231 vs Bulls Eye

[Roland Thunder]

I have been using Win 231 for 9mm and 45 ACP. Not sure the shop where I get stuff has any 231 so I was thinking of getting Bulls Eye if they don't. What difference am I likely to see from switching from 231 to Bulls Eye

[Adamantium]

Different load data obviously, but the big thing is Bullseye is a very dirty powder compared to 231. Alliants load data is very lacking compared to Hodgdons as well. Not a big deal if use a reloading manual or are willing to download Alliants 2004 manual. But the current load data on their website is lacking at best. Sometime they will list Bullseye for a given weight, sometimes they won't. If Speer doesn't make the bullet they won't list a single load for it.

[Slamfire]

I have done a lot of shooting with Bullseye and W231 and they are both outstanding powders.

I cannot say that one is so much cleaner than the other, my hands and my M1911’s are equally coated with powder residue after shooting. I think I have more lube residue than anything else.

Bullseye is an excellent powder for the 45 ACP, it was the original powder in the 1910 cartridges used in the development of the M1911. It has been used in every conflict the Army carried the M1911. It works.

I have data at different temps and different primers, Bullseye works well with everything at all temps.

I like the fact you can download both Bullseye and W231 and have reliable functioning with excellent accuracy in my M1911’s.

I have used Bullseye and W231 in the 9mm with 124 LRN. While they are accurate and function the pistol, you will get higher velocities with other powders. The 9mm is so lacking in power you really have to push the bullet hard if you want a self defense load, and these powders are not the best for that.

Kimber Custom Classic 

				
						
200 LSWC 5.6 grs W231 Mixed cases Fed 150
11-Sep-05 T = 88 °F
	
Ave Vel =	854					
Std Dev =	21.21					
ES	87.61					
High	907.1					
Low	819.5					
N =	32					

	
200 LSWC 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases CCI300 
OAL 1.250" taper crimp 0.469"	
11-Sep-05 T = 88 °F
	
Ave Vel =	738.9					
Std Dev =	10.34					
ES	37.98					
High	755.8					
Low	717.8					
N =	32					
						
						
200 LSWC 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WLP  	
OAL 1.250" taper crimp 0.469"	
21-Jun-06T = 97 °F
	
Ave Vel =	748.2					
Std Dev =	10.86						from web postings	
High	763.2					
Low	721.7					
N =	22					
Mild recoil, very accurate, excellent target load.
						
						
230 LRN  4.6 grs W231 Mixed Brass WLP OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"
4-Sep-05 T = 92 °F	
		
Ave Vel =	732.5					
Std Dev =	10.72				
ES	40.15	
High	752.1					
Low	712					
N =	32				 	
						
230 LRN  4.8  grs W231 Mixed brass WLP OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"


10-Jul-05 T = 84 °F
	
Ave Vel =  767.3			
Std Dev =  14.03			
ES=  52.69			
High =  793.4			
Low =  740.7			
N=  32

230 LFN Bull-X 5.5 grs W231 Mixed brass CCI300 primers
 OAL 1.20" taper crimp .469" 
			
30-Dec-04 T = 60 °F						
Ave Vel =	797.8					
Std Dev =	32.2					
ES	154.2					
High	858.2					
Low	703.9					
N =	32	

230 FMJ RN W/W  5.0  grs 231 R-P cases WLP 				
10-Jul-05 T = 84 °F						
Ave Vel =	755.7					
Std Dev =	17.23					
ES	64.39				 	
High	784.8				 	
Low	720.4				 	
N =	22				 	
						
	

230 FMJ (GI)  5.5 grs W231 Mixed Brass WLP OAL 1.265" taper crimp .469		
18-Mar-07 T = 62 °F 
	
Ave Vel =	780.5				
Std Dev =	14.17				 
ES =	51.66				  
High = 	798.7				 
Low =	747				 
N =	23				 
			
						
				
						
						
					

	 	


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
				 
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


230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye lot BE532 (80's mfgr)  Mixed Brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"
16-May-09  high 83  °F	 
					
Ave Vel =	782.7				
Std Dev =	13.41				
ES =	52.05				
High = 	815.5				
Low =	763.4				
N =	28				
					
					
230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.250"  taper crimp469"
16-May-09  high 83  °F	.
					
Ave Vel =	805.2				
Std Dev =	38.07				
ES =	136.9				
High = 	912.4				
Low =	775.5				
N =	24				
					




230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye lot 827 (60's/70's powder) Mixed Brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"
16-May-09	 high 83  °F	
					
Ave Vel =	822.9				
Std Dev =	14.14				
ES =	55.24				
High = 	853.7				
Low =	798.4				
N =	26				

[BDS-THR]

I like W231 for target loads in 9mm and 45ACP (also use it for 40S&W). It tends to produce less snappy recoil than Bullseye for me in 9mm.

Since W231 is a popular powder, if you can't find W231, buy HP-38 instead. It is exactly the same powder and usually more often in stock at lower price.

[Jim Watson]

I like W231/HP38 for target and service loads in non magnum calibers.
It meters so well in about any powder measure.

For extra light powderpuff loads, I prefer Bullseye, it is more consistent at low pressure.

[AFK]

I like 231 and Titegroup in 9mm and 45, love Bullseye for .38 special

[amamnn]

I have used and continue to use both powders with good results in 9mm and smaller cartridges. I do not care for either in larger calibers. A slower powder fills the case better which is better for a variety of reasons, not the least being a smaller--or even impossible chance of double charges.

If I had my choice, I would buy 231 over bullseye, but if bullseye were all that were available--which it was the last time I bought powder for the lil bitty pocket pistols-- I would not be afraid of it.

[Slamfire]

I got to chronograph Bullseye and the 230 FMJ in my Kimber. I am very glad to say it clocks right at 800 fps, which is exactly the spec amount for the same powder charge back in 1910.

Bullseye is still the same as it ever was.

230 gr FMJ (R-P) 5.0 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.265" taper crimp .469"

12-Dec-11 T= 53 °F

Ave Vel = 793.5
Std Dev = 18.92
ES = 61.99
High = 817.4
Low = 755.4
N = 16

[Peter M. Eick]

I shoot only 230 grn jacketed or lead bullets and I have gone back and forth with 231 vs. bullseye.

231 is cleaner, easy to dispense and works well.
Bullseye is dirtier, a bit harder to dispense and works well.

The difference is subjective. In my Baer PII, 231 gives more of a "rap" when it fires while bullseye tends to push a bit. Bullseye seems just slightly more accurate also.

So clean gun with a sharper recoil or dirty gun with a bit more accuracy?

I load bullseye and and burning out the last of my 231 in my 38 specials. I am next going to experiment with power pistol with 230's to see if there is an upside there. Rumor has it that it can be quite accurate with jacketed 230's.

[PunchinPaper]

I use 231 with everything from 9mm to 44mag.
I started reloading 38s&45s with Bullseye and had great results.
Both powders are great for target loads or light loads.
I would still be using Bullseye these days , but I had a 8lb keg of 231 given to me. Untill that gets used up I'll be burning 231 in my target loads.
There is a higher chance of double charging bigger cases with either powder but that's why you double check your loads.

[overkill0084]

Both powders are popular because they both work well. I happen to use Bullseye simply because I was familiar with it from when my father used it and it was a safe choice because I knew what to expect. I use it for practice loads in 9 mm, .38 special & .45 acp. As far as being dirtier, I figure that no powder is going to be particular "clean" with cast bullets, which is 99% of my loading. So I don't worry about it. You're going to clean it anyway, right?