45-70 & Blue Dot

[offshore44]

I have a Ruger #3 in 45-70, a keg of Blue Dot powder and 350 grn mold.

Is it possible / reasonable to work up a load of Blue Dot that will push these at 1,300 fps? If so, what would that load be?

I know that there are better powders for this, but I have the Blue Dot on hand.

Edited to add: I may have an answer: Somewhere in the 20 - 22 grn range should get me there. Comments?

[Bohica793]

There was a write-up not too long ago on the Handloads.com forums covering this very topic. I would encourage you to go there and see if you can locate it.

EDIT: Found it http://forums.handloads.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=33570

[offshore44]

Nice! Thanks Bohica793! That was what I was looking for. I'll start at 18.0 grns and work up to max accuracy. I was dreading having to tell the wife that she had to stop shooting her rifle until we found more Red Dot powder.

[Nobade]

Mine works well at 19gr. with a RCBS 325-FN-U. At 22gr it is leading the bore and shoots poorly. I don't have dippers for 20 or 21 gr so I don't know if those would work or not.

-Nobade

[offshore44]

Thanks Nobade, at least I'm in the ball park now!

[mcal762]

anyone tried 300 gr or 405 gr cast boolits with 20.gr blue dot loads in a 7.5" BFR 45-70?
thanks...

[mcal762]

did a test load of 20.0 gr blue dot with 300 gr cast bullet with pistol primer at 25yds had 1/2 group and 1265 fps out of a 7.5" BFR...

[Rich/WIS]

Not sure how it will work in 45/70 but found BD works well in 30/40 and 30/06 using max load of UNIQUE as a starting load, and starting load of 2400 as max.

[44MAG#1]

Use 1.5 to 2.0 grains of poly fill to hold the powder against the primer.
get it at a Wal Mart or a fabric shop.
i have found it helps very much.
I have been using it now for a while even with much heavier bullets.

[mcal762]

I've tested 405 gr 22.0 gr of BD with a pistol primer and Dacron filler and it shot well.

also tested 300 gr JHP with 25.0 gr of BD with Dacron filler and pistol primer with no issues. 1365 fps out of a 7.5" BFR

there were no pressure signs on either case..

[mcal762]

The 22.0gr of Blue Dot with Dacron,CCI 300 pistol primer and a 405gr bullet produced one ragged whole at 25yds off a sand bag. Velocity was around 1250fps.. not a bad load at all, cases ejected easily with no pressure signs.. So far the BFR shoots really consistent and well with 2400, unique and Blue dot powders, it seems to have issues with slower burning rifle powders such as 4198,30301, RL7..