Well, as long as you are going to have to hunt whatever powder up and probably pay a big price, just get more Bullseye.
Well, as long as you are going to have to hunt whatever powder up and probably pay a big price, just get more Bullseye.
Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.
Availability moved more people from Bullseye than ignorance.
I moved away from Bullseye due to frequent dry spells, when I couldn't find any, like now. When my girls were young and I found myself repeatedly getting bounced out of work as various concerns were bought and sold I could not afford the luxury of stockpiling a bunch of powder. When I had 10-20 dollars to spare, I could pick up a pound or two. But prior to the 1986 revision of Federal Law, you couldn't order powder, you bought what was on the shelf. In California, Hercules powders, other than shotgun powders, tended to be boom or bust. There were either plenty or none. It does little good to work up a brilliant load if you can't get fuel for it. I have generally have been able to Red Dot and WW231/HP38, so that's where I have gone.
Nowadays, my discretionary income is much greater, but I still haven't seen any Bullseye.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
I am still using an ancient square can of Bullseye I picked up at an estate sale. For years I used Hercules dot powders, mostly red and green dot. Then about two years ago I found an 8 lb. jug of Promo (equal to Red Dot by weight) and immediatley snatched it up. The heavens opened up; angels descended. I use it in 9X19. 38 spc, 380 auto, and 45 ACP.
For light target loads, I would stay away from anything very slow. I found that Unique burns very dirty if it doesn't build enough pressure.
Wayne
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - or else it gives you a bad rash.
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Last edited by jonp; 12-30-2021 at 08:10 PM.
I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled
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I found a 4-lb container of Shooter's World Clean Shot just before the pandemic started. Since I only load pistol calibers it will last me a long, long time. It's a really fine powder, like sand, and meters very consistently in my LnL press. Now if I find a line on primers...
But I still keep bullseye too, still my favorite for .38 special target loads.
Be very careful when applying volumetric rules like this to two very different cartridges which operate at vastly different pressures. .38 Special has about twice the case volume as 9mm, and works with about half the pressure. 95% case fill in a .38 with AA #2 is about 10 grains. Regardless of bullet weight, 10 grains of AA #2 in .38 Special is a massive overload.
I know you were thinking specifically of 9mm when mentioning the 95% case fill, but wanted to mention this since we're talking about both 9mm and .38 Spl.
Stay safe out there!
Made a list of a powders listed. LGS (an hour away) was closed today. So, going shopping tomorrow. Wife said that this weekend is my birthday weekend (today is my birthday - 65 today), so anything that I buy is for my birthday. She also added to remember this weekend next November
Progressive press and other shooting gear will be delivered on Monday. Chaps my pants that it's been sitting 2 miles away at UPS since Friday
Thank You everyone for your suggestions. You've been most helpful.
BTW, I never realized just how dirty Bulleye was until after shooting 100 rounds through the stainless S&W revolver.
Well, of all of the powders on my list only WST was available. Limit of 1 - 4lb. jug. But I won the lottery!!! I scored a brick of Winchester WSP primers!!! Limit of one brick per customer per day. Wish I'd brought the wife along now. ONLY $80 / 1,000. Double what I used to pay, but better than being without.
I have been pleased with 231 for a couple of decades. Works well in mid range target loads for .38, 9x19, 45 acp.
Others that work well for me in those cartridges:
Red Dot/Promo (also great for 12 gauge)
Bullseye
Clays
WST
WSF
Powders I have quit using in pistol cartridges:
Titegroup (burns too hot)
Unique (great for 28 and 20 gauge, not so accurate is handguns at moderate velocity)
Universal (similar to unique)
Sport Pistol for your applications.
Alcohol Inventory Reduction Specialist (Journeyman Level)
Went back over my notes. I shoot the usual Promo, Unique etc. Some not so usual like Vectan GM3 but I had great luck with IMR Target. Very clean and accurate. From my notebook remarks I'd buy more Vectan if I could find it at a good price
I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled
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What ever is in stock that has load data for you desired caliber. Yes Bullseye seems dirty, but if you have it you can shoot. Autocomp #2 I found to meter poorly... always fell out of the sides of the metering system. I've tried Autocomp, Titegroup, Unique and Bullseye and a few .45 ACP rounds using Herco. I'm spending more time smelting, casting and coating than loading or shooting. Need to save what powder I have for the Zombie (COVID) apocalypse.
If Vectan is a possibility, I used Vectan Prima V for a long time in 9MM for USPSA shooting. Very "soft" shooting and clean burning.
9MM Blue Bullet 147gr / over Prima V 3.1gr / 1.09 OAL = 132 Power Factor
Alcohol Inventory Reduction Specialist (Journeyman Level)
I like Red Dot, AA2 for almost anything.
Old retired guy in Baton Rouge La.
OP asked about a comfortable light load powder. I recently started out loading 9mm with Titegroup, and I've found that even at the starting load it cycles the action so hard my cases are hitting the roof of the covered firing line. I'm wanting to download to find a load that cycles the action reasonably enough for use with a brass catcher. Is it common for Titegroup to act like this?
I used a Lee 356-102-1R in an M&P Shield (original Shield) with the Lyman starting load of 4.2 gr Titegroup. Is the light bullet the cause?
Last edited by openbook; 01-07-2022 at 05:30 PM. Reason: typo
I like Clays. IIRC, 4.0 for 9mm and 45 ACP, easy shooting in both a HP and 1911's
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |