Blue Dot or W231 for Nosler 200gr JHP?

[REDLINE]

Between the two, definitely the Blue Dot.  Like DM1906 talked about, W231 is pretty much useless for any respectable 10mm load whatsoever.

There was some talk about flash issues or not.  All I can add is that I've done some night time target shooting.  The flash never bothered me in the least.  No doubt it lit up the area around me, but never messed with my clarity of vision at all.  But, those were factory loads and I don't know what powder was used, which may not have been as flashy as a 10mm load could have been.  Still, I've done night target shooting with heavy 44 Magnum loads and it didn't bother me either (though they were shot through a 10" barreled revolver which would have helped lessen the flash even though the barrel to cylinder gap flash was still quite respectable).  Maybe it affects different peoples eyes differently.  I don't know.

[Clarinath]

I use 10.5gr of Blue Dot under 200 gr Noslers.

It works great in both the standard Witness barrel and the 6 inch. 

Can't wait to take a deer with it this year.

[Retired Squid]

My guess is you are right at or slightly passed SAAMI MAX with that load. Most reload manuals list about 9.5gr =/- say .3gr or so. And with Lyman 48th manual 9.6gr BD is 29,900 CUP, so add another grain of powder and it will really spike. Max is 37,500 CUP.

How are cases looking after firing? Any bulge in case? Have you increased recoil spring weight and/or installed buffer?

[The_Shadow]

I ran 10.5 grains of Blue Dot under many 200 grain bullets to include the XTP's, these have run 1185-1215 fps from my S&W 1006.  Accuracy was great and clean burning.  Had someone run the data with the "QuickLoad" data program and it was showing 42,628 psi...


But like others I pushed to higher numbers using IMR800X and LongShot with this bullet weight.
"QuickLoad" data program doesn't have 800X in its data base, but the 200XTP over 9.4 grains of LongShot @ 1293 fps was displaying 58,823 psi


I have no way of knowing if those numbers are remotely accurate or not...however those loads were being sold as commercial offerings based on actually discussions and pull-downs!

[Retired Squid]

I often wonder why you guys want to shoot such hot loads in expensive and often very collectable firearms, if you just doing it for a power kick switch to a DE 50 AE and really have a bear stopper. Maybe I'm just getting old. 

[The_Shadow]

Retired Squid, I do the things I do based on many observations and measurements, of which, the only measurement I can't do is a direct pressure test...However the loads I have tested where done in various guns and barrel lengths.

Besides that, in my studies, there are some that go beyond what I am doing.  SwampFox Ammo was one that went beyond where I'm at, and conversations with Mike Willard at the time allowed me to understand the levels he tested to.

With that said, only true pressure testing would show if I'm inside the SAAMI pressure MAP with the loads I have worked with.
The "pull-downs" have also show some very interesting things based on those findings. 

[Retired Squid]

What I'm getting at is not the experimenting with loads so much as it is with the guns involved. I experimented with some hot loads for awhile, but I was using a T/C Contender with 10" barrel. It just seems counter to good sense to run 22 to 26 pound recoil springs while experimenting with expensive Colt, Dan Wesson or even 10 series S&W and not expect damage done to gun by excessive return to battery force.

If the gun is not far more accurate or deadly then what good is accomplished? It sounds to me like most of you hot loaders are after bragging rights and nothing more.

Hope no one is PO with my conclusion, it's just my view and nothing more about what seems to me a waste of time and money, putting abnormal wear and tear on a probably very nice and expensive group of handguns.

I've said my piece and will not again post here on this thread to interrupt you guys and your fun.

[sqlbullet]

I am not generally in the hot-loader crowd.

But, I know The Shadow uses primary a Glock as his test platform, with aftermarket barrels.  Not exactly a collectible.  In fact, easily and economically replaceable.

And while I agree that many are after bragging rights, occasionally you meet someone who is just interested in finding the edges of the envelope.  Again, such is the case here, based on my reading.