Bullseye in 40S&W?

Deer Slayer 270 · November 6, 2009, 04:17 PM

Does any body has any experience with Bullseye powder in 40S&W? I already have a bottle of it which I use for 45ACP and recently bouth a Glock 23 and like to reload for it. I was wondering if I could use Bullseye for 40 and not have to buy a new type powder. But I want good accuracy. Has anybody tried it in 40S&W?

Dragon55 · November 6, 2009, 04:20 PM

Have used it with 135, 150, 155, 170, 180, and 200 gr jhp's and solid cu coated with much success.

Deer Slayer 270 · November 6, 2009, 04:22 PM

how is the accuracy, specially with 180 gr. JHP?

Dragon55 · November 6, 2009, 04:38 PM

A pic of my 180 gr jhp target.... couldn't. But anyway in my pistol it was the 2nd most accurate at 25 yds. #1 was 200 jhp..... slow and heavy wins the day I guess.

It will vary quite a bit from gun to gun. At the range I like to shoot a full size OLD Taurus PT100 which is a very heavy full frame gun. I have no experience with a lighter polymer gun so can't say what would be best.

I worked thru a lot of recipes before arriving at the "best" one for my pistol. You will likely have to do the same to achieve max accuracy.

My little routine goes something like this:

Load up 50 rds starting at the recommended starting load.
10 rds at lowest, 10 more at 20% of range, etc until the last 10 are at the max load recommended.

Then........ from a sandbag at 25 yds 5 rds
Then........ from 2 handed stance at 25 yds 5 more rds.

Check group size.. record and repeat with each load.

Little overkill huh? Anyway I'm gonna do the same routine with my son's Kimber .45 soon.... and maybe my 7 1/2" barrel .44, and possibly my snub .357, and ...........

Shoney · November 6, 2009, 04:46 PM

I've tested it with lead and jacketed bullets in weights of 135, 150, 165, 170, 180, and 200gr. Accuracy was only OK, and velocities were mid range, even at near max loads.

Since BE is the fastest burning powder, I watched my minimum OAL very carefully and never did load at max, becasue accuracy was falling off after midrange loads.

A more telling tale of accuracy would be that I have never met an IPSC shooter who used it in competition.

Dragon55 · November 6, 2009, 05:03 PM

Much more critical than .45 acp.

I would like to go thru the whole procedure I stated above with another powder just for the heck of it.... but this dern jug of BE my son bought me is still half full. Yeah I could get a different powder I guess anyway.

Not sure which would be best though.... suggestions?

And Bullseye is #9 on list of 117 powders in the Hodgdon manual (chart titled RELATIVE BURN RATE) ... although I have no idea if the first 8 are necessarily recommended for pistol.

tom234 · November 7, 2009, 01:49 AM

5.0 gr Bullseye works fine for 155 gr LSWC .40 S&W.

isanchez2008 · November 9, 2009, 02:54 PM

I shoot ipsc and use Bullseye with 165gr Montana Gold FP bullets. Does the trick

I feel that it recoils very mildly and is efficient.

BigJimP · November 9, 2009, 04:36 PM

I've tried it / didn't really care for it .... It was a little dirty / accuracy was ok, not great.

I've since gone to Hodgdon TiteGroup for all my handgun loads ( 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag ).

That'll Do · November 9, 2009, 07:09 PM

I've used Bullseye with a few different bullet weights (135, 155, and 165gr) and styles (jacketed, plated, and lead).

The accuracy was decent, but nothing to write home about. There are other powders that do a better job for the caliber, in my opinion. My *favorite* 40 S&W powder is Hodgdon HS-6. I've experienced excellent accuracy with it. I've also had success with Universal and Unique.

redman107 · November 9, 2009, 07:40 PM

I like bullseye because it meters well in my lee auto disk measurer. I load 38 special , 380 auto and 45 acp with it . I dont see why it wouldnt work well in 40 s&w. Been buying a lot of tightgroup lately because I cant find bullseye anywhere and have had good results with it. Personally if I was reloading for 40 S&W I would go with a pistol powder that meters really well.

isanchez2008 · November 9, 2009, 10:55 PM

If your talking serious accuracy out of a Glock 23, get to the doctor

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
.40 S&W
165gr Montana Gold FP
5.4gr Alliant Bullseye
WSP Primers
R-P cases
Trimmed to 0.840"
COAL of 1.125
Average f.p.s. 1,005
Shot from a Springfield XD40-4" at 80 degrees

DWARREN123 · November 10, 2009, 12:14 AM

Hodgdon's load data web site does not list Bullseye for the 40 S&W round.
Use at your own risk!

Shoney · November 10, 2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

DWARREN123 wrote
Hodgdon's load data web site does not list Bullseye

Maybe thats because BE is an Alliant powder.

SL1 · November 10, 2009, 07:59 AM

I have used Bullseye in the .40 S&W, and also 9mm, .357 and .44 Magnums, and even 12 gauge shot shells. It is truly versatile. You just have to keep it within its proper range for each application. For .40 S&W, I tried it for light loads, and found it to be dirty until I got the load to higher power than I was looking for. Accuracy seemed pretty good at mid-power range. It is not the powder to use for the most powerful .40 S&W loads.

SL1

November 6, 2009, 04:20 PM	#2
Dragon55 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 811	Yes........ Have used it with 135, 150, 155, 170, 180, and 200 gr jhp's and solid cu coated with much success. __________________ sailing ... A way to spend lots of money and go real S L O W

November 6, 2009, 04:38 PM	#4
Dragon55 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 811	I tried to find... A pic of my 180 gr jhp target.... couldn't. But anyway in my pistol it was the 2nd most accurate at 25 yds. #1 was 200 jhp..... slow and heavy wins the day I guess. It will vary quite a bit from gun to gun. At the range I like to shoot a full size OLD Taurus PT100 which is a very heavy full frame gun. I have no experience with a lighter polymer gun so can't say what would be best. I worked thru a lot of recipes before arriving at the "best" one for my pistol. You will likely have to do the same to achieve max accuracy. My little routine goes something like this: Load up 50 rds starting at the recommended starting load. 10 rds at lowest, 10 more at 20% of range, etc until the last 10 are at the max load recommended. Then........ from a sandbag at 25 yds 5 rds Then........ from 2 handed stance at 25 yds 5 more rds. Check group size.. record and repeat with each load. Little overkill huh? Anyway I'm gonna do the same routine with my son's Kimber .45 soon.... and maybe my 7 1/2" barrel .44, and possibly my snub .357, and ........... __________________ sailing ... A way to spend lots of money and go real S L O W

November 6, 2009, 04:46 PM	#5
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	I've tested it with lead and jacketed bullets in weights of 135, 150, 165, 170, 180, and 200gr. Accuracy was only OK, and velocities were mid range, even at near max loads. Since BE is the fastest burning powder, I watched my minimum OAL very carefully and never did load at max, becasue accuracy was falling off after midrange loads. A more telling tale of accuracy would be that I have never met an IPSC shooter who used it in competition. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

November 6, 2009, 05:03 PM	#6
Dragon55 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 811	10-4 on the OAL for .40 Much more critical than .45 acp. I would like to go thru the whole procedure I stated above with another powder just for the heck of it.... but this dern jug of BE my son bought me is still half full. Yeah I could get a different powder I guess anyway. Not sure which would be best though.... suggestions? And Bullseye is #9 on list of 117 powders in the Hodgdon manual (chart titled RELATIVE BURN RATE) ... although I have no idea if the first 8 are necessarily recommended for pistol. __________________ sailing ... A way to spend lots of money and go real S L O W

November 10, 2009, 12:14 AM	#13
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	Hodgdon's load data web site does not list Bullseye for the 40 S&W round. Use at your own risk! __________________ Have a nice day!

November 6, 2009, 04:17 PM	#1
Deer Slayer 270 Member Join Date: January 6, 2007 Posts: 49	Bullseye in 40S&W? Does any body has any experience with Bullseye powder in 40S&W? I already have a bottle of it which I use for 45ACP and recently bouth a Glock 23 and like to reload for it. I was wondering if I could use Bullseye for 40 and not have to buy a new type powder. But I want good accuracy. Has anybody tried it in 40S&W?

November 6, 2009, 04:22 PM	#3
Deer Slayer 270 Member Join Date: January 6, 2007 Posts: 49	how is the accuracy, specially with 180 gr. JHP?

November 7, 2009, 01:49 AM	#7
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	5.0 gr Bullseye works fine for 155 gr LSWC .40 S&W.

November 9, 2009, 02:54 PM	#8
isanchez2008 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Location: WA Posts: 344	I shoot ipsc and use Bullseye with 165gr Montana Gold FP bullets. Does the trick I feel that it recoils very mildly and is efficient.

November 9, 2009, 04:36 PM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I've tried it / didn't really care for it .... It was a little dirty / accuracy was ok, not great. I've since gone to Hodgdon TiteGroup for all my handgun loads ( 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag ).

November 9, 2009, 07:09 PM	#10
That'll Do Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 546	I've used Bullseye with a few different bullet weights (135, 155, and 165gr) and styles (jacketed, plated, and lead). The accuracy was decent, but nothing to write home about. There are other powders that do a better job for the caliber, in my opinion. My favorite 40 S&W powder is Hodgdon HS-6. I've experienced excellent accuracy with it. I've also had success with Universal and Unique.

November 9, 2009, 07:40 PM	#11
redman107 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2009 Posts: 11	I like bullseye because it meters well in my lee auto disk measurer. I load 38 special , 380 auto and 45 acp with it . I dont see why it wouldnt work well in 40 s&w. Been buying a lot of tightgroup lately because I cant find bullseye anywhere and have had good results with it. Personally if I was reloading for 40 S&W I would go with a pistol powder that meters really well.

November 9, 2009, 10:55 PM	#12
isanchez2008 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Location: WA Posts: 344	If your talking serious accuracy out of a Glock 23, get to the doctor USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. .40 S&W 165gr Montana Gold FP 5.4gr Alliant Bullseye WSP Primers R-P cases Trimmed to 0.840" COAL of 1.125 Average f.p.s. 1,005 Shot from a Springfield XD40-4" at 80 degrees

November 10, 2009, 07:59 AM	#15
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	I have used Bullseye in the .40 S&W, and also 9mm, .357 and .44 Magnums, and even 12 gauge shot shells. It is truly versatile. You just have to keep it within its proper range for each application. For .40 S&W, I tried it for light loads, and found it to be dirty until I got the load to higher power than I was looking for. Accuracy seemed pretty good at mid-power range. It is not the powder to use for the most powerful .40 S&W loads. SL1