Wondering......

[DocModisett]

I started working up loads today, looking for the most accurate loads.... I will shoot mostly hard cast 180 gr. bullets except for the factory loaded 180 gr. jacketed bullets that I have...

The Speer book gives 10 grains of blue dot for a starting load........ that load is almost a case completely full.... and by the time you seat the bullet it is a compressed load.... I started with a 6.0 grain load and worked up in 1/2 grain increments to Speers min. load....  and stopped there....   

Makes me wonder what these people are thinking....  I fired some of the 6.0 grainers and they were mild but worked the action of the pistol very well....  I see this is gonna be very interesting.... 

[The_Shadow]

I have found the 10.2 and 10.4 grain loads of Blue Dot to be my most accurate with my cast bullets. 1160 fps - 1180 fps

That being said I am loading my 200gr XTP over 10.5 grains Blue Dot @ 1200 fps.

[sqlbullet]

Something seems very wrong here.  Alliant lists 11 grains as a max load for a 180 grain JHP.  A 180 gr hard cast should be a bit smaller.  I have loaded a fair bit of Blue Dot and don't recall every seeing the issue you are describing.

What brass are you using?

Do you have an alternate scale you can verify the charge weight with?

[The_Shadow]

Yea that amount of Blue Dot would still have some room in the 10mm casing but is a compressed loading.

Here's a supplement set to me years ago by Speer...

[DocModisett]

Hmmm,,, mo good info...    I had about 1/4 in. space left with the min. load listed in the #14
speer manual.... so there aint no way to get 11 gr. in the case without it running over,,,, you would have to tamp it down first.... I like bulky powder because you cant double charge.... I got a feeling that these loads are going to work out fine...
The only experience I have had with blue dot was loading a .38 super a lot of years ago... and I dont recall having that issue with the super... but I do remember that it was a good accurate load....
Thanks for the info , guys....
Bullet,, I am using a old rcbs scale that I bought in the early 60's.... dont have another.... all my equipment is like me ,,, older than dirt....    I am using assorted once fired brass.... that is why I started way down the scale.... 

[DocModisett]

I have started searching for the load that my particular pistol ''likes''...... I am using hard cast 180 gr. bullets.... and started working up from 6.0 gr. of blue dot... 1/2 grain at a time.... so far I have 32 rounds loaded.... 4 bullets in each baggie.... If it ever stops raining, I will set up a target at 60 ft. and my bench rest and start patterning the loads on paper... one very carefull round at a time.... 

[The_Shadow]

Do you have a check weight to verify the actual weight?
One thing I do to my Balance beam scale is take a toothbrush to the "V" blocks to make sure it is free of dust and debris.
Also dust the entire scale the reset it to zero then check with a check weight to verify...
This insures it doesn't get stuck or hang up...

[DocModisett]

My scale is so old , that it did not come with a check weight... but,,, I did brush its teeth.....

BTW ,,,,, Happy new year....