Which powder?

leadchucker · March 24, 2011, 03:15 PM

I likely won't be loading anything except pistol loads. 380 auto, 9mm, 45ACP, maybe some 38 special. In the load data that I'm looking at, there appears to be at least one formula for Bullseye powder for each of these calibers. But, having done some reading here and elsewhere, I see comments that the quantities of Bullseye powder that are required for some of these loads are pretty small.

The smaller the quantity of powder thrown, the more accurate the powder measurement has to be. Right? I'm thinking that Bullseye powder will be less forgiving of variations and errors in powder measurement. I'm a noob to this, so I don't want to take any chances.

Is there a better powder choice that will work for all these calibers?

spacecoast · March 24, 2011, 03:31 PM

Titegroup is also a good powder for all those calibers (target loads), although the quantity thrown won't be that much different than Bullseye. I dip all my loads so I can't comment on the drop mechanism, but I bet Bullseye would work fine.

10Ringmagic · March 24, 2011, 03:43 PM

I don't know about .380 and .45, but I like and use a lot of W231 for 9mm, .38 Spl, and .40, heck just recently I loaded up some .44 Mag loads with it.

steve1147 · March 24, 2011, 03:51 PM

I'm a big fan of Bullseye for my .45acp (5.0gns under a 230grn cast round nose) and .38 spl (3.5 gns under 158gn cast round nose or swc) for a nice, light target load. A little dirty in the revolver, but dependable.
It also doesn't "leak" out around the Lee autodisc like some of the ball powders. After tens of thousands of rounds of .45, and hundreds of in-process measuring, I've never had a weight less than 4.8 gn or over 5.0, and the lost .1-2 was probably in the primer pocket or blew away.

m&p45acp10+1 · March 24, 2011, 03:56 PM

I use Bull's Eye for .45 acp shooting home cast 200 grain LSWC with good results. I use Titegroup for 9 mm luger, and .45 acp JHPs. For .41 mag I use Trail Boss with exelent results.

NESHOOTER · March 24, 2011, 04:06 PM

Titegroup meters well for me and I am using a L n L Progressive. I do like the way it works in the .9mm,.40,.45.

overkill0084 · March 24, 2011, 04:11 PM

Fortunately Bullseye meters pretty well, so consistency isn't really a problem. I try to steer away from it and I keep going back because it works so well. I use it for .380, 9 mm, .38, & 45 acp. It's great for mild to midrange loads. There are other similar powders. If I were stop using Bullseye, I would look to 231 or AA#2 & Titegroup.

Since you are just starting out, I strongly recommend that you stay away from max loads (especially w/ Bullseye) until you settle in and get comfortable with the process. If you wish to run near the high end of the spectrum, please use a slower powder.

Clay · March 25, 2011, 07:36 AM

HP-38 will work well in all those rounds!

**Mike Irwin** · March 25, 2011, 08:00 AM

WW 231 is my go-to powder for all of those rounds.

wwmkwood · March 25, 2011, 08:29 AM

HP38 and W231 are the same powder and work great for all you are looking at.

medalguy · March 25, 2011, 02:21 PM

I switched from Unique to AA #5 for all three pistol rounds a few years ago and it works much better. Better in the sense that it measures better, more accurately, and shoots a lot cleaner. No more sooty brass in my midrange loads.

William T. Watts · March 25, 2011, 06:55 PM

Another vote for W231. William

madlink · April 20, 2011, 09:59 AM

I have used Bullseye for many of the common pistol calibers (9x19 [alias 9mm Luger], .38 Special, .45 acp, 9x17 [alias 380 Auto]) for years and the Dillon powder measure does a very precise job with Bullseye. Typical standard deviations of 10 to 15 f.p.s. in all those calibers, which is sufficiently precise for me!

I have had bad precision with Unique, so I stopped using that.

hogcowboy · April 20, 2011, 10:22 AM

I've been using Unique for so many years, I don't think I'd know how to use anything else. One reason I use it is I can ALWAYS find it when I run out. That's one thing to consider when you have limited storage space.

Shootest · April 20, 2011, 01:59 PM

The charge for all powders should be within 0.01g. Bullseye requires no more precision than any other powder. It can be double charged without overflowing in some casings, but no one that can’t make sure they don’t double charge should be reloading in the first place.

overkill0084 · April 20, 2011, 02:13 PM

The margin for error is smaller, true. I tend to use it for moderate to midrange loads. So you are in a safe area anyway. Mild to midrange loads are it's forte. Hot loads should be done with slower powders than Bullseye. The only time I've approached hot loads w/ Bullseye is in the .380 (which is easy to do). It worked well considering. There is very little to be gained loading hot w/ bullseye, pressure climbs rapidly but velocity does not.

engineermike · April 20, 2011, 02:14 PM

I just tried some AA #5 and AA #7, and I am going to put the AA # 5 on my loading bench, it meters well and is clean burning. I also us the Win 231/HP-38 for the same reasons in my 9mm, S&W 40 and my 38 Special. The Tight Group and Power Pistol are very good powders also and you should look at them. I find these two to be a little more snappy than the AA # and the Win 231/Hp-38 (Just my opinion) but I get good groups with each.

WESHOOT2 · April 21, 2011, 05:26 AM

Power Pistol.

March 24, 2011, 03:15 PM	#1
leadchucker Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 252	Which powder? I likely won't be loading anything except pistol loads. 380 auto, 9mm, 45ACP, maybe some 38 special. In the load data that I'm looking at, there appears to be at least one formula for Bullseye powder for each of these calibers. But, having done some reading here and elsewhere, I see comments that the quantities of Bullseye powder that are required for some of these loads are pretty small. The smaller the quantity of powder thrown, the more accurate the powder measurement has to be. Right? I'm thinking that Bullseye powder will be less forgiving of variations and errors in powder measurement. I'm a noob to this, so I don't want to take any chances. Is there a better powder choice that will work for all these calibers?

March 24, 2011, 03:51 PM	#4
steve1147 Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: Valles Mines, Missouri Posts: 142	I'm a big fan of Bullseye for my .45acp (5.0gns under a 230grn cast round nose) and .38 spl (3.5 gns under 158gn cast round nose or swc) for a nice, light target load. A little dirty in the revolver, but dependable. It also doesn't "leak" out around the Lee autodisc like some of the ball powders. After tens of thousands of rounds of .45, and hundreds of in-process measuring, I've never had a weight less than 4.8 gn or over 5.0, and the lost .1-2 was probably in the primer pocket or blew away. __________________ Circa 1964: Rocky to Bullwinkle: "But that trick never works!" But Bullwinkle tries it anyway...again and again Last edited by steve1147; March 24, 2011 at 04:00 PM.

March 25, 2011, 08:00 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	WW 231 is my go-to powder for all of those rounds. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 20, 2011, 10:22 AM	#14
hogcowboy Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2010 Location: N33 32.941 W 97 53.546 Texas Posts: 231	I've been using Unique for so many years, I don't think I'd know how to use anything else. One reason I use it is I can ALWAYS find it when I run out. That's one thing to consider when you have limited storage space. __________________ Do things as if your life depends on it. It COULD! American Legion Rider

April 20, 2011, 01:59 PM	#15
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	The charge for all powders should be within 0.01g. Bullseye requires no more precision than any other powder. It can be double charged without overflowing in some casings, but no one that can’t make sure they don’t double charge should be reloading in the first place. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

March 24, 2011, 03:31 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Titegroup is also a good powder for all those calibers (target loads), although the quantity thrown won't be that much different than Bullseye. I dip all my loads so I can't comment on the drop mechanism, but I bet Bullseye would work fine.

March 24, 2011, 03:43 PM	#3
10Ringmagic Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Location: MI Posts: 315	I don't know about .380 and .45, but I like and use a lot of W231 for 9mm, .38 Spl, and .40, heck just recently I loaded up some .44 Mag loads with it.

March 24, 2011, 03:56 PM	#5
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I use Bull's Eye for .45 acp shooting home cast 200 grain LSWC with good results. I use Titegroup for 9 mm luger, and .45 acp JHPs. For .41 mag I use Trail Boss with exelent results. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

March 24, 2011, 04:06 PM	#6
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	Titegroup meters well for me and I am using a L n L Progressive. I do like the way it works in the .9mm,.40,.45.

March 24, 2011, 04:11 PM	#7
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	Fortunately Bullseye meters pretty well, so consistency isn't really a problem. I try to steer away from it and I keep going back because it works so well. I use it for .380, 9 mm, .38, & 45 acp. It's great for mild to midrange loads. There are other similar powders. If I were stop using Bullseye, I would look to 231 or AA#2 & Titegroup. Since you are just starting out, I strongly recommend that you stay away from max loads (especially w/ Bullseye) until you settle in and get comfortable with the process. If you wish to run near the high end of the spectrum, please use a slower powder. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

March 25, 2011, 07:36 AM	#8
Clay Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2009 Posts: 166	HP-38 will work well in all those rounds!

March 25, 2011, 08:29 AM	#10
wwmkwood Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 110	HP38 and W231 are the same powder and work great for all you are looking at.

March 25, 2011, 02:21 PM	#11
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	I switched from Unique to AA #5 for all three pistol rounds a few years ago and it works much better. Better in the sense that it measures better, more accurately, and shoots a lot cleaner. No more sooty brass in my midrange loads.

March 25, 2011, 06:55 PM	#12
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	Another vote for W231. William

April 20, 2011, 09:59 AM	#13
madlink Member Join Date: April 19, 2011 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 30	I have used Bullseye for many of the common pistol calibers (9x19 [alias 9mm Luger], .38 Special, .45 acp, 9x17 [alias 380 Auto]) for years and the Dillon powder measure does a very precise job with Bullseye. Typical standard deviations of 10 to 15 f.p.s. in all those calibers, which is sufficiently precise for me! I have had bad precision with Unique, so I stopped using that.

April 20, 2011, 02:13 PM	#16
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	The margin for error is smaller, true. I tend to use it for moderate to midrange loads. So you are in a safe area anyway. Mild to midrange loads are it's forte. Hot loads should be done with slower powders than Bullseye. The only time I've approached hot loads w/ Bullseye is in the .380 (which is easy to do). It worked well considering. There is very little to be gained loading hot w/ bullseye, pressure climbs rapidly but velocity does not. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

April 20, 2011, 02:14 PM	#17
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	I just tried some AA #5 and AA #7, and I am going to put the AA # 5 on my loading bench, it meters well and is clean burning. I also us the Win 231/HP-38 for the same reasons in my 9mm, S&W 40 and my 38 Special. The Tight Group and Power Pistol are very good powders also and you should look at them. I find these two to be a little more snappy than the AA # and the Win 231/Hp-38 (Just my opinion) but I get good groups with each.

April 21, 2011, 05:26 AM	#18
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	one hammer Power Pistol. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"