Bullseye = great (at least for .45 ACP)

[frumious]

All,

I loaded up some .45 ACP this weekend using Bullseye for the first time. I used a 230gr moly-coated LRN from Billy Bullets over 4gr Bullseye with Winchester primers and mixed brass. I reloaded on a Lee LoadMaster. Here is what I noticed:

1. It is very coarse - almost like black pepper. It meters very well compared to my previous powder (AA #7). The main difference is that AA7 is so fine it ends up all over the place, at least with Lee's Auto Disk Powder Measure.

2. It provides a softer recoil than AA7. I thought it would be sharper because Bullseye has such a higher burn rate, but that was not the case. It was quite a bit more pleasant to shoot my Bullseye rounds than my AA7 rounds.

I bought Bullseye instead of another pound of AA7 just to see if I could tell the difference. I was trying to choose between W231 and Bullseye and the gun store employee leaned me towards Bullseye. I might go back and get some W231 some day but I don't know. I am very happy with Bullseye and at this point I don't see why I would ever change, at least for .45 ACP.

Couple of questions:

1. I may get a wild hair and change out my 1911's recoil spring and see if I can get down to 3.5gr or maybe even 3.0. What do you guys think about that? I have read about lowering the charge too much but it is sort of hard to tell what too much is. I see starting loads sort of all over the place with Bullseye.

2. Is Bullseye suitable for use in 9mm and .40S&W? I only reload for economy, not super-accuracy. I punch paper at 15yds and shoot a little steel at maybe 10yds.

-cls

[jdscholer]

I'm a big fan of Bullseye for just about any handgun cartridge, especially economical or low powered rounds.

It often gives accuracy that other powders don't, and it tends to burn in the gun and not three feet out front of it.

Develop a charging technique that never allows for a double charge, and this powder will be your "go to" for about everything. jd

[zxcvbob]

Bullseye is wonderful in 9mm. It's my current favorite powder for 9mm +P loads with cast bullets. But you don't have to load it that hot.

I don't reload .40SW so I can't help you there. I can't imagine BE not being good though; if 231 will work, BE should work and give you a little higher velocity at lower pressure. The charge weights will be similar.

(AA#7 is great in .357 Magnum)

[joneb]

For 45 acp in a pistol W-231 and Bullseye are my favorites.
Can't help on the down load question, I run a stock # spring.

[JCS1]

I found it to work well with both the 9mm and 40 call. Just make sure you don't double charge it.

[Slamfire]

I have a 22 lb mainspring in my Kimber, it probably does not hold 22 pounds anymore, but it is still stiff.

I was testing Bullseye, and my lightest charge of 3.5 grains still functioned the pistol.

I was using two different 230's, the Bull-X bullets are a truncated cone, and were cast very hard. And leaded.

(I think you can cast bullets too hard. The softer, BHN 13, lead RN's don't lead at the same charges. )

Kimber Custom Classic M1911


230 LFN Bull-X 3.5 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP		
OAL 1.20"	taper crimp .469"

8-Jan-06	T = 61 °F

Ave Vel =	643.6				
Std Dev =	14.07			
ES =	63.63			
High = 	679.9		 		
Low =	616.3				
N =	32				 

 shot a little high Pistol cycled each shot



230 LFN Bull-X 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP		
		
OAL 1.20"	taper crimp .469"
8-Jan-06	T = 61 °F

Ave Vel =	715.9				
Std Dev =	11.45			
ES =	48.32		 		
High = 	742.9		 		
Low =	694.8				
N =	32				 
shot a little low

					
230 gr LRN 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP		
	
OAL 1.250"	 taper crimp .469"

29-Jan-06 T = 68  °F	
Ave Vel =	698.8				
Std Dev =	10.19		
ES =	36.33		 		
High = 	713.5				
Low =	677.1				
N =	28
				 
Little High =  put close point of aim V. Accurate
		
230 gr LRN  4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP		

OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"

21-Jun-06 T = 97  °F	
	
Ave Vel = 805.2		
Std Dev =11.4		
ES=54.08		
High=836.9		 
Low=782.8		 
 N =32

[Pocketfisherman]

For my dedicated wadcutter gun, I've got an 18lb spring and it works 100% reliable with 200gr LSWC bullets moving about 760 fps. I don't use Bullseye powder though. I also have a slide mounted Ultradot site that adds slide mass and soaks up some of the recoil too. My empties land about 3 feet to my right and recoils is smooth, not sharp.

[FM12]

I LoVES me some Bullseye in every handgun cal I load for. I use it likepepper on my taters!

[PCJim]

Bullseye has worked well for me with FMJ, HP and LCN bullets in all the 9mm guns which I have owned - Glock, Sig, S&W and H&K, as well as the 45's. It is a little on the dirty side, so you will use a few more cleaning patches when doing the dirty deed, but it is a very economical powder.

I keep thinking I will stick with W231 (cleaner burning) after using up the current 8# jug of BE but, like others have said, it works in just about everything. It is a hard powder to walk away from.

[pcguy]

AA#5 is a better choice in the accurate arms line of powders, it was designed specifically for the 45acp. the #7 is a bit slower. I use AA#5 for 45 acp and 44 special loads, and AA#9 for magnum loads. Granted I don't have experience with other powders right now, but these 2 are working very well. I like that they meter well in my uniflow measure.

[aerod1]

I'm loading 3.8 grains of Bullseye under a 45 caliber, 200 grain, LSWC, my COAL is 1.250". It seems to work fine and is accurate.

[jpwilly]

Need to find some more I just ran out.

My favorite 45ACP load is 230gr FMJ over 4.8gr Bullseye (that's the .53 Lee Disk for the Auto Pro).

[Crankylove]

I love Bullseye for my .45's My pet load is 5.5 grains with a 200 grain SWC. Out of my 5" 1911, it is good for about 900 fps, and is about the most accurate load I have come across.

[ragsxd]

w231 5.6 gr,200 rnf precision bullets