powder choice for cast bullets?

[randy_68]

I am getting ready to start my adventure into cast boolits and have a question about my powder choice. I will be loading for .45acp and .357 mag and .38 spcl. Most loads will be .45 acp with a Lee TL452-200swc bullet as that is the mold I have to start with for it.
Is Bullseye a good choice for all three calibers?

I have 4227, H110, Lilgun and AA1680 on hand as was looking to get a good all around powder to use with the cast boolits. My other molds are a .358 150 gr swc and a .358 148 gr wc. From what reading I have been doing it seems like Bullsey, Unique, WW231 and a few others would also work.
I will be mostly plinking and informal target shooting with the .45, but I do hunt deer with my .357 1894 and S&W 686. I also use a .357 Max but will keep using jacketed bullets for it.

[Firebricker]

Bullseye is a little fast burning for .357 but it's good in .45 and .38 if you want one general purpose powder Unique is my favorite. H110 will get the most out of your .357 loads out of what you have listed. For just all around decent general purpose loads one powder can do a lot but if you get into wanting max performance and accuracy you will probably have to have a few on hand. I buy Unique 8lbs at a time because most of my shooting is plinking but most hunting or defense loads usually have something else. There is more powder choices than ever out there now so these are just my opinions on it but we have lots of members that can give you some more details on powder choice. Welcome to the the forum. FB

[runfiverun]

for the calibers you mention unique is hard to beat.
except your next post will be about the smoke generated by it and the alox you are gonna use.
then you'll be told universal burns cleaner.
the third post will be about not being able to find loading data for the h-110 and your boolit weight in the 357 so you'll end up buying some 2400.
a bit down the road you'll buy a 44 or 45 and look at cast loads for [it] and see a whole ton of info for unique and 2400 available for them too.
by now you can probably guess i have about 40 lbs of both unique and 2400 on the shelf.
my powder selection jumps to aa-1600 from there btw.
a while later you gonna want a load for your [insert rifle cartridge here]
and you are gonna get 12 responses about using unique and 2400.

[RayinNH]

Lamar that about sums it up. You can't go wrong with either one of those powders...Ray

[randy_68]

sounds like you know me already! I have already thought about what my next gun will be down the road. Probably a .44 or .45.LOL.
I have been using H110 and Lilgun in my .357 loads and they are working great for max loads. I am just looking more for plinking and general shooting with my .45 ACP I just bought.
It is an American Classic Commander and is one sweet pistol. Love shooting it that's why I want to gao to cast and roll my own. So I can shoot more for the same $.

[stubshaft]

BE is a great powder for the 45 and 38 special. As already stated it is a little fast for the 357 but I wouldn't hesitate using either 296 or 4227 in it's place.

[rexherring]

Nice gun. I load a lot of Unique, HP-38/W231, and Accurate #5 for those rounds mentioned. All work just fine.

[Cherokee]

One all-around powder for all those, 231. Will not give gthe best 357 perofrmance but works good, and is good in the others.

[runfiverun]

231 does pretty darn good in a variety of loads, quite often i am surprised by it's flexability.
i'd sure choose it over titegroup.

i don't see any checkering on the front strap of that pistol.
you wouldn't mind mailing it to me for a closer look, and some proper funtion testing of various cast boolit loads would ya?
it would sure save you a lot of time and casting.

[randy_68]

testing is all the fun so I will keep that to myself! I thought about changing the grips on it but for now I'm just going to learn how to shoot it. I think out of the first 50 shots I missed the target more than not. It don't shoot like my 686, that's for sure.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've had good luck with Tightgroup. It meters better than Bullseye and shouldn't be case position sensitive.

I've used HS6 in all three as well. There's hotter data avaliable for this powder.

[Boolseye]

Yes to everything

I like Bullseye. It seems to work just fine from light target loads up to some pretty heavy hitters, using all of the calibers mentioned. I think it's a great overall powder choice.

[smokeywolf]

Be sure not to double charge the Bullseye. Double and triple check yourself.

No, I'm not speaking from experience. Although I do like Bullseye in 45ACP and 38 Spl. There's just no such thing as being too careful.

smokeywolf