What's the lightest Blue Dot powder load I can use for 240g lead and jacketed .44 mag rounds? I'm looking for around 1000fps with the jacketed rounds and 900 fps with the lead rounds. How about the same question with Unique?

TIA

MKane160

load it like a 44 special.....you can make it shoot 850 FPS with 9 grains blue dot or you can go to 15 grains and 1350.....get out the chrony and add until you get the load you want.....but stay between 9 and 15 grains blue dot

same for unique....load it like a 44 special....the powder weights will change so look in your book

That's good advice. I find BD too slow for low vel. loads & would stick to the Unique. I use 7-8gr of Unique under a 240-250grLSWC. I would not go below 10gr of BlueDot, you're likely to get a bunch of unburned powder.

Thanks, fellas. The reason I asked was I just loaded a few 240g SWCs with max Unique load listed in, I think, my Nosler book and they came out super hot. Flattened, punched primers. Is it possible to over-crimp SWCs, increasing pressure? That's the only thing I can think of to cause the pressure to be so high...

MKane160

Vapodog

Are those book or measured chronograph velocities?

I like and use Blue Dot powder in pistol loads, but be prepared for some muzzle blast. It is one of my favorites in 45ACP, however, I don't think it's the best choice for light to moderate loads. I think Unique will better serve you in this endeavor, plus it offers a better pressure/velocity curve and is a better fit for what you're attempting to do. Also, Unique doesn't require a massive crimp for reliable ignition like slow burning powders do.

quote:

Originally posted by MKane160:
Thanks, fellas. The reason I asked was I just loaded a few 240g SWCs with max Unique load listed in, I think, my Nosler book and they came out super hot. Flattened, punched primers. Is it possible to over-crimp SWCs, increasing pressure? That's the only thing I can think of to cause the pressure to be so high...

MKane160

If I recall, Sierra only lists loads for jacketed. Lead bullets take about 5% less powder to achieve the same vel. w/ sim. pressures. Also cross ref. max. data before using it (ie, Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Alliant, etc.). Every test platform is diff. What was your load? http://www.alliantpowder.com/r...ellid=33&bulletid=47

My Speer book lists a range of 6.5 to 7.0g of Unique with a 240g SWC with a 7.0g load showing 899fps. I loaded mine with 7.0g Unique, large magnum primer, 240g Hornady L-SWC, and well crimped. I shot 6 through my S&W 329 PD. They did not FEEL particularly hot, but the primers are definitely flattened and punched. Could too tight a crimp cause this, or was I just too close to a max book load for this particular gun? I'm going to load a few at 6.5g of Unique and see what happens.

TIA...

MKane160

Did you work up to 7.0 grains and saw the primer problems, or you just dumped in the book max and rip, shit or bust?

quote:

Originally posted by MKane160:
...Could too tight a crimp cause this,

Hey MKane, No.

quote:

or was I just too close to a max book load for this particular gun? ..

Yes.
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That is "Why" you will occasionally () see folks, and ALL RELOADING MANUALS, mention that Loads should be Developed from below, while watching for Pressure Indications. Same when ANY Component is changed.

There are no worthwhile shortcuts when using good Reloading Techniques. Best of luck to you.

No, you can not crimp enough to make a starting load go over pressure. No, there is something else going on if 7gr of Unqiue is showing pressure signs. That's not even a max. load for a 44special case. If your cases are too long, they could be wedging in the chamber mouth & impeading the bullets exit, raising pressure, but still, the pressure should not be high enough to cause pierced primers.
Federal primers will show flattening & can be pierced if the firing pin is rough. You don't need or even want mag primer w/ Unique, but even that would not make a 7gr charge over pressure. Check case length, & bullet diameter. Make sure the bullets are no larger than .431". Take a sized case & make sure it fits easily into the chamber. I know you did, but triple check you powder charge was only 7gr & not 10-11gr.