is bullseye powder supposed to be fairly dirty?

[UT PROSIM]

i have started to reload for my 45ap with 4 grains of bullseye under a 200 gr swc. after a trip to the range where i normaly shoot 50 -100 rounds durring a session, my arms neck and face are all covered in unburnt flakes of powder.

i dont recall this happening with factory loads. i first thought i was loading too much powder (5gr) but i have taken it down to 4 and the problem is still there.
if this is normal then great, i dont mind showering after i get home but i just want to make sure. i store my power in the sealed bottle. i just can imagine the 20-30 min its exposed to air when i do my reloading is enough for the humidity to effect the powder.
Pat

 

[Rig Magician]

Since you did not say if you are useing lead or jacket bullets, or the OAL it is hard to tell. It could be not enough crimp, or to light of a charge. Try working it up from 4g in .2g increments and see if it cleans up. Also check you crimp to be sure it is close to .473-.470. Bullseye is kind of dirty but I don't get much unburnt powder from my reloads when I shoot.
Mark

 

[Mule]

Have some fun. Walk through a TSA checkpoint at the airport after you shoot a box or two of that ammo.

 

[UT PROSIM]

i shoot soft lead swc's and my oal is 1.270" and i dont know the crimp off the top of my head. but thanks for the advice ill try to up my loads to see if that will help
Pat

 

[MMCSRET]

I use 5.0 grains of Bullseye in my 45 Auto loads for semi auto and revolver use and the only dirt accumulation I get on any of them is the lubricant smoke and residue from the cast bullets, never any unburned powder. I neglected to mention that I use 230 grain cast bullets with the 5.0 load, I seldom use a lighter bullet, but I would use at least 5.5 gr. of Bullseye with a 200 gr. bullet.

 

[Blown6L]

Hmmmm.... conflicting responses. My favorite 45ACP plinker/target is 200g SWC's over 5.0g of Bullseye. 10's of thousands of rounds through my 1911's. I've always gotten peppered with powder. I consider it a "dirty" powder.

 

[EMC45]

I never get unburnt powder in my Bullseye loads, but in my experience any flake powder made by Alliant is dirty. It is AWESOME powder, just a little dirty.

 

[Slamfire]

I shoot lots of Bullseye and this happens if the wind is blowing towards me.

Can't say it only happens with Bullseye or Unique, as I have lots of unburnt residue with AA#5 (a ball powder), H110 and with W231.

Auto pistol rounds get ejected on the floor, but my revolver rounds go directly from the cylinder into a plastic container. After scooping them out there is always unburnt residue in the can. Regardless of pistol powder.

I understand that lead particles are also in the air, but you can’t see them.

 

[zxcvbob]

If you're gonna load that light, try Red Dot powder (or Promo, which is a cheaper version of the same thing)

 

[MichaelK]

Yes, I've found too that Bullseye was dirty and have since switched to IMR 700X for corresponding loadings. Same charges/performance levels but cleaner burning.

 

[ScratchnDent]

I run 5.7 gr Bullseye under a 200 gr. plated RN, and can't say that I've ever noticed it being particularly dirty, but maybe that's because I usually use Unique, which is known for being fairly dirty.

 

[HighExpert]

This is my match load for Bullseye. It is soft shooting and, when crimped properly, relatively clean. BTW, the National bullets I mention were purchased about 10 years ago, when they still made quality bullets. I bought 65,000 at one time and will eventually have to buy something different when I finally shoot them all..
45ACP
SWC 200gr (National)
3.5 (High Temp) to 3.7 © Bullseye
1.241 OAL
Match