razadp

Hi there - I just bought a Lee 1000 reloading setup for my .44 Mag (Redhawk)

I know the hunting loads I want (14.0 gr Blue Dot - 240 JSP Magtech).

But I also bought a box of 200 gr lead bullets for plinking. They were sold out of Red Dot, so now I'm wondering how low I can go with the Blue Dot. I have no interest in putting in the max (17ish), rather the minimum for good burning. Thinking of trying 10 grains of Blue Dot, using CCI350 primers (magnum) should give good ignition.

Any experience out there?

btrumanj

My indoor range doesn't allow full bore magnum loads so I have to download for the .357 & .44 mag. I've never tried 200gr bullets in my SBH(yet) but I've found 7.6 to 8 grs of Universal Clays works very well in MY gun with the 240 gr lead bullets. Don't see why it wouldn't work well with the 200 gr. Hodgdon's 2006 annual manual give a range of 6.8 to 7.8 grs of Universal Clays over a 200gr LRNFP cast bullet. I'm sure many will suggest Unique but for me the Universal Clays works mo' better
Baker

Ahab1

Why not Titegroup or Accurate#2? I'd be concerned of the reduced charge of Blue Dot.

razadp

Mainly because here in NJ, mail order of powder or ammo is difficult. While I was at the shop, I got my Blue Dot, did not see much stock of other names I was familiar with, no Red Dot, etc.


Anyway I've read a lot of sites now about Blue Dot, and no one suggests lite-load detonation issues with this powder. (as with H110, etc.)

454PB

There's no danger of squibs like you'll find with H-110, but Bluedot doesn't burn cleanly until you get up around 20K pressure. I'd suggest you try around 14 grains with a 200 gr. bullet and see if it burns cleanly.