Info on Powders

[whm1974]

Ok When I started out reloading last year, I brought two pounds of bullseye. Several people later on recamend I switch to Win 231. A friend who quit reloading due to lack of time is going to give me Accute #5.

I load for .38 SPL w/ 158 gr SWC backed by 3 grains of Bullseye. One thing I do like about Bullseye is I can get a lot of charges out of one pound of powder.

So where can I found more information about smokeless powder?

-Bill

 

[Chawbaccer]

Are you using a manuel? Search the web, yo will find a powder burn rate chart some place.
I never use a powder just because some body tells me it is what I should be using. I try different ones out and pick the one that works best for me.
On the same note be very wary of people giving you powder unless you trust them with your life,hand, or at least your gun.

 

[ftierson]

...unless you trust them with your life, hand, or at least your gun...

Because, of course, you are...

 

[ulflyer]

Bill, if you are satisifed with what you are loading, and getting results on the range, then stick with it. Personally, I like Bullseye and 231 and have tried both in my 38's and 45's. Back at one time it seemed that 231 worked best for me in my 38's and Bullseye for my 45's. So I stick with those. Tried a couple other types of powders, but they didn't suit me. I know there are some other good powders out there, but the two mentioned meter well thru my 550D's and clean up nicely after I'm thru shooting. That suits me well enough as I'm not into precision target shooting or competion...just reasonable paper punching.

Interesting note on Bullseye: In Hatchers Notebook, copyright 1947, he noted that pistol ammo (45acp) furnished for National Matches during the years 1920-1930 was loaded to the regular service specification calling for a 230gr bullet loaded to a muzzle velocity of 810 fps and that a typical load was 4.7gr Bullseye powder. Maj. Gen Hatcher had 41 years service in Ordnance from 1917 and was involved in all the the small arms developments of that era.

 

[ftierson]

By the way, I use Bullseye for 110gr HPs in .38Spcl, and I also use Bullseye for 200gr Speer JHPs (the old flying ashtray) in .45ACP... These loads were arrived at after much experimentation with a lot of slower burning powders (including, among others, Red Dot, Green Dot, and Blue Dot). Many manuals recommend a Blue Dot load for the 200gr JHP in .45ACP, but I found that it burned a lot dirtier than Bullseye, that the variance in velocity was greater than Bullseye, and that the maximum velocities obtained weren't enough greater to put up with the disadvantages.

For the .357Mag and .44Mag, I use H110. Tallk about hitting the ends of the burning range for pistol powders. But then again, I shoot .357Mag and .44Mag only in M94 Trapper carbines, not in handguns...

The point is... Stick with the loads that are working for you.

 

[fecmech]

whm1974--If you like the Bullseye stick with it, nothing wrong with 231 or any other of the fast burners but Bullseye has not been around over 100years for nothing. It's a great powder and I use it in .45,.38 and 9mm, at least 5-6 lbs a year. Good luck Nick

 

[whm1974]

Are you using a manuel? Search the web, yo will find a powder burn rate chart some place.

I was looking more for reviews of smokeless
gunpowder.

On the same note be very wary of people giving you powder unless you trust them with your life,hand, or at least your gun.

Good point. I would only take unopen containers from him. The friend quite reloading because he didn't have the time and sold all of his equipment.

To be honest with you I still of enough Bullseye to load over 3000 rounds of .38 SPL. I don't know if I want more then one kind of powder around.

-Bill

 

[The Bushmaster]

"I don't know if I want to keep more then one kind of powder around."

If you get into re-loading especially like the rest of us you will have more then one kind of powder around, believe me...I am a rather small operation and I have two canisters each of W-748, 2400, W-296, W-231, H4831SC and one canister of what ever I am experimenting with. Oh...I forgot the one pound of black powder (Goex FFg) for my TC Hawkin .50 cal.

 

[Ol` Joe]

"I was looking more for reviews of smokeless
gunpowder."

I have found small write-ups on different powders in some magazines but they aren`t much more then what you see on the manufactures web sites. The American Rifleman did them for a time and Wofles, Reloading has a powder column that high lites a new powder each month. They give you a brief discription and a few cartridges the powder is suitable in and thats about it.
Powders are like bullets, just because one works well in a given cartridge with a certain bullet for one doesn`t mean it will in the next persons pistol or with a different wgt bullet. The old favorites like Bull Eye in the 38 SPCL and 45 ACP for target, or Unique in the same rounds for high performance loads are ones that for what-ever reason seem to work univerally well. The manuals are a good place to look for this. If they list powder X in two or three books with similar result it`s likely a good choice. The only way to tell what you will find best in your gun is to experiment.

 

[whm1974]

Thanks guys. I got Bullseye last year because when I was in my teens my stepfather used it. And I was looking for a powder suiteable for varous cartiages.

-Bill

 

[308win]

So where can I found more information about smokeless powder?

Try Powder Burning Rates

Also Powder Info

 

[whm1974]

Thanks

-Bill