Bullseye Powder is well named

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MattO

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I've been reloading for 3-4 months now. And once I got done getting "comfortable" doing the basics, I started experimenting to see what affected what. Mainly what powder/charge worked best for my guns in certain Calibers. Currently I am working on finding what .38 special load I like.

I found a lb of Unique and Bullseye locally and built some trial runs with them both. While unique shot well and I would probably continue to use it if I could find it. Bullseye has really caught my attention for this caliber. After the death of a dear Aunt this week, and the funeral today. I took an hour to myself and went to the range to clear my head. I fired off 50 rounds of 38 testing each load in my 4" Sp101 and my Model 19 6". Bullseye became the clear winner. I have attached a target that was shot with 2 rounds of 6 each from my Model 19 free hand at 15 yards. With a little wind disturbance on the target from the air circulation system. This is a 5 oval standard qualifying target.

Matt
 

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Nice shooting!
I've been reloading for many years and never even tried Bullseye until recently. Now I love it. Contrary to it's reputation, it's very clean shooting, at least in .45 auto, and very accurate, meters very nicely too.

Tomorrow I'm going to give it a tough test, light loads with light bullets in .357 brass, a combo that seems to bring out the worst in powders. I'm hoping it becomes my all-around target powder because it's cheap ($21/lb at my LGS) and available.
 
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Sorry for your loss.
I have been using Bullseye since 1985 in 9mm, 380,38,357,44 spl,44mag,45 acp all have worked fine. I did have a "warm" load secondary to a faulty scale and someone else doing the powder. 7.5 gr of Bullseye in a 38 spl case with 158 LSWC is too hot. Fortunately it was fired in S&W 19's and beside the noise, fireball, leading split cases we & the guns were fine. Cases had to be hammered out with wood dowel, it caused one bullet to come loose and lock up the cylinder in my friends gun. Then came tearing down 995 rounds. We got lucky, check your powder measure frequenly. Be Safe,
 
Yes, Bullseye is an excellent powder for your light target loads. As Vipermd noted, it is easy to over charge your cases with this powder because it takes so few grains per load. I have used it for years and aways take extra precautions when using Bullseye.
 
Man, it seems that some people.....

Calliope said:
Nice shooting!
I've been reloading for many years and never even tried Bullseye until recently. Now I love it. Contrary to it's reputation, it's very clean shooting, at least in .45 auto, and very accurate, meters very nicely too.

Tomorrow I'm going to give it a tough test, light loads with light bullets in .357 brass, a combo that seems to bring out the worst in powders. I'm hoping it becomes my all-around target powder because it's cheap ($21/lb at my LGS) and available.
Click to expand...

It seems like if alcohol was used as a propellant, some people would say that is was dirty and wouldn't meter. Bullseye was named that for a reason. It's consistent as can be. And a heavy, subsonic slug is mostly affected by gravity, which is entirely predictable and repeatable rather than by buffeting from shock waves that are entirely unpredictable and unrepeatable.

It's super economical because it only takes 2.7 grains for my target load. It's not position sensitive, either.

I've been saving a quantity of BE I would like in the worst way to be able to find some more. It's really old, but it has a great reputation as a target powder..
 
Nice shooting!

Yes, they named it appropriately. It's one of my favorite target powders, right up there with Red Dot and now, 700X.

I recently had a "shoot out" between the three mentioned powders. All variables were the same, except the powder. I shot them through a Colt Officer's Model Match. I used a Hornady 148 gr. HBWC, in a .38 Special case, and the lightest target load listed for each powder. The BE and RD both gave groups I was happy with, but the 700X out-grouped them both. I'll buy it whenever I see it now!
 
Bullseye and TB are the top powders with my J frame snub nose lead loads.

In the 6" Bullseye wins hands down over all other powders with the 148gr HBWC bullet.
With Red and 231 as a good option.

Unique will take over when I need medium to full loads in my
K and larger framed weapons.

Bullseye is also the winner in the 9mm with the 124gr plated RN light target loads.

A starting load with the large 147gr bullet hit 874fps in my 3.5" pistol.

A good load in my 6" 38 special loads with a lead 158gr is just
3.3grs of BE that does 756fps and hits at my POA.

You will have lot of enjoyment with BE.
Good shooting.
 
Bullseye is my go to powder. It lasts a long time - I'm just now reaching the bottom of the 8 lb jug I bought in 2008, I have one more unopened 8 lb jug I bought in 2012 right before it all hit the fan.

It is very dirty in light target loads, but it is a very fine residue that cleans up easily. It is surprisingly clean in full power .45 hardball loads.

I never had any issues with light target loads in .357 cases.
 
I've been saving a quantity of BE I would like in the worst way to be able to find some more.
Click to expand...
Around here (MN) Bullseye has been readily available for several months, hopefully some makes it your way soon. I'm surprised in this day and age of rapid transportation that supplies can be plentiful in one area, and so scarce in other areas month after month.
 
If you think it works well in .38, load about 5.5-6.0gr of it under a 200gr .429 plated slug in .44 Mag brass. If you do your part, it'll make you look like a trick shot.
 
Dirty Shmurty.

johngalt said:
It is very dirty in light target loads, but it is a very fine residue that cleans up easily. It is surprisingly clean in full power .45 hardball loads.

I never had any issues with light target loads in .357 cases.
Click to expand...

Same here. To me it's the same with Unique or a lot of powders people say are dirty. All you need is a rag with some oil on it or a leadaway cloth and wipe it off. I make with the copper brushes because I can't get a cloth into the barrel chambers. And if my gun gets dirty after a few hundred rounds, I clean it. And MANY powders don't burn as completely in light loads.

I've shot some factory ammo that leaves a gummy residue and the front of my cylinder looks like it has been paved. THAT to me is dirty.:confused:

And I load .357 cases with the same target load I put in .38 cases. If there is any difference at all, I can't tell. Maybe with a finely tuned chronograph.

I'll close with, I'd rather have dirty powder than no powder.
 
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Glad you have a nice hobby to clear your head and sorry to hear of your loss.
Bullseye shoots great and importantly meters well too. I have used a few powders that shoot good and meter poorly so I don't need that frustration.
If Bullseye becomes hard to get I have found HP38 and Titegroup to shoot and meter extremely well too.
That is some nice grouping from that smaller framed gun and 4" sight length.
Enjoy the reloading, it has been good therapy for me too:)
Karl
 
rwsmith said:
I was 'forced' into buying some Titegroup. Glad to hear somebody likes it.
Click to expand...

I started with Titegroup, I have 2 lbs of it. I'm not fond of it, but I know it will work if I run out of other powders. I had accuracy issues with it. Not sure if it was just me or not. But my buddy I shoot with also reloads and he uses Titegroup and has recently started shooting some of mine, and also notices a big difference in accuracy and consistent point of aim to point of impact.
 
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