Bullseye Powder loads
I just broke out my reloading press and scale after years of inactivity. I'll be loading .38 Special 148gr lead wadcutters and .357 Magnum 158gr lead semi-wadcutters. Please refresh my memory. Is 4gr of Bullseye Powder safe for the .38 Special wadcutters? Would someone kindly recommend a safe Bullseye Powder load for the .357 Magnum 158gr lead semi-wadcuttters? The only powder I have right now is Alliant Bullseye Powder so any recommendations for use of only that powder would be appreciated.[?]
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Bullseye is a very fast burning powder with a high nitroglycerin content. I believe that 4 grains is to hot a load for .38 special wadcutters. Way back, when I still used it, 2.7 to 3.5 grains, was the range I used for deep seated target wadcutters.
Never used Bullseye in any .357 loads. I wouldn't push my luck using it in any sort of hot loads. Go on-line to the Alliant web-site see what they recommend. All the powder manufacturers have web-sites nowadays.0 -
Do not depend on your memory when you can look up the real data from the manufacturer.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx
Note the caution at the bottom of the page, the numbers in the tables to follow are maximum loads, reduce 10% to start.
Just so you don't get off on the wrong foot, 4 grains B.E. is too much for a .38 wadcutter.0 -
2.5-2.7grs for a 38WC is the recomnded load. For 158gr is 38 or 357 brass I always used Unique for mine. The slower powder works better for the heavyer bullet. 0 -
I like 3.0 gr Bullseye in a 38 Special with 148 gr hollow base wadcutters. If you have a 2 inch bbl 357 Bullseye could be a good choice 158 gr swc and will work in others but slower powders usually are a better choice.
Really fast powders like Bullseye are not good a good choice to learn to reload with, use caution and good technique to prevent double charges.
Selecting a proper bullet weight and type along with the powder type and the charge depends on the firearm.0 -
You could post this in the reloading forum. [;)] 0 -
What DCS said .
The 'sweet' loads for my magnum pistols use a slower powder, like IMR 4227. A pound will not go as far though, so keep that in mind ....instead of 3 gr. of the fast powder, you're near 20 gr. of the slower one.
That's not all bad though, a 1 gr. change in your charge still leaves you with a properly assembled handgun, and no injuries.
Having more than one complete loading manual helps.
ENJOY !0 -
quote:Originally posted by Collection Liquidator
Would someone kindly recommend a safe Bullseye Powder load for the .357 Magnum 158gr lead semi-wadcuttters?
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=158&shellid=28&bulletid=30&bdid=82
Per the manufacturer, 4.8 grains of Bullseye powder is a good charge for 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter .357 magnum loads.
Alliant lists a charge of 3.1 grains of Bullseye for 148 grain wadcutter bullets [in .38 special].
For what its worth, 2.7 grains under a 148 grain wadcutter flush-mounted bullet has pretty much been "the" standard bullseye target load for maybe 70+ years.
Whether or not 4.0 grains in that case would actually blow up your gun probably depends on which gun you're using, but I don't see any reason to push it. If you want magnum performance, load magnum rounds in a magnum gun!0 -
I'll say use Unique. Works just fine in both Specials and Magnums... and just about everything else you can load for a handgun (or shotgun)as well. 0
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