is just plain nasty and should be banned.

March 10, 2005, 11:29 PM	#1
farmall Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2004 Location: Beatrice Nebraska Posts: 613	9mm and bluedot im wanting to use up a large supply of blue dot that i have, i see that lee's modern reloading lists 8.0gn as start and max both, for 115gn jacketed bullets. is this safe? i see many max loads with this powder/bullet weight maxed out around 6.5-6.9gn. plan on using win 115gn hp bulk bullet, win cases and fed sp pimers col 1.169. if anyone can reccomend a known safe blue dot load with shorter c.o.l. id appreciate it. thanks to all who reply!!!

March 11, 2005, 12:22 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Blue Dot will work in 9mm (I don't know about that particular load), but you can always tell the BD shooter at the range by the amount of unburned powder he's leaving behind, and by the size of the muzzle flash when he shoots. I've tried Blue in .38/.357 and a couple of other cartridges, and it can be frightfully dirty (as can Red Dot). You can, however, make some real thumper loads with it in the larger calibers, like .41 and .44 Mags. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 11, 2005, 08:58 AM	#3
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	In the smallish 9mm case, anything much over 5 1/2grs is going to be nearing a compressed load. If you're using a progressive loader watch-out for powder spills as you index. __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known...

March 11, 2005, 07:52 PM	#4
Arub Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Location: UCLA (upper corner of lower Alabama) Posts: 533	The Alliant manual lists 8.0 grains as a max load for the 115grain fmj (min oal of 1.120). I just don't see how you can get that much powder into casing. Lots of luck.

March 11, 2005, 11:25 PM	#5
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 16, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Hello. This Blue Dot 9mm load has been satisfactory for me: Based on 10 shots fired 10' from the chronograph screens, average velocity is 1166 ft/sec from a Browning Hi Power and 1168 from a CZ-75. It gets 1024 ft/sec from the Springfield XD. Best.

March 15, 2005, 04:13 PM	#6
HQBrass Member Join Date: January 11, 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 29	I loaded some9mm w/ 7gr. BD under a 115 Berrys round nose, max. OAL, and shot them out of a G-17C. Big flame, big bark and a unburnt powder in the face and big flakes all over the place. I don't think BD is very good for small cases, for that matter I didn't care for it much in 45 acp either. I have about 4 lbs of the stuff I hope I can get a good 44mag lever gun load out of.

March 22, 2005, 02:06 PM	#7
Sturm Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 584	Like Mr. Camp, I have used Blue Dot in 9mm loads for years. It will compress easily and that is a good thing, because the closer you get to a maximum load with Blue Dot, more uniform ignition and performance can be expected. From a SIG P-226, with Winchester 115 gr. JHP's and WSP primers, Win brass, nothing has ever shot better. At 50' I have gotten many sub 1" groups. 8.0 grs. is a safe load, but you will need to load to a proper OAL. In the SIG or other long throated pistols, I loaded it to 1.142" (29mm) for shorter throated pistols like the CZ 75, I load to 1.122" (28.5mm) and this is a typical length you will find with factory JHP ammunition. For FMJ, stick with 1.142" or longer. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

March 24, 2005, 12:06 AM	#8
BigBoreKindaGuy Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 175	Do the shooters around you a favor...dump the bluedot and switch to a powder that doesn't rival the 1980's smog of Los Angeles. Bluedot is just plain nasty and should be banned.