45 ACP and Bluedot Issue

[kenhwind]

I have been reloading the 45 for many years now and never experienced an issue like this.

I have some Blue Dot, and I have used it in shotgun shells as well as some handgun loads, such as the 10mm. So, I decided to try Blue Dot in the .45. Doesn't work. I shot one round yesterday and the next round wouldn't chamber, so I took a cleaning brush run it around the chamber and the rounds seated just fine. I chose not to shoot anymore. Pistol was cleaned beforehand.This was the second time trying to shoot these loads. I wasn't quite sure was the issue was the first time, but apparently the .45 Automatic doesn't have enough pressure to burn off the Bluedot and it fouls up the chamber.

FWIW, I also loaded some .38 Super rounds with Blue Dot and these shot just fine.

Thoughts?

 

[CJ6]

Did you try a hotter primer?

 

[stork]

What do you taper crimp your loads to?
Mixed brass or sorted?

 

[Rank Amateur]

What bullet, what charge, what OAL?

 

[tred1956]

Don't know about a 45 ACP but My 45 Win Mag Loves Blue Dot

 

[kenhwind]

What do you taper crimp your loads to?
Mixed brass or sorted?

I taper crimp by feel but haven't actually mic'ed them lately. 0.471+
Magtech CBC brass, well used.

What bullet, what charge, what OAL?

230 grain FMJ Precision Delta, 8.5 grs., 1.270

After I brushed out the chamber the rounds seated properly. I had the pistol apart, Colt GM. My brother shot 100 rounds no issue, 50 with Bullseye, 50 with WSF, the WSF was loaded during the same loading cycle as the Bluedot.

 

[Fuj]

Did you try a hotter primer?

Would'nt matter if you used a magnum rifle powder. Blue Dot is
too slow even for a long slide. Unique is about as slow as you want
to go, and even with the 240 jacketed bullets, it's a filthy powder. As
was mentioned The 45 acp is a low pressure pistol. The 38 Super as
mentioned is a high pressure cartridge., but would still not use Blue
Dot in that either......

 

[kenhwind]

Don't know about a 45 ACP but My 45 Win Mag Loves Blue Dot

So does the 10mm.

 

[SeabeeKen]

There is a reason bd isnt listed for 45acp in loading manuals

 

[kenhwind]

There is a reason bd isnt listed for 45acp in loading manuals

Well, Lyman does, I made up two different loads, the other must be Alliant iirc.

 

[Walt Schmidlin]

Worked well for me in a 45 ACP w/225gr lead. 8,5 Blue Dot seems excessive.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Well, Lyman does, I made up two different loads, the other must be Alliant iirc.

I stand corrected. My Lyman and Speer manuals list it as the slowest powder for the heavy bullets with max loads over 9 gr. Never noticed it before. The Alliant site does not show it in 45 acp. I know guys who use it with 220 gr bullets in 10mm and like it.

 

[Rank Amateur]

RELOADER'S GUIDE​

Alliant Powder Reload Recipes​

Recipe(s)​

Caliber​ ​	Bullet​ ​	Case​ ​	Minimum OAL (inches)​ ​	Bbl Length​ ​	Primer​ ​	Powder​ ​	Charge Weight (grains)​ ​	Velocity (fps)​ ​	Notes​ ​
45 Auto	200 gr Speer GDHP	Speer	1.2	5	CCI 300	Blue Dot	10.5	1,010	-​

Alliant site only lists one load for .45 ACP. It’s with a lighter bullet and heavier charge. I think the velocity is the key to reliable cycling of your pistol...

 

[mongo chicago]

IN 44 magnum I used 18.5 hrs Blue Dot behind a 240 gr bullet. Great Load!! Always thought Blue Dot would be a little much in a 45 acp.

 

[kenhwind]

The alliant data I used is from an older reloaders guide.

The first time I tried to shoot this load I had the same issue with two different pistols, one the Colt, the other a Star Model PS. I initially though that maybe the brass, which has been loaded hundreds of times, might be the problem, or the cartridges were loaded too long.

 

[kenhwind]

Worked well for me in a 45 ACP w/225gr lead. 8,5 Blue Dot seems excessive.

IIRC Lyman lists, Blue Dot 8.3-9.2 with a CCI primer, the Alliant Data is 8.5 with a Federal primer, both for 230 FMJ.

 

[std7mag]

I'll have to dig through my reloading notes tomorrow.
I know I was using Blue Dot for a load in my Springfield Armory Champion, 4" barrel.

 

[Richard Jones]

Would'nt matter if you used a magnum rifle powder. Blue Dot is
too slow even for a long slide. Unique is about as slow as you want
to go, and even with the 240 jacketed bullets, it's a filthy powder. As
was mentioned The 45 acp is a low pressure pistol. The 38 Super as
mentioned is a high pressure cartridge., but would still not use Blue
Dot in that either......

Amen!

 

[stork]

I taper crimp by feel but haven't actually mic'ed them lately. 0.471+
Magtech CBC brass, well used.

230 grain FMJ Precision Delta, 8.5 grs., 1.270

After I brushed out the chamber the rounds seated properly. I had the pistol apart, Colt GM. My brother shot 100 rounds no issue, 50 with Bullseye, 50 with WSF, the WSF was loaded during the same loading cycle as the Bluedot.

I would try a firmer crimp, .465-.468. With your quantity of powder and nearly nonexistent crimp, your bullet is escaping the case before the case has a chance to expand to seal the chamber. Give that powder a chance to burn.

My short line (50'-25yds) are taper crimped at .462-.465. Depending on brass thickness. In repeated Ransom tests, these crimps will produce repeatable 10 shot .6" - 1.0" groups at 25 yards in several of my wadcutter 45's.

If you have another faster powder, I'd give it a try. As has been mentioned, you're using a very slow powder for the case capacity, bore diameter and barrel length.
Al

 

[kenhwind]

I would try a firmer crimp, .465-.468. With your quantity of powder and nearly nonexistent crimp, your bullet is escaping the case before the case has a chance to expand to seal the chamber. Give that powder a chance to burn.

My short line (50'-25yds) are taper crimped at .462-.465. Depending on brass thickness. In repeated Ransom tests, these crimps will produce repeatable 10 shot .6" - 1.0" groups at 25 yards in several of my wadcutter 45's.

If you have another faster powder, I'd give it a try. As has been mentioned, you're using a very slow powder for the case capacity, bore diameter and barrel length.
Al

Everything has been fine with my 45 reloads until I tried to shoot the Blue Dot.
I will agree that more crimp is in order, the brass has been loaded many, many times, so we will be shooting some factory Remington up to get once fired brass.

Yes, I have a good assortment of powders, Bullseye, Red Dot, Unique, W 231, Autocomp, so there is no reason the be using the Blue Dot in the .45.