Hello everybody I have always used Bullseye for my 38 special target reloads (3 grains for a 148grain wadcutter in my model 27) and was wondering if there is any "better" choices such as W231 for similar loads? The Bullseye loads seem accurate but I was wondering if other powders are cleaner.

Thanks

Troy

I like both WST and Clays. I have probably half a pound each on my shelf, next to 16 pounds of Bullseye.

WST meters much better than Clays. I've never really noticed that any was cleaner than Bullseye, but then I do clean my guns more often than annually...

I have been using Hodgdon's Tightgroup 3.7gr with 158gr LSWC for my USPSA league nights and really like it. I did have some problems with the .358 dia LSWC not sliding into the chambers easily after the first 30 or so rds,but not with the .357 dia. It seems to be pretty clean powder, and real accurate.

Many years ago I switched to 231 and am still using it.

Thanks everybody, I do clean my 27 everytime I shoot it but I will try W231 and see what its like in comparison.


Troy

Alliant's American Select is a great alternative to Bullseye. It is a clean burning powder. One can use similar charges to Bullseye. This powder, which is considered primarily a shotgun powder seems readily available.

i use ww231 in 9mm 40s&w 45acp 38spl 380
i like it. if i had bullseye i would use it, i have used it in the past.don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Thanks everybody for their suggestions. The Alliant powder sounds interesting.

Troy

Bullseye is probably the most universal powder for pistol cartridges with W-231 coming in a close second. I have used both in my S&W Model 52 with the 148 gr. Remington LHBWC - 2.7 gr. Bullseye or 3.2 gr. W-231 provide equal accuracy in my gun. WST and American Select are cleaner burning than either Bullseye or W-231 at the same velocity level.

Thanks Tsquare until reading posts on this forum I never considered using anything but bullseye for my target loads som of the other posts mentioned cleaner burning powders so that got me wondering if there was something better.

Take care

Only if you are talking light target loads. It fails to come even close t providing a broad load range for the high pressure service rounds like the 357sig & 40s&w, we won't even talk about magnums or the 10mm. Unique, Universal or WSF would come closer to be all round pistol powders fo rjust about anything from 380-44mag & heavy 45colts.
WST is my powder of choice for light to std. vel. loads in the 38sp, 9mm & 45acp. It burns a bit slower than BE but very, very clean burning w/ accuracy, at least in 45acp, that rivals any powder I have tried.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

FOR 148GR HBWC IN .38SPL 2.7 WST IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BEAT.

NOW FOR .45ACP 185GR SWAGED SWCHP IT'S 4.2 WST OR FOR 185 REMINGTON SWFMJ IT'S 4.6 WST.

NO SINCE IN REINVENTING THE WHEEL. JIM P

Thanks PPCSHOOTER next time I buy power I might give WST a try I just finished off all of my primers and bullets, I usually buy 148 grain wad cutters that are not hollow base. and use them with 3.3 grains of Bullseye so it sounds like WST might be worth a shot (bad pun intended) I guess it depends on what is in stock.

Thanks

One not mentioned, Red Dot works well too.

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John

There are so many to use, personally I use Clays, Universal, Green Dot, AutoComp and Ramshot Zip. Anymore it's getting to be a matter of what you can find as powder is becoming as scarce as primers.

There probably better powers than Bullseye but when you have over 3 pounds of the stuff on the shelf it doesn't make sense to buy others. Some of my Bullseye is over 50 years of age.Still shoots good.