My first reloading experiment

[NickMc]

Bluedot Powder
Speer 124gr 9mm FMJ Bullets
Once-Fired Blazer Brass
Speer Manual Specs for starting load, oal, etc...
Test victims: Beretta 92FS and Kimber Stainless Target II

7.2 grains - Surprisingly stout. I was told this stuff was a slow-burner.
7.5 grains - Much like a +P or NATO load, a bit smoky, might have observed some burning powder on ejection?
7.7 grains - HOLY COW! FLAMETHROWER! Is this bad for my guns?
At 7.7 I was well under the manual's max load of 8.1 grains but, WOW!
I am absolutely amazed at how a mere one-half a grain could make such a huge difference.

Clean-up? The firearms were unusually filthy with a thick/smooth carbon soot. Not gritty, very soft and lots of it.

[J-cat]

Blue Dot, for when you wanna impress tourists visiting the indoor range.

[Sunday]

Bluedot Powder
Speer 124gr 9mm FMJ Bullets
Once-Fired Blazer Brass
Speer Manual Specs for starting load, oal, etc...
Test victims: Beretta 92FS and Kimber Stainless Target II

7.2 grains - Surprisingly stout. I was told this stuff was a slow-burner.
7.5 grains - Much like a +P or NATO load, a bit smoky, might have observed some burning powder on ejection?
7.7 grains - HOLY COW! FLAMETHROWER! Is this bad for my guns?
At 7.7 I was well under the manual's max load of 8.1 grains but, WOW!
I am absolutely amazed at how a mere one-half a grain could make such a huge difference.

Clean-up? The firearms were unusually filthy with a thick/smooth carbon soot. Not gritty, very soft and lots of it.

Reloading isn't something to fool with.

[stilly]

Reloading isn't something to fool with.

LoL!

Such a kidder you are...


OP: Blue Dot RULES! Pick up a LOT of it cause right now it is going for $69 per 5lb jugs at Powdervalleyinc.

I have it and It seems to be a very good powder for almost all pistol calibers.

I have used it in:
.45 acp, 44 mag, 9mm, and uhh, hmm. Odd. That is all, but I see and have recipes for it in 40, 9mm, 38 and .357 as well as 12GA...

Good stuff. Even cooler is that if you look at it you will see little tiny blue dots in it. I like to take the blue dots out and put them in the red dot powder, and then take the red dots and put them in the green dot powder and then take the green dots and put them in the blue dot powder...

That way the FBI will never figure it out. It will be like Boondock Saints.

(okay yes that was a joke...) Oh no my secret is out, I need to put them all back.

[Dano3467]

HA HA HA take out the blue dots...

[NickMc]

I could mix the red dots and the blue dots and get purple dots... oooh purple.

[mark501w]

how'd they shoot?

[Germz]

Reloading isn't something to fool with.

Said no one who ever published a reloading manual ever.

[ivanimal]

Bluedot Powder
Speer 124gr 9mm FMJ Bullets
Once-Fired Blazer Brass
Speer Manual Specs for starting load, oal, etc...
Test victims: Beretta 92FS and Kimber Stainless Target II

7.2 grains - Surprisingly stout. I was told this stuff was a slow-burner.
7.5 grains - Much like a +P or NATO load, a bit smoky, might have observed some burning powder on ejection?
7.7 grains - HOLY COW! FLAMETHROWER! Is this bad for my guns?
At 7.7 I was well under the manual's max load of 8.1 grains but, WOW!
I am absolutely amazed at how a mere one-half a grain could make such a huge difference.

Clean-up? The firearms were unusually filthy with a thick/smooth carbon soot. Not gritty, very soft and lots of it.

I have had a batch of powder from a known company that was a LOT faster than listed. Please be careful if it feels bad look for signs of overpressure and stop shooting if it feels bad in any way.

[NickMc]

They all shot OK, except for one squib.

I had to stop using the Beretta 'till I could smack the bullet out.

The fireball was a bit distracting on the 7.7 grain loads... a max load would be spectacular!

[mark501w]

what did you do miss a powder charge?

[Ken Woodford]

Try bullseye next time. I have found that unique and all the "color"dot powders are dirty. I hate cleaning and those powders make it worse.

[NickMc]

Ken, I have a jug of Bullseye, but I haven't tried it yet.

Mark, I think I bumped some of the powder out of the case when I was seating the bullets. I checked my press and there's a little pile of Bluedot on the base.

[deac777]

Blue Dot has always worked out to be a excellent powder for accurate 9mm loads for me. The only issue that I have is they tend to be on the hot side. I have recently switched to Power Pistol for my 9mm loads, as I have found Power Pistol cleaner, not quite as hot, and just as accurate as Blue Dot. Power Pistol does produce quite a lot of muzzle flash.