Can Blue dot powder be used in a 480 Ruger for light loads shooting coated 335 Cast bullets ?
Can Blue dot powder be used in a 480 Ruger for light loads shooting coated 335 Cast bullets ?
I would try 15 grains to start, and work up to a max of 17.0 grains.
Be aware that this is simply an estimate based on my experience with this powder in other cartridges. I have no experience with it in the 480. The only 480 loads I have personal experience with involve 2400 and H-110. More simply put, this my WAG.
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It may work as far as pressure goes, but you generally can't get enough spin on a heavy for it to stabilize in flight unless it is driven pretty decently. JS...
Edit: Found this Shooter's Reference chart, these are manufacturer's load data, all the slow burning and magnum powders are listed with pressure and velocity stats, but there is no mention of Blue Dot. Usually when you notice a conspicuous absence of a certain load, it's either unsafe, untested, or not recommended and they won't publish it.
https://shootersreference.com/reloadingdata/480-ruger/
I looked on the burn rate chart, and Blue Dot is faster burning than all of the slow burning magnum powders, it's right close to AA#7 which is pretty much too fast for big bore and heavy boolits.
I will repeat my first comment, you may get it to work safely, but not push that boolit hard enough to stabilize it.
Last edited by DougGuy; 07-05-2022 at 12:32 PM.
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I've used Blue Dot extensively in the 44 mag with cast bullets and can recommend it - I would also start with 15.0 grs and work up until things get vicious...Blue Dot typically likes a mostly filled case.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |