44 mag lswc with gas check bluedot loads

mvlav · December 23, 2009, 06:44 PM

I recently purchased a S&W 629 classic with 6 1/2 inch barrel. I am new to reloading cast bullets and have a supply of 240 gr. lswc bullets with gas checks and also a supply of Blue Dot powder. As I cannot find any published data in my reloading manual I was wondering if anyone had any info using these components.

Speer manual # 13 lists a load using 240gr. jacketed bullets with min 12.3 gr. and max 13.7 gr. of Blue Dot. Would these be suitable for the gas checked lead bullets? The published velocities for these are 1186 for the min and 1285 fps for the max.

GP100man · December 23, 2009, 08:35 PM

what lswc ??? Lyman , rcbs or other??

mvlav · December 23, 2009, 09:25 PM

Actually these are commercially produced bullets form cactus plains ammuniton. I just opened up the box and found they do not have gas checks, as the salesman had told me. They are just a lswc. I guess blue dot would not be appropriate for these bullets? I also have some Green Dot on hand I would imagine would work alot better.

GP100man · December 23, 2009, 11:29 PM

My 46th Lyman gives for a 429421 PB 245 swc :

Bluedot
15grs. =941fps & 20,000 cup start

18.4grs.=1196fps & 35,500 cup max

All with a CCI 300 LP primer .

I`d leave green dot for the dove loads

Just my opinion though

CraigC · December 24, 2009, 10:48 AM

Not a problem, you don't need a gas check for ~1200fps.

Al Norris · December 24, 2009, 11:08 AM

Not gas checked?

Lyman's 48th shows a 240gr Lyman #429667 as:

14.0gr = 933fps @ 24,500 CUP (min)
15.5gr = 1159fps @ 36,000 CUP (max)

This is seated to 1.645" OAL, CCI #300 and Remington brass.

AlaskaMike · December 24, 2009, 12:34 PM

GP100man, are you sure that 18.4 grain max load is correct? It seems excessive for a 240 grain SWC, and the velocities for both those loads you mention seem low.

If I remember right, 15.5 grains of Blue Dot in my 6" Colt Anaconda gave me about 1250 fps with 240 grain Lasercast SWCs. 16 or 16.5 started giving me excessive pressure signs. I don't have my notes with me, so I don't know the exact charge weight were things started to get squirrely.

I guess if it's all you have, then Blue Dot would be okay, but I much prefer 2400 or W296/H110 for full power loads. Your Green Dot would probably make very nice light plinkers.

Mike

mvlav · December 24, 2009, 12:43 PM

H11o was my first choice but the gun shop seems to be out of stock of it and other suitable powders.

GP100man · December 24, 2009, 09:55 PM

Yep , even went & got my glasses!!!

Keep in mind that the 429421 is a big nosed bullet , 2 small drivin bands & a lube groove .

I`ve never seen or heard of cactus plains ammo & don`t know the profile of the bullet but the data for the 429667 should work since it`s a deep seater profile, or data for a 429244 bullet.

zxcvbob · December 24, 2009, 10:47 PM

16.5 grains of Blue Dot with a 250 or 255 grain cast bullet is a good (but not ridiculous) "Ruger" load for .45LC, so 16.5 grains should also be a good .44 Magnum load with 240 grain bullets. But you need to work up to it.

BTW, AA#7 powder is a pretty good replacement for Blue Dot, without all the drama.

reloader28 · December 25, 2009, 11:51 AM

Lyman
Blue Dot.....

14.0gr = 933fps
15.5gr = 1159fp

Alliant

Blue Dot......max
16.6gr = 1475fps

TX Nimrod · December 26, 2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

My 46th Lyman gives for a 429421 PB 245 swc :
Bluedot
15grs. =941fps & 20,000 cup start
18.4grs.=1196fps & 35,500 cup max

Clearly Lyman had some pretty slow BlueDot thirty years ago. By 2002 the lot they used was somewhat faster. With the 429421 bullet their 2002 max load was 16.0 grains for 1194 fps and 36,600 CUP. Thirty years ago 15.0 grains gave just 20,000 CUP....

.

December 23, 2009, 06:44 PM	#1
mvlav Junior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Location: manitoba Posts: 3	44 mag lswc with gas check bluedot loads I recently purchased a S&W 629 classic with 6 1/2 inch barrel. I am new to reloading cast bullets and have a supply of 240 gr. lswc bullets with gas checks and also a supply of Blue Dot powder. As I cannot find any published data in my reloading manual I was wondering if anyone had any info using these components. Speer manual # 13 lists a load using 240gr. jacketed bullets with min 12.3 gr. and max 13.7 gr. of Blue Dot. Would these be suitable for the gas checked lead bullets? The published velocities for these are 1186 for the min and 1285 fps for the max.

December 23, 2009, 08:35 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	bullet what lswc ??? Lyman , rcbs or other?? __________________ GP100man

December 24, 2009, 09:55 PM	#9
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	429421 Yep , even went & got my glasses!!! Keep in mind that the 429421 is a big nosed bullet , 2 small drivin bands & a lube groove . I`ve never seen or heard of cactus plains ammo & don`t know the profile of the bullet but the data for the 429667 should work since it`s a deep seater profile, or data for a 429244 bullet. __________________ GP100man

December 24, 2009, 10:47 PM	#10
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	16.5 grains of Blue Dot with a 250 or 255 grain cast bullet is a good (but not ridiculous) "Ruger" load for .45LC, so 16.5 grains should also be a good .44 Magnum load with 240 grain bullets. But you need to work up to it. BTW, AA#7 powder is a pretty good replacement for Blue Dot, without all the drama. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 25, 2009, 11:51 AM	#11
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	Lyman Blue Dot..... 14.0gr = 933fps 15.5gr = 1159fp Alliant Blue Dot......max 16.6gr = 1475fps Last edited by reloader28; December 26, 2009 at 12:41 AM. Reason: miss read the Lyman book....it was late

December 23, 2009, 09:25 PM	#3
mvlav Junior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Location: manitoba Posts: 3	Actually these are commercially produced bullets form cactus plains ammuniton. I just opened up the box and found they do not have gas checks, as the salesman had told me. They are just a lswc. I guess blue dot would not be appropriate for these bullets? I also have some Green Dot on hand I would imagine would work alot better.

December 23, 2009, 11:29 PM	#4
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	My 46th Lyman gives for a 429421 PB 245 swc : Bluedot 15grs. =941fps & 20,000 cup start 18.4grs.=1196fps & 35,500 cup max All with a CCI 300 LP primer . I`d leave green dot for the dove loads Just my opinion though __________________ GP100man Last edited by GP100man; December 23, 2009 at 11:29 PM. Reason: spelun

December 24, 2009, 10:48 AM	#5
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	Not a problem, you don't need a gas check for ~1200fps.

December 24, 2009, 11:08 AM	#6
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	Not gas checked? Lyman's 48th shows a 240gr Lyman #429667 as: 14.0gr = 933fps @ 24,500 CUP (min) 15.5gr = 1159fps @ 36,000 CUP (max) This is seated to 1.645" OAL, CCI #300 and Remington brass.

December 24, 2009, 12:34 PM	#7
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	GP100man, are you sure that 18.4 grain max load is correct? It seems excessive for a 240 grain SWC, and the velocities for both those loads you mention seem low. If I remember right, 15.5 grains of Blue Dot in my 6" Colt Anaconda gave me about 1250 fps with 240 grain Lasercast SWCs. 16 or 16.5 started giving me excessive pressure signs. I don't have my notes with me, so I don't know the exact charge weight were things started to get squirrely. I guess if it's all you have, then Blue Dot would be okay, but I much prefer 2400 or W296/H110 for full power loads. Your Green Dot would probably make very nice light plinkers. Mike

December 24, 2009, 12:43 PM	#8
mvlav Junior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Location: manitoba Posts: 3	H11o was my first choice but the gun shop seems to be out of stock of it and other suitable powders.