Unique or Bullseye for 38/357?

[beaverislander]

Being that I am already paying extra shipping/hazmat fees for some rifle powder, I'd like to get some for 38/357 loads on the same order. Looking back on this forum, the Unique and Bullseye seem to be mentioned regularly, so which would you suggest to start with? Also, what primers would you recommend?
And yes, I'm kinda new to reloading, I just ordered the press today

Thanks.

 

[beaverislander]

Being that I am already paying extra shipping/hazmat fees for some rifle powder, I'd like to get some for 38/357 loads on the same order. Looking back on this forum, the Unique and Bullseye seem to be mentioned regularly, so which would you suggest to start with? Also, what primers would you recommend?
And yes, I'm kinda new to reloading, I just ordered the press today

Thanks.

 

[Duskykiller]

Bullseye with standard small pistol primers is a good place to start. Bullseye is a little cleaner burning in my experience than Unique.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Do yourself a favor and try a pound of AA2. A little slower than BE, a little faster than Unique, meters much better than either, and outperforms both. It's cheap, too.

 

[Erich]

I feel that you can do more with Unique than with Bullseye, so - between these two for those two calibers - I'd say go with Unique if you're only going to get one.

 

[toroflow1]

Try Alliant Promo powder. I load 3.4 grains in .38 cases and a 158 grain lead SWC. Good for 800 fps or so. Alliant Promo powder is only sold in 8 pound kegs, but it is CHEAP at $81.00 for 8 lbs (from Powder Valley). That works out to $10 per pound...much cheaper than Bullseye or Unique, and very clean burning compared with Unique.

 

[nitesite]

beaverislander~

What kind of bullets are you going to be loading, and to what desired velocity?

In .38-Special are you looking to make light target .38s or perhaps 158-gr +P LSWCs, or something in between?

Your answers to these questions might help me as well as others point you toward one or the other powder.

Welcome to reloading! A couple years back when we chatted off-forum you never mentioned an interest in reloading some day. It's a great hobby! Hope you've been doing well.

 

[cush]

Originally posted by Erich:
I feel that you can do more with Unique than with Bullseye, so - between these two for those two calibers - I'd say go with Unique if you're only going to get one.

I agree with Erich if you want to get only one powder. That said, I recently switched to Bullseye for .38 because it is more economical. I use 3.5 grains of Bullseye under a 158 grain LSWC where as I would be using 4.5 grains of Unique in the same situation. Therefore, a pound of Bullseye goes further. I save the Unique for my .41 and .45 Colt loadings.

 

[beaverislander]

First off, I just target shoot so I won't need hunting bullets.
My brother in law got me interested in a 223 Varmint Rifle several months back, and was able to give me a list of components that he recommended, so I have been accululating them for awhile now.
I had been thinking about reloading for the 38/357 for some time, but just never got off my rear end to do it. Guess I figured the ammo was pretty resonable until just recently (I am paying for that mistake now!)
Then there's the 460mag which is kind of pricey to feed.
The open order I have is with MidSouth and I could not fing AA2 or Allient Promo, but they do have Unique and Bullseye listed, so I will back order some of each to try.
I am really looking forward to getting set up. Thanks for all of the replies!

 

[max]

As is usually the case, I agree with Erich. Unique will work just fine.

 

[toroflow1]

For those of you who cannot locate Alliant Promo, try this: http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

Powder Valley has Promo for $81 for 8 lbs. Hmmm, Unique and Bullseye (both out of stock BTW) are listed at $14 a pound. Yeah, why don't I just use Unique or Bullseye, heck it costs only 40% MORE THAN PROMO!!

 

[nitesite]

If I bought eight pounds of pistol powder that I had never tried before based on a forum suggestion (even if I wasn't new to reloading) I would deserve a severe beating about the head and shoulders.

Frankly, that's just stupid.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I use unique as it fills the case a bit more. It is also very flexable as you can use it in just about any chambering.

 

[beaverislander]

Originally posted by nitesite:
If I bought eight pounds of pistol powder that I had never tried before based on a forum suggestion (even if I wasn't new to reloading) I would deserve a severe beating about the head and shoulders.

Frankly, that's just stupid.

I'm not sure if that comment was directed at me but I can assure you that 8 lbs was not in the plans.

 

[mtgrs737]

An old retired gentleman that used to sell reloading stuff out of his enclosed back porch set me up in reloading gear 35years ago. He suggested that I start with 3grs. of Red Dot in the 38 spl. case with a 148gr wadcutter on top. He made me up a Lee powder dipper to measure the powder and sold me a RCBS Rockchucker press and dies. Later he sold me a Lee bullet caster pot and a Lyman mould, and sizer so I would quit pestering him to cast and sell me bullets. I had a great time talking to him and learning about reloading and casting. I still have the same equipment he sold me and I still load that load and many others. It shot well, and was accurate and at over 2000 rounds to the pound it is economical.

 

[Hook686]

I like Unique for .38/.357 more than Bullseye. It is too easy to double charge Bullseye I think.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Well, having used Bullseye from day one, that's where my vote goes. There is no better powder on the market for light to medium 38spl loads, period. Oh, there are some as good and some with different characteristics, target loads, Bullseye.

More velocity, +P type of loads, bottom end 357mag loads, then of the two powders you have mentioned, Unique.

There are other powders available that will cover a wider range of performance than either of the ones you have mentioned, but you didn't ask that, now did you?

Have fun reloading and be safe!

 

[Pinger4186]

You won't go wrong with bulleseye. It works for almost everything, and it's very consistent. Another selling point for me on bullseye is that it is easy to find. It's usually cheap too! That's important--especially right now.

I'm surprised no one else has suggested Clays. It's a great powder too.

 

[walnutred]

I use Bullseye so that is what I'd recommend. However if your are placing an order and paying hazmat fees anyway, you might consider slipping in a pound of W231

Reloading can get addictive and W231 will probably be on your Gotta Try list before long.

 

[epj]

Here are some points you might ponder:
Bullseye is an old "standard", as is Unique. Bullseye is much faster burning than Unique, and better suited to lighter loads than Unique. If you want to load in the magnum, or near magnum class, Unique will do much better than Bullseye. Conversly, if you want to load very light target loads, Bullseye is much better suited. Both are dirty. Unique, is not nearly as dirty if loaded to the higher pressure end of it's spectrum. Not necessarily a max load, but at least medium hot. I haven't used Bullseye in years, so I'm not sure if it cleans up any at higher velocities or not.
If I were ordering and I were going to use just one powder, it would probably be Clays. (There, someone did finally mention it) It is great for mild to medium hot loads, extreamly clean, meters well, etc. Also pretty cheap. If I wanted to load on the hotter end of the spectrum, Unique might get the nod. There are some of the newer powders that might do a better job, but may not be as readily available and don't necessarily have the tons of load data avaialble that Unique has. 231/HP38 is also a viable option for a one-powder loading bench. Just tends to be quite dirty at low pressures. Any of the mentioned powders would be a proper choice, though the only way to find the best choice for you is to try some different ones and see. You will not go wrong with any of them.