Bullseye Shortage Question ?

[Gator 45/70]

Slim to none down here and Unique is MIA also, So,


My question is what are the rest of you guys using for 38 specials powder wise ?

I'd like to hear your results, Thanks'

[BrassMagnet]

Blue Dot is my favorite for .38 spl and .357 mag!

[BrassMagnet]

HP 38 also works, but dirtier!

[Beagle333]

We don't have Unique, but we got Bullseye and BlueDot on the shelf at the LGS. I don't shoot either one of those. I guess not many more here do.

[fecmech]

The nice thing about .38's is they are very unfussy about powder. Just about any fast powder works pretty well with them although Bullseye IMO is the best all around .38 spl powder. Just buy whatever you can get in the shotgun powder line till BE becomes available again.

[TXGunNut]

231, but haven't seen it outside of my loading room closet in awhile. Saw some kind of Accurate pistol powder this past weekend but I think it was a bit slow for the 38. I keep thinking things are getting better but I think we're stuck with spot "shortages" for a few more months...may just be wishful thinking because I've been wrong on all my predictions concerning with this latest shortage.

[DrCaveman]

Unique is great or me, although i use it for stout,38+p type loads. But you dont have that so...

I also like ramshot competition for light loads, pretty fluffy, very clean and consistent too. Good luck finding it...if you do, please let me know! Trail boss offers ok loads in that case too. Seen none in about 2 years

[DrCaveman]

Txgunnut

"a few more months"

Not to be too cynical, but there is NO evidence of a recovery in powder supply here. When people call into gun shops, and then wait outside before doors open, and then buy 8 extra pounds beyond what they will use in the next three years, that is not a shortage. That is greedy people yearning for their piece of the so-called american pie.

Disgusting, says me, in the present climate

[shooterg]

700x works fine. And I've seen it. Saw (pricey) 1 pounders of Bullseye just last week. But really, even at $30, that's a LOT of .38 loads, still less than a penny and a half worth a shot.

[Recluse]

In order to preserve my (dwindling) supply of Bullseye, I began experimenting with Red Dot loads. Much to my joy, I actually found two Red Dot loads--one for .38 and one for .45ACP--that I prefer considerably more than the comparable Bullseye loads.

And, that's saying a lot because Bullseye has been and remains one of my top three pistol powders.

:coffee:

[SSGOldfart]

We don't have Unique, but we got Bullseye and BlueDot on the shelf at the LGS. I don't shoot either one of those. I guess not many more here do.will your LGS ship powder??
Yep red dot makes agood38 round.

[gpidaho]

TightGroup faster but like Unique works in about anything GP

[cwheel]

I used to think all these shortages of reloading components and ammo would be short lived and would calm down after dust settled after the election. With the lack of leadership demonstrated and lack of confidence in the government not ending at some point, think it will continue until at least the changing of the guard in 16. And with the gal who is looking to take his place being the only contender, these shortages could continue well beyond the 2016 date, even get worse. I'm sure the gov is not helping any with these problems, and would love for our supply problem to continue. De-facto gun control, limit ammo supply. I'm still buying when I find what I normally use, but that's not often. Think relief will only come when we get someone competent in charge of the country again and confidence is restored. Until then, look for short supplies, and people hording what's available as it appears on the shelf. The price gougers to continue to operate. The Walmart 22 shortage is just a small example of a big problem. Just a opinion.
Chris

[leadman]

The Sportsmans Warehouse in north Phoenix, Az. has been getting in some handgun/shotgun powders. Last week was Unique (missed it), and this week it was Bullseye. Had Hi-Skor 700X and 800X show up also. Quite an assortment or rifle powders this week.
Primers are in stock pretty much all the time also. They even had some of the 100 rounds CCI Mini Mag boxes in stock!

[Cmm_3940]

LGS here has LOTS of BE. 16-20 1lb on the shelf, an unopened CASE of 1lb. Sitting below it, and they say there's more in the back. $27 a pound. There is NO Unique, 2400, Red Dot, etc. to be found anywhere around here.

[Mk42gunner]

Most powders faster than 2400 can be made to work acceptably in the .38 Special, depending on what you are trying to do.

Since I usually use the .38 for plinking, I don't try to load it hot. I started with W231, it worked for what I wanted to do, so that is what I usually try to use; but there are a plethora of other powders that work well.

Robert

[Bad Water Bill]

Check with an OLD reloader and see if you can copy a 60-70s list of powders used back then.

If the loads worked then they will still work today and it may be much easier to find a listed powder on your LGS shelves.

Loading 700X into 38 sp right now.

No idea how many years it has been hiding back there.

[DLCTEX]

I'm using Red Dot in 38 and 9mm. I have a few pounds of SR 7625 that will be used for the 357 I have coming if it likes it.

[.429]

I use Trailboss for light 38spl loads

[Petrol & Powder]

I haven't seen 231/HP38 in well over a year. Bullseye & Unique are very rare.
I did find some Hodgdon CFE and it works fairly well in 38 Special. Acting on the advice from some members of this forum I found a good load using CFE. I might make CFE my new go-to 38 Special powder.

[Love Life]

When I see Bullseye on the shelf, I buy as much as I can financially stand at that moment. I am amassing quite the stock and plan to only use it after I finish burning up all my random single lb'ers of splody powder.

It may not be optimal for all pistol calibers, but it will get the bullet out of the bore and onto the target good enough and efficiently enough to make it worth my while to stock pile it to load ALL of my pistol calibers.

Eassing the logistics issue of my powder locker.

[lbaize3]

231 and Red Dot for Bullseye and Universal Clays for Unique...

[runfiverun]

never mind the red-dot.
it is only suitable for umm hmm stuff. [don't buy it, I need more. for more stuff I do with it]
everything faster than unique is fine.

[Ed Barrett]

Made it up to the LGS today, no bulls eye. In fact no pistol or shot gun powder except for a few cans of lil'gun. Did pick up a can of 4895.

[beezapilot]

I've been using PROMO- poor mans RedDot for many pistol rounds- .380, 9mm, and .45ACP. LGS had it for $98 for an 8 pounder a few months ago- I've been just delighted with it... main powder for 12 Gauge as well.

[Moondawg]

HP38/231, Titegroup, Universal, Red Dot: Use them all and they all work well.

[dan]

I just got 2 1lb cans of bullseye from a friend and I want to use some for shotgun trap loads. I couldn't find the recipe on the Alliant site. On the powder container it says "great for light 12 gauge load" I cant find the grains I should use? I'm reloading AA hulls and components, any shot shell loaders out there that use Bullseye and know where I can get this info.
Thanks Dan

[Cmm_3940]

The best way to use bullseye in shotshells is to trade it to a pistol reloader for some Red Dot. :)

[Bullwolf]

Slim to none down here and Unique is MIA also, So,


My question is what are the rest of you guys using for 38 specials powder wise ?

I'd like to hear your results, Thanks'


I've been stretching out my Bullseye, by using Red Dot in 38 Special.

3.1 grains of Red Dot behind a 158 grain boolit is my new 38 SPL target load.


- Bullwolf

[Bad Water Bill]

For a fun load when working with nubes I use 2.0 gr of 700X under a 120 gr pill.

Not a screamer but at 3,500 rounds per pound I can get them over the fear of recoil etc while staying inside of my budget

Yes I donate my time and ammo to get more folks into our hobby.

Yes fun for 38s and 9MMs

Check out Herters and other OLD reloading manuals for powders that worked safely then as it is still a good option when more popular powders are in short supply.

[Plate plinker]

Bill your a saint, we all need to work with noobes. I bought unique in michigan city couple months ago. They had it because they only sold with boolits no only powder sales.

[Bad Water Bill]

HE HE

For many years we had "Beginners Day" at Willow Slough D N R in Indiana.

We volunteered the firearms and ammo (Cabela's donated every year) and I had beginners from 4 (with dad and grandparents present) up to 2 grandmothers 70-71 finally deciding to learn how to shoot.

One I will never forget was a 50? lady.

I do not fear shooting a rifle but am petrified of a handgun.

She must have spent 10 minutes holding my 22 revolver in her hand literally trembling all the time till she finally sent one down range.

I will never forget the smile on her face till they close my pine box.

[bayjoe]

I saw Bullseye on armslist for $50.00 a pound. Which they can keep it for that price.
LGS around here have HP-38 and W-231

[Fergie]

Bullseye, Unique and Red Dot are the only pistol power the LGS has had in the last 2 months. Granted, it sold out within hours of arriving, but aside from 4227, that has been it.

[Cowboy_Dan]

I and my brother use IMR PB in his Cobra. It's a tackdriver with the start load in the Lee manual. That was the first load he tried and he never tried another load.

[RugerFan]

Yesterday I saw a few lbs of 20/28 at a LGS. Burn rate similar to Unique I believe. I still have a few bottles of Salute (Russian unique), so I passed. That's the first shotgun powder I have seen in awhile.

[rexherring]

1. R-1 Norma
2. N310, Vihtavuori
3. Bullseye, Alliant
4. N312, Vihtavuori
5. Solo 1000, Accurate
6. Clays, Hodgdon
7. Red Dot, Alliant
8. N318, Vihtavuori
9. Hi-Skor 700X, IMR
10. N320, Vihtavuori
11. Green Dot, Alliant
12. International, Hodgdon
13. No. 2, Accurate
14. N321, Vihtavuori
15. N324, Vihtavuori
16. HP-38, Hodgdon
17. W-231, Winchester
18. N325, Vihtavuori
19. N330, Vihtavuori
20. PB, IMR
21. N331, Vihtavuori
22. No. 5, Accurate
23. Unique, Alliant
24. WSL, Winchester
25. Power Pistol, Alliant
26. Universal, Hodgdon
27. SR-7625, IMR
28. W-473AA, Winchester
29. Herco, Alliant

[bugkiller]

Vih't Tin Star for Cowboy velocity loads. Added bonus, it is low density, so it fills the case so you can not double charge.

[MT Gianni]

AA2 and Red Dot.

[John Guedry]

+1 on the AA2 and Red Dot.

[hanleyfan]

It seems strange that there are rifle powders readily available but pistol powder is as scarce as hens teeth, wonder if the government has their fingers in it? my local shop has 2 shelves of rifle powders but no pistol powders at all. I asked the shop owner when he would have any and he said he had pistol powders on order for over year and still has not gotten any in.

[9w1911]

I think they are pushing rifle powders for hunting season.

[Bad Water Bill]

Many hunters use shotguns so where is that powder?

[dualsport]

FWIW; I got a pound of Bullseye at the Rocklin, Ca. Sportsman's Warehouse recently for $19! My compliments to them for NOT gouging. I'll be back, my kind of place.

[9w1911]

Its there, if you wait for your LGS to get it then you will be waiting for a while, if you order online and pay the hazmat you could have had be86, 20/28, e3, tightwad, tightgroup, red dot, promo, nitro 100, 410, 4227, h110, w296 all within the last four weeks online. Not to mention some surplus powders that could work as well.

[Bad Water Bill]

There WAS a Sportsman's Warehouse about 125 miles away in Indiana and they WERE great folks with great inventory prices and knowledge.

Well they are gone and I am wondering if they will ever consider entering Illinois or Wisconsin?

[foesgth]

Those of you who are getting pistol powder online must live at your computer! I check in the morning, at lunch and in the evening and can't find any. If I do see some, it is marked as having sold out in about 10 min. I also think being on the left coast is a problem. It seems most of the online dealers post the new stuff @ 8:00am eastern or central. I guess I need to start getting up before 6:30 (the beauty sleep isn't working anyway.)

[pjames32]

Accurate #2 works pretty good for light loads. YMMV

[9w1911]

Nitro 100 now at Butch's 19.99 edit it says 26.99per TOO STEEP

I do live on my computer unfortunately.

[Buck Neck It]

Local lgs has a dozen bottles of Red Dot, nothing else to be had; but not so bad!

[.45Cole]

Hahahahahhaha craigslist it around here (http://cosprings.craigslist.org/spo/4700848571.html)

Dumb hippies flagged the posting. Guy had all the bullseye, unique, and alcan 5 you could want. As well as primers and .30 j-words.