Bullseye or Unique?

[bullseye308]

I am loading 38, 357, 9mm, & 45 and have Bullseye, Unique, and 2400 on hand. I know the 2400 is only for the 357 top end. What I normally load is for target/plinking ammo, not defence or hunting. Usually will take a few people out and shoot up a few hundred rounds of each per trip. I now cast for everything and am looking for lighter loads with less snap to them, so it looks like the bullseye will mostly be used for 38 and maybe light 45's with the unique going for the 9mm and 357. I have carpal tunnel(both hands) and tendonitis in both wrists, elbows, and shoulders so I think less Bullseye and more Unique to relieve the snap and get on with the "push" is the way to go. Does this sound right, if so I'll break out the chrono and get down to new load development.

Bullets are all Lee TL, the 9 is a 124gr TC, the 38/357 is the 158 SWC, and the 45 is the 230 2R RN. All are cast from WW towel dropped then sized and tumble lubed.

 

[redw7blue]

I have used Unique in my 40 S&W loads for a couple of years now. I know 40 S&W is not in your list but the 40 is close to the 357. Its a good powder and I have had no problems with it. I load it down a bit and my wife is able to shoot the 40 with no problems.

 

[zxcvbob]

I think you'll be happier with the Bullseye. It loads down better than Unique (IMHO.) They are not as far apart in burn speed as most people think, the Bullseye is just much more energetic.

(Try 5.7 grains of Bullseye in .357 Magnum with cast or plated DEWC bullets sometime. It's actually a pretty hot load. Probably not what you're looking for here.)

 

[243winxb]

Muzzle Energy

Muzzle Energy should tell you what load gives less recoil. Low velocity, light bullets= less recoil. Some have said slower burning powder gives a push that softens the recoil. I dont know that to be true. You can use a Muzzle Energy Calculator to get an idea. Links to 2 of them. http://billstclair.com/energy.html The second one is> http://www.cruffler.com/BallisticCalculators/BallisticCalculator.shtml My choice would be Bullseye Powder. You can go lower in velocity with it than unique.

 

[bluetopper]

Load 3.5gr of Bullseye for 158gr bullets in 38 cases. Been a great load for decades.

 

[bullseye308]

It loads down better than Unique

See, that is the opposite of what I would have thought.

(Try 5.7 grains of Bullseye in .357 Magnum with cast or plated DEWC bullets sometime. It's actually a pretty hot load. Probably not what you're looking for here.)

Nope, I was shooting 6.5 and it wasn't too many rounds I was done. I like to make an afternoon of it when I do hit the range and that requires a bunch of ammo to be fired so I can load it again.

243winxb ,some good info. Thanks.

I guess what I'll do is load 38 or maybe 38+p in 357 cases to be fired out of a 6" Ruger GP-100 using Bullseye. I have way more 357 cases that 38 and don't like cleaning the ring out of the cylinders. I am limited to the bullets on hand, maybe 2500 of each cast & ready to go, so a lighter bullet in 357 will not happen. I have NO budget for a while

I'll look into just how low I can download the 9 and still get it to cycle. The 45 I rarely shoot, so I'll worry about it later.

Thanks everyone so far.

 

[bullseye308]

Load 3.5gr of Bullseye for 158gr bullets in 38 cases. Been a great load for decades.

Nope, not gonna do it. I will probably trade off the 38 brass for more lead. I had to sell the 38 not long ago and have plenty of 357 brass to work with. Might look into a comparable load in 357 brass though.

 

[Steve C]

Use Bullseye for target loads, Unique for full power in the .38, 9mm and .45 acp. 2400 is too slow for those cartridges.

 

[243winxb]

bullseye308, Alliant's website has Bullseye loads for all 4 calibers you listed. Just back off on them some. Bullseye powder should not be loaded at maximum. More a target shooter powder for reduced loadings. http://www.alliantpowder.com/ Go to there powder guide if you have not been there before.

 

[herohog]

+1 for Bullseye. I use it for 9mm, 38spl and .45ACP.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

For the listed calibers, Unique is more versatile, especially in 357. You can download Unique with no issues and since its bulky, the chances of a double charge are very low.

 

[bullseye308]

Right, the 2400 was for the 357 hot loads that I am not gonna load anymore.

 

[creativetownsman]

Huh?

bullseye308
Quote:
Load 3.5gr of Bullseye for 158gr bullets in 38 cases. Been a great load for decades.

I thought that 2.8 of BE was recommended for low recoil and accuracy. Am I mistaken?

YES, I am. That's more for 148 WC load, e.g. the 2.8gr of BE! Sorry!

And I believe from the 2005 Alliant brochure that 3.6gr of BE is max for a standard (non-+P)158gr LSWC!

 

[MCgunner]

I use both, but Bullseye makes better light loads and is cheaper to load. Unique if you wanna juice the load up a bit in 9 or .38 or .45.ACP and Unique for light loads in .45 Colt.

 

[Sagetown]

I agree with all those recommending 'Bullseye' for light loads.

 

[30.06]

My experience in loading light , in the aforementioned calibers , indicates Bullseye , burning cleaner and more efficiently , than Unique .

Try starting with four grains of Bullseye in the .45 230gr.

In the 9mm try 3.6 grains of Bullseye . I remember loading , I think it was 3.5 gr. Bullseye in a cast 125 gr. 9mm load . It would not cycle the action in a Browning High-Power , about one round , in every magazine .
Using Unique in a lighter loading of 9mm , it was quite sooty and recoil was still harsher then the Bullseye load , although Crony said it was only about 950 fps .
If my memory is correct I think the 3.5 grains of Bullseye load was going about 970 fps . or a little more .

In the .38 special with a 158 grain hardcast bullet , 2.8 grains of Bullseye will give a very accurate and gentle load .

Overall , Bullseye much cleaner ( efficient ) than Unique , when using any really light loads .

 

[jjohnson]

+1 on Bullseye for plinking/target

Yep, if for no other reason that it burns faster, and will completely finish burning in less than 2 inches of barrel.... Unique takes more than 8 inches to finish about 90% (depending on the load).

This is one reason that Bullseye looks like it burns cleaner - the Unique leaves unburned powder residue. It's great for other applications, like higher power loads with longer barrels, but I gave up on it for plinking long ago.

I always have Bullseye (or Red Dot, Titegroup) for the target/plinking ammo, but also always have Unique on hand. If you confined yourself to only two powders for handgun, you would do rather well with that pair.