Blue Dot 30/30 Loads?

[torker]

I picked up a Marlin 336 30/30 Micro Groove Brl. I'm casting a Lee 170 grn. Gas checked. I have 8 lbs of Blue Dot and would like to burn some up. My books do not show a load with this powder. I figure someone here has been down this road before me. Just a plinking load for the wife. Thanks guys. She's bugging me to get on this.

[pworley1]

I have not tried this myself, I had copied it to try but have not had a chance yet.
Blue Dot Range Report: 30/30 Winchester

Case: Remington

Primer: Fed 210

Bullets: Winchester 110 gr RN, Hornady 170 grain FN



110 grain RN:

7grs: 1162 fps 13grs: 1858 fps
8grs: 1266 fps 14grs: 1924 fps
9grs: 1358 fps 15grs: 2087 fps
10grs: 1542 fps 16grs: 2143 fps
11grs: 1706 fps 17grs: 2244 fps
12grs: 1720 fps 18grs: 2322 fps


170 grains Flat Nose

7grs: 1009 fps 12grs: 1473 fps
8grs: 1078 fps 13grs: 1555 fps
9grs: 1153 fps 14grs: 1597 fps
10grs: 1277 fps 15grs: 1685 fps
11grs: 1389 fps

[williamwaco]

Blue Dot is somewhat slower than Unique anda little faster than 2400.

See: http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

I use 8 or 9 grains Unique with the Lee 170 grain bullet.

I would start with 9 grains of Blue Dot.
I predict she will love it.

For other bullets, I would start with the Unique loads and work up in increments of three tenths grain.

If you read burn rate charts, you will notice that Blue dot is just a little faster than 2400.

That means that you must consider 2400 charge weights to be over max for Blue Dot.

For example, if your manual says 10 grains of Unique is max with your bullet and 16 grains 2400 is max with the same bullet.
Your Blue Dot max is going to be between 10 and 16 grains. Start with 10 and work up in increments of .2 or .3 grains.
Remember, you are not loading for power, you are loading for plinking accuracy and fun. When you find a load that consistently hits whatever your chosen target is at 50 to 100 yards - STOP.

PS, If you are new to cast bullets, disregard all that .001 over groove diameter stuff you have read.
You want those bullets sized to .311

[torker]

Thank you guys for the info. I did consult the burn rate chart and placed it in the middle. I will try starting @ 9.0 and see what happens. Seems like a nice little soft shooter there. Again Thanks...

[Von Gruff]

A guy on 24hr campfire has done extensive testing with Blue Dot and I have used his data very successfully in my own rifles for jacketed and cast bullets. If you fill your case to the mouth and weigh the powder. Take 30 % as start load and 50% as max and this applies across the case size range from the tiny to the '06. I haven't seen t mentioned for larger cased cartridges than the '06 as yet. I have wondefull accuracy from my little 20 VarTarg with jacketed bullet (9.2gn / 2700fps) 6.5Grendel-Max 123gn cast over 11.2gn for 1650fps, 7x57 - 160gn cast over 17.2gn BD / 1900fps and 303 British - 212gn cast over 17.3gn BD for 1680fps. Blue dot is one of my must have powders.

[madsenshooter]

I've had some super results with Blue Dot in my 30-40 Krag rifles. Even used it at Camp Perry one year under a 123gr .310 diameter V-max bullet. The load shot a lot better than I did, I was too many years out of practice. I wish I had 8lbs to play with!

[Nobade]

I used Blue Dot in my Marlin 30-30 for years shooting cowboy silhouette. 15gr. under a 150gr. boolit will just BARELY take the rams, and is plenty accurate. About 1500 fps, IIRC.

-Nobade

[JSH]

I found blue dot to be position sensitive.

[koehlerrk]

Be careful with Blue Dot... the new Alliant Blue Dot is significantly faster than the old Hercules Blue Dot. Make sure your load data corresponds to the powder you have.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...g-from-Alliant

[TCLouis]

If you go searching for Blue Dot data at the other site, his name is Seafire.

I found good loads for 30-30, 7.7X58, 30-06 and coated bullets.

Spent little time, but had little success with cast boolits.

I know time and effort were the missing elements in the quest for success and will revisit it.

[torker]

So the first results are in. Sorry no pics!! (will get some up next time soon) I cast some Lee 309/170gc WQWW,
Sized@.310,
Lubed w/C.R. ,
Alum gas check.
Prepared some Win cases.
Started with 9.0 grns. of Blue Dot. (10 rounds)
Then 9.3 grns. (10)
Then 9.6 grns. (10)

Seated the boolit where it was a slight touch of the rifling.

50 yrds. The wife was very pleased with the minor recoil that was felt. She was able to maintain a small group with the 9.0 grn, The 9.3 open alittle more. the 9.6 grn was the same. The initial group was 1.5 with 3 almost touching. the other groups were 1.5/2.0 I think I may still have the targets in the back of the truck. I'll go check here in a minute. By the looks of it I will revisit the 9.0 grn. load This is only the second time the wife has fired this gun.

[plainsman456]

Blue Dot will work,just use your head.

[Wolfer]

When using these powders I never worry about max loads. I've found accuracy will be gone before you get to dangerous levels.
I just start on the low end and work up shooting for group until they start to open up.

[torker]

I was able to find the targets. The 9.0 Grns. of Blue Dot shows the most potential for my wife's plinking round. Thanks for the assistance guys.

[Rich/WIS]

I'm filing this info away fro future use, like OP also have about 8# of Blue Dot. The info that there is a change in formulation is, I believe, true. Discovered that the newer lot I have is too hot if using the old data. Got the first 4# free from a friend years ago, the newer 4# was a sealed canister for $10 at a yard sale. Until now wasn't too sure how to use it up, as I don't shoot heavy loads in my handguns (arthritis).