H110/W296 vs Blue Dot (.44 Mag.)

[TomBulls]

Anyone here ever use Blue Dot instead of H110/W296 when loading CB's for the .44 mag.? I have been using Blue Dot instead of H110/W296 because of the smaller amount of powder required when using Blue Dot, and truth be told-- I'm, not noticing much a difference in accuracy. With a 260gr CB, H110/W296 only gets an extra ~100fps at maximum load while using a magnum primer. Why go for that extra ~100fps? :confused: The differences (at maximum load) is 788 ft/lbs 1,168fps with Blue Dot and 915 ft/lbs with H110/W296 at 1,259fps. Again, this is supposing that maximum load can be reached without over-pressure conditions arising first. With lighter bullets (loads being fired from a pistol), the differences are comparable, with the H110/W296 loads still using a magnum primer.

-thomas

[kelbro]

I only tried a couple of Blue Dot loads in 44 mag and they were not really accurate. Should I spend some more time with that powder?

[TomBulls]

I suppose that would be up to you, but its been working out for me.

-thomas

[GRUMPA]

With anything published for the hand loader there is always going to be a variety of powders that the individual has to use. I for one use B-Dot on occasion and like it a lot. Like anything it's a matter of preference, some people will swear by powder "X" and completely trash the other. Ask another person the same question and the exact opposite will more than likely happen.

To sum it up in a nutshell, thru trial and error (usually poor accuracy) is the real only way to determine what works well with what you have. I said earlier that I use B-Dot on occasion, sometimes I use H110 but never W296. WHY? because thru my own trial and error sessions depending on the weight of the boolit etc, etc. will in most instances determine what powder I use.

Most everybody on this site has there "pet" load. Most have tried different things, powder, projectiles, etc. along the way only to discover what works best with what they own. If in your case it doesn't seem to suffer in the accuracy dept. as to what powder your using and still getting good/excellent results, by all means keep using it.

Personally for me it's a toss up of what I have the most of at the time, as I to don't notice any accuracy issues with either of the powders I use. And if a person wants to really figure it out to the penny B-Dot would more than likely be at the top of the list.

[Blammer]

edited for a stupid moment.

I do not use BD yet in my 44's I'm thinking of unique.

[TomBulls]

Yep! I got a new favorite load for my .44 mag! Spent the morning at the range, and had a great time. New favorite load for my .44's is a 263gr SWC with 15gr of Blue Dot and Winchester LP primers. Just one thing I didn't expect was that the recoil is tremendous. Works out pretty doggone well for my lever rifle as well.

-thomas

[longbow]

I generally use IMR4227 in the .44 mag but for 1894 Marlin. As GRUMPA says, we all have our pet loads.

I have used Blue Dot but it does not seem to give the same velocity as IMR4227 in the longer barrel. It is more economical though and velocity differences may not be worth worrying about.

I have an old gun magazine (I can't recall if it is Guns & Ammo or Shooting Times) with an article on testing a variety of loads and powders for the then heavy 300 gr. bullets in .44 mag. Blue Dot did well. If memory serves it produced some of the best accuracy of all powders tried in a revolver.

If you are interested I could probably dig up the article and post the loads. This was specifically for testing 100 yard accuracy of 300 grain bullets though so not quite what you may be looking for.

Longbow

[crabo]

If you are interested I could probably dig up the article and post the loads. This was specifically for testing 100 yard accuracy of 300 grain bullets though so not quite what you may be looking for.

Longbow

I would be interested in seeing the data.

[longbow]

I will dig through my old gun magazines. May take a day or two.

Longbow

[bigboredad]

while not a .44mag load I have really good luck and accuracy in the .45 colt with a 270 grain bullet when I want o keep it around 1000 fps.

[big dale]

In the late 80's I had a Super Blackhawk that just loved Blue Dot. I don't remember how much I loaded behind those 255 grain cast semi-wadcutters, but I used up three or four of those five pound kegs of it in that gun . I also used up several of the 8 pound kegs of Herco with the same bullet for the lighter loads for that gun. I wish I still had that gun.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

[longbow]

crabo:

Okay then I found the magazine.

It is Shooting Times September 1993 (makes me feel old, I seem to remember just reading this ~ not sure if that means my memory is good or bad). The article is "53 Loads, 5 Powders, 4 Bullets (yes they are jacketed) 300 Grain - Bullets".

Blue Dot loads ranged from 14 grs. to 16.5 grs. though three are stated as "Hot" or "Too Hot" at 15 grs. and up depending on bullet used (all 300 gr. of course).

The best loads at 25 yards were then used to compare at 100 yards.

Best Blue Dot loads gave groups of:

- Hornady bullet, 14 grs.; 25 yards = 1.47"/100 yards = 3.15"
- Hornady bullet, 14.5 grs.; 25 yards = .78"/100 yards = 3.45"
- Nossler bullet, 14.5 grs.; 25 yards = 1.06"/100 yards = 4.52"
- Sierra bullet, 15 grs.; 25 yards = 1.32"/100 yards = 3.73"

Blue Dot also produced some of the best 100 yards groups.

From an 8" revolver barrel the highest velocity "hot" load at 15 grs. gave 1218 FPS in comparison to Win 296 "hot" load of 20.6 grs. at 1306 FPS.

So back to the TomBulls original comments, Win 296 produced groups of similar size but several larger groups as well and for the most part velocities were not much above the Blue Dot velocities except for the "hot" loads.

Longbow

[crabo]

Thanks for taking the time to type it all up.