Anything better than Bullseye?..
- Thread starter megaton
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Lots of folks like Bullseye and it's works just fine. A bit dirtier than most powders, sure, but it'll get the job done. That being said, it's worth your time to try out some other powders. I've yet to find a better load for many of my 45's than 4.0 grains of Clays under a 200 grain LSWC, lasercast by Oregon Trail to be specific. If you shoot jacketed, give Noser 185 HP a try over either 4.7 WST or 4.4 Viht. N 310.
AA#2 should meet your requirements. It take a smaller charge then most powders, burns clean, meters well, and it's accurate and consistant.
P.S. I've found using Alox on cast bullets to greatly decrease smoke, soot, and leading problems.
P.S. I've found using Alox on cast bullets to greatly decrease smoke, soot, and leading problems.
ljnowell
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AA#2 is my low velocity target load powder for 38/357, 45acp, 9mm, etc. Its a great powder.
One of the issues with "clean" is that to get less powder residue the powder has to burn hot.
Titegroup burns "clean", or so I have been told, and I have also been told titegroup gives more leading, because it is running hotter.
I have used both Bullseye and W231 in 38 Special and 9mm and both are great.
Titegroup burns "clean", or so I have been told, and I have also been told titegroup gives more leading, because it is running hotter.
I have used both Bullseye and W231 in 38 Special and 9mm and both are great.
Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like Bullseye is the way to go for what I am wanting ie. light plinking loads.
In regards to the comment about bullseye being a bit dirtier than factory, I was referring to .38sp.
I am paying $56.50 shipped per 1k of 124g LRN 9mm bullets. I am usually seeing FMJ bullets going for double that or more. If I could get FMJ bullets for $75 shipped I would be all over it. Does anybody sell them that cheap?
In regards to the comment about bullseye being a bit dirtier than factory, I was referring to .38sp.
I am paying $56.50 shipped per 1k of 124g LRN 9mm bullets. I am usually seeing FMJ bullets going for double that or more. If I could get FMJ bullets for $75 shipped I would be all over it. Does anybody sell them that cheap?
LiveLife
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CZ57
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I use Ramshot ZIP for .45 ACP handloads both cast lead and jacketed. It is very similar to W231 but burns much cleaner. It is also well suited to 9mm target loads and the .38 Special. It produced the most accurate load in SIERRA's testing with their 200 gr. Tournament Master (Match) bullet. I am getting very good accuracy and don't care to use a faster powder like Bullseye. 
CZ57
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Thanks for the link, Walkalong. I forgot to mention that Ramshot ZIP is also less $ than many competing powders.
I agree that Clays shoots clean, even at low pressures which is almost impossible with metallic rounds (very possible with shotshells). But Clays and Red Dot are super fast powders which build up pressure quickly. They are excellent powders for low velocity/low recoil rounds because they expand the brass cases to seal off the gases. They are not good powders for medium or high velocity rounds because the peak pressures will exceed the SAAMI specs before you can get that bullet moving.
Bullseye is always listed as a fast powder, but it gets its quickness from a heavy dose of nitroglycerin. The rest of the powder burns similar to Unique and the resulting velocities are similar. You use about 10-20% less Bullseye powder for a similar peak pressure as Unique and you end up with almost the same velocity (within a few fps).
I also agree that Bullseye is more "sooty" than other powders, even at full pressures and complete burn loads (no unburned flakes). My stainless steel Ruger Sevice Six revolver looks like a blued revolver after 50 rounds using Bullseye. However, a couple of minutes with Hoppes #9 or CLP cleans it right off. On top of that, I have not found Bullseye to be a problem with auto-loading pistols, the soot does not appear to build up on the insides of my 1911 or M&P40 even after over many hundreds of rounds between cleanings.
If cleanliness is important, you might try Hodgdon Universal (or what was called "Universal Clays"). It is their competitor to Unique and allegedly meters better than Unique and burns cleanly like Clays.
My favorites are Clays/Red Dot for light loads, Bullseye/Unique for medium speed loads and Power Pistol for full speed loads with a nice light show (flash).
Bullseye is always listed as a fast powder, but it gets its quickness from a heavy dose of nitroglycerin. The rest of the powder burns similar to Unique and the resulting velocities are similar. You use about 10-20% less Bullseye powder for a similar peak pressure as Unique and you end up with almost the same velocity (within a few fps).
I also agree that Bullseye is more "sooty" than other powders, even at full pressures and complete burn loads (no unburned flakes). My stainless steel Ruger Sevice Six revolver looks like a blued revolver after 50 rounds using Bullseye. However, a couple of minutes with Hoppes #9 or CLP cleans it right off. On top of that, I have not found Bullseye to be a problem with auto-loading pistols, the soot does not appear to build up on the insides of my 1911 or M&P40 even after over many hundreds of rounds between cleanings.
If cleanliness is important, you might try Hodgdon Universal (or what was called "Universal Clays"). It is their competitor to Unique and allegedly meters better than Unique and burns cleanly like Clays.
My favorites are Clays/Red Dot for light loads, Bullseye/Unique for medium speed loads and Power Pistol for full speed loads with a nice light show (flash).
4895
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montanagoldbullet.com
115 grain FMJ 4000 pieces for $305.00 free shipping = 76.25/1000
115 grain FMJ 4000 pieces for $305.00 free shipping = 76.25/1000
ArchAngelCD
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Like I said, I'm a huge fan of W231/HP-38 but I'll add, I would rather use AA#2, Clays, Zip or a few others before I would use Bullseye. I know there are many Bullseye fans but I'm just not one of them.
I'm not too keen on Unique either but I do like 2400. My powder trinity is W231, W540 and W296. (HP-38, HS-6 and H110)
I'm not too keen on Unique either but I do like 2400. My powder trinity is W231, W540 and W296. (HP-38, HS-6 and H110)
ljnowell
Member
View post #1. Thats my results using 185gr GDHP and Alliant Power Pistol. I would say that it has an impressive fireball.
I've been using Bullseye for handgun reloading for 30 years. I guess the question is, is there anything better. Over the years I've used others,in fact I have 800X and WSF and like them both, but are they decidedly better, Ireally don't think so.
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