Seismic Sam wrote:Sorry about the lecture Veldy, but you caught me at a bad time, and FWIW, the pressure spike is always at the beginning of the ignition where the volume is at absolute minimum and the bullet has not started to move yet. Not only do you have to overcome the inertia of the bullet, but you also have to force it into the lands and drive it down the barrel. Do this some time with a bullet and a wooden dowel in your gun, and you will find you have to hammer it pretty good to get it all the way through the barrel. Now visualize that powder burning (with the rate increasing expotentially because the bullet isn't moving!!) to the point that it can finally get the bullet sliding down those lands. Once the bullet starts to accelerate the pressure drops off very quickly, and with a revolver the cylinder gap will also dump the pressure somewhat.
I think Aliant should be strung up by their balls for publishing that letter without telling you either lots or why they said that. JFC, the 357 has only been around since 1935, and I have been loading Blue Dot for over 30 years. So just WHEN did you figure this all out, you dumb Alliant EFFERS???
More to the point, some of the latest reloading manuals do list Blue Dot for .357 Mag, and they do NOT list the Alliant disclaimer, so obviously their data says it's safe. In light of this problem, I think the best and safest thing would be say "EFF YOU" to Alliant by not buying their Blue Dot more for political than handloading reasons, and with the 357 Mag there are plenty of other powders to choose from.
And I absolutely cannot guess why they would DQ Blue Dot from these calibers unless it had to do with flashover on reduced loads, and that's something that manuals do warn about routinely, so what's the big deal?? My guess is the warning was due to an increased anal pressure caused by terminal constipation with either an Alliant lawer or QA manager.
No problem. And I agree entirely with your theory on the source of the letter
It always gets me in trouble to bring up my education, but I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, so I tend to understand this stuff innately
Yes, Alliant did mess up, and apparently continues to by having removed the warning ... so is there a warning or not? Anyway, I will not be buying any more Bluedot. For that fact, the only powder that they sell that I do like is 2400 and that is because it is a nice magnum powder that doesn't require me to get magnum primers ... I just don't shoot enough 357 magnum to buy thousands of these guys. Maybe if I start loading for rifles some time ... I might consider Red Dot or the like.
Thanks for all the information though ... it is always good to see it posted.
You could get a new lease on life -- if only you didn't need the first and last month in advance.
