1 1/4oz Blue Dot load help please

[johnnytheboy]

I am looking to find a 36gram lead load that i can set my machine up for. Blue dot would be preferable as I have some already! and 70mm cheddite cases as well as they seem to be easiest to find.

 

I would like it to be a fast load as I tend to shoot fast clay loads so to keep it all consistent I would like the game load to be pretty much the same. I was thinking 1350fps is about the normal fast game load.

 

Does anyone have anything in blue dot that would be roughly suitable?

 

Thanks for your help with this!

[Guest cookoff013]

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?shotype=&weight=1.25&weightdis=1+1%2f4&shellid=496&gtypeid=3&gauge=12

 

bluedot isnt the greatest powder for these, it uses a truckload of powder, about 1300fps too...

cook.

[johnnytheboy]

I was on the alliant site but there is no info for cheddite hulls in that load going as quick as i would like! I would swap out to other powder in future once i have rid of this wee batch of blue dot I have!

[Guest cookoff013]

fiocchi hulls are as similar to cheddite, fiocchi hulls have a 7mm basewad, thats almost as small as the low basewad cheddite hulls.

and the fact yhou probbly not use the plaswads they say because they are american and not totally available here.

there is a chance bluedot can push 36g faster, but in all honesty, they will be very expensive, just in powder.

[johnnytheboy]

The blue dot I have was relatively cheap so the cost is not a factor, I really just want to use it up whilst i research other loads. I hate having things lying about with not a huge amount of use!!

 

I was told to try 36grain blue dot, chegdite hull, 36grms of lead and B&P24 (Steel) wad. the steel wad is one i use on wildfowling anyway so its a good load as I have most of the stuff readily available.

 

However when I chronoed it, it was really slow. I have heard folk talking about working up a load which I would like todo with this one to get it up in speed, but I have never done this and would be sort of worried it would go pear shaped on me! I would be happy enough to drop to 34 or 35 grams of lead if this helped reduce the pressure with this wad and hull combination!

[sitsinhedges]

Working up a load in shotgun cartridges largely amounts to looking down the barrel and seeing how cleanly the propellant is burning. Unburnt powder generally means low pressures which by adding a grain at a time increases until you have a load that is generating enough pressure to burn cleanly. Hopefully this will coincide with a velocity that is adequate for your needs but otherwise the proof house is the only answer. Collecting as much relative data should give you an idea of what's safely possible but it's still at your own risk.

[Guest cookoff013]

Working up a load in shotgun cartridges largely amounts to looking down the barrel and seeing how cleanly the propellant is burning. Unburnt powder generally means low pressures which by adding a grain at a time increases until you have a load that is generating enough pressure to burn cleanly. Hopefully this will coincide with a velocity that is adequate for your needs but otherwise the proof house is the only answer. Collecting as much relative data should give you an idea of what's safely possible but it's still at your own risk.

 

unburnt powder can mean that there is low pressure, but it can also mean that the powder isnt being used to at the optimal pressure that the powder will burn clean. the optimal pressure for a powder can above the pressure limits of shotguns, especially with these super slow burning powders. some powders are just inherently dirty, different powder different charicteristics.

now the majority of powders can burn clean,, and start to burn clean at 10000psi or more, the uk pressure limit for 12gauge 70mm is 740 bar, thats 10,770 psi. there is no way you can guess that the pressure is 740 or 741 bar, if a load is dirty at 740, its going to be as dirty at 741 or even more.

sits is correct, gather enough data for that powder and that load weight. then make the decision of what to do.

 

i`m still recomending never "work up a load"

 

dropping the lead weight from 36 to 34 will cause you a whole heap of problems. low pressure problems.

[Continental Shooter]

I'd add that chrono isn't the best way to mesure speed for shotshell as the distance from the first pelets (which activate the chrono) could well be slower than the one that follow. also the pellets leave on a line which means that by the time the last pellet has passed the first one will be further away therefore, giving a false reading.

 

Chrono could be good if associated with other test such as spread test on a plate/paper which will also help identify if the load has too much pressure or not and penetration tests.

 

In my experience, chrono doesn't have an accurate reading and is misleading of the true speed of a load.

 

cheers,

 

franco

[johnnytheboy]

I have been reading the data, and most of the 1300fps loads in blue dot are running about 38 to 40 grains. This is in american hulls with american wads!

 

I was thinking that I might load up a few batches running from 36 grains upto 38 grains in 0.5 grain increments, to see if i can get them near the speed I would like.

[Guest cookoff013]

I have been reading the data, and most of the 1300fps loads in blue dot are running about 38 to 40 grains. This is in american hulls with american wads!

 

I was thinking that I might load up a few batches running from 36 grains upto 38 grains in 0.5 grain increments, to see if i can get them near the speed I would like.

 

wouldnt bother with the .5grain increments, when you are loading it is acceptable to be within 5% of the target weight of powder, thats 2.5% over and 2.5% under weight. with the 40 grain loads. thats just a 2grains, so 41 and 39 grains would be an acceptable. (~ish). .5 grain isnt going to do anything. with the loads i have seen, i wouldnt even bother with fibre wads. it will end in tears. blue dot, low pressure and fibre wad, is the worst combination ever.

[johnnytheboy]

The target weight of the original load was 36 grains but looking at other data for that weight of load in blue dot it runs upto 40grains, but this is with different hulls and wads than the ones i have! hence I was thinking on uping the powder on the original load I was given!

 

The american wads I mentioned above were winchester and federals not fibre, I couldnt live with fibre!

[coyotemaster]

I'd add that chrono isn't the best way to mesure speed for shotshell as the distance from the first pelets (which activate the chrono) could well be slower than the one that follow. also the pellets leave on a line which means that by the time the last pellet has passed the first one will be further away therefore, giving a false reading.

 

Chrono could be good if associated with other test such as spread test on a plate/paper which will also help identify if the load has too much pressure or not and penetration tests.

 

 

 

In my experience, chrono doesn't have an accurate reading and is misleading of the true speed of a load.

 

cheers,

 

 

 

franco

 

My findings as well! I think the chrono picks up the wad as well which is beginning to slow as it exits the muzzle. This shadowing effect further distorts accurate readings.

[coyotemaster]

 

I understand wanting to use what you have but it is not the best powder for this app. A slightly faster powder would be better suited. I run IMR 800X for this area and use Blue dot for heavy steel loads in 12 and 10 gauge---it is a dirty powder at lower pressures and somewhat temp sensitive as a double base powder.