Blue dot

Aaron Beck · 08-05-2021, 06:13 AM

Ive combed this forum and had a quick look at the 16 ga site but the answer hasnt jumped out at me. Does anyone have a recipe for a low pressure 16 ga load which uses blue dot powder? Perhaps blue dot is unsuitable, its listed as a magnum powder but I happen to have a lot of it which came from a family member's estate. hoping to build some bismuth loads.
7/8 oz 1150 or so would be ideal.
Thanks

Harold Pickens · 08-05-2021, 07:05 AM

I'll take a look at my files that I downloaded from the Yahoo 16 ga site--now defunct, but I always thought Blue Dot was used in heavy 1 1/8 oz 16 ga loads.

Aaron Beck · 08-05-2021, 07:08 AM

ok that would be helpful, thanks.

Harold Pickens · 08-05-2021, 07:14 AM

Cant find any in the Low Pressure load files using BD, I have other files but need to know what hull you are using and also what wad would help--but these are all for lead shot--I do have some loads using Nice shot and Green Dot in LP 7/8 oz loads.

Harold Pickens · 08-05-2021, 05:41 PM

I misspoke. Thought I had a 7/8 oz load of non-tox Nice Shot with Green Dot, but it uses 7625, which I have but may be hard to find, here it is:

Tom Armburst Load Test Results:
Federal 16 ga hulls, plastic, cut to 2 1/2"--I have a bunch if you dont
7625 19 grains
SG 16 wad
7/8 oz Nice shot #6
6 fold crimp
1107 fps and 7280 psi

I'll keep looking, and thanks for the pm.

Bill Murphy · 08-05-2021, 05:47 PM

Blue Dot is a very slow powder and may/will not generate sufficient pressure in a 16 gauge 7/8 ounce load at 1150 fps. The result may be off sound and inconsistent ignition. I would not try it until I found a recommended load in a manual.

Harold Pickens · 08-05-2021, 10:09 PM

Hope the pic turns out. Here are some 16 ga bismuth loads. Most much hotter than what you are looking for.
What are you shooting them thru?

Harold Pickens · 08-05-2021, 10:23 PM

Couple more, also found some 7/8 oz loads with steel shot, but much higher pressures.

Victor Wasylyna · 08-05-2021, 10:38 PM

Blue Dot is a “magnum” powder. For 16 gauge, it loads 1 1/8 oz loads at high velocity (1250+ fps). It will not provide what you seek. Sell what you have and buy some good powder. (I don’t even like Blue Dot for magnum loads.)

-Victor

Bill Murphy · 08-06-2021, 02:54 AM

Years ago, I used a small quantity of Blue Dot for heavy lead waterfowl loads and it worked fine. However, we don't do that any more. I agree with the last poster. Sell your powder.