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Bluedog
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Bullseye powder
Jul 26th, 2025 at 8:29pm
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Has anyone tried bullseye powder in small calibers?
I’m down to my last 8lb jug of unique and getting squirmy. 
I see bullseye listed in most reloading manuals as roughly 60% charge as compared to unique. 
Wondering if anyone thinks this is an avenue worth exploring before I buy a jug. 

Jason
  
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GunBum
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #1 - Jul 27th, 2025 at 6:28am
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I shoot a lot of Unique, but I also shoot a lot of Bullseye in handgun calibers like .32 S&W Long, .38 Special, .357, 9x19, .45acp, etc.  It is one of my favorites.  Just beware… An 8lb jug lasts a long time.
  
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Cat_Whisperer
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #2 - Jul 27th, 2025 at 8:08am
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I've not seen Bullseye on the shelves for a LONG time now...
  

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Drydock
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #3 - Jul 27th, 2025 at 12:59pm
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Get BE-86 and use it with the same charge weights as Unique.
  
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Bluedog
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #4 - Jul 27th, 2025 at 4:50pm
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Thank you guys!

And I will definitely try the BE 86 powder!

Jason
  
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burntwater
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #5 - Jul 27th, 2025 at 7:46pm
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If wanted to play with a powder in this speed range I'd look hard at AA#2. I switched to it on my mid-range wadcutters years ago. I tested my loads extensively with my ransom rest and my Oehler 35 and got better accuracy, more consistent velocity and soo much cleaner.  But finally neither of these super fast powders make much sense to me in big cases.  Now Unique really is 'Unique' and probably more versatile than any other powder like 4198, 3031 and 4831. Lots of hazards loading low density double base nitro glycerine powders like Bullseye. Can't tell you how many revolver top straps have blown apart from double charged 38-357's. With match loads you can't hardly see the powder in the bottom of the case. 

My opinion only: a big dangerous mistake offering a new powder called Bullseye-86 with a slower burn rate similar to Unique, even slower. Trust me, casual reloaders will soon be calling this new variant " Bullseye " not " Bullseye 86 " it's just a given evolution of 'cool ' terminology like calling the 257 Roberts the " Bob ". Well it's  going to create some safety problems down the road. Why they even retained the name " Bullseye " on a powder that falls so far down the burn rate is beyond me. It isn't Bullseye anything, that name has been stamped in stone since Hercules developed it more years than I can recall. Target match shooters know Bullseye and know it's a powder that always been batch sensitive so smart shooters blend it when a can gets low. Oh well this BE-86 to me is a marketing blunder perpetuated by salesmen trying to capitalize on the name Bullseye. I guess legal dept was out.



« Last Edit: Jul 27th, 2025 at 8:55pm by burntwater »  
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gnoahhh
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #6 - Jul 27th, 2025 at 9:15pm
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I have enough Bullseye to last me forever. I use it for .32's, .38 Special, and .45ACP target ammo. I'm also fond of it for .22 Hornet + 45 gr. cast loads. 2.5 grains is enough to spit them out with alacrity. I've also used it in .30-30 for "cat sneeze" loads - 5-6 grains is plenty to drive a 155 plain base cast bullet.

I also use Red Dot and Clays in all the above too. Gosh, howinhell did I end up with so much fast burning powder? That's primarily why I haven't tried AA#2, I'll never use up what I have. I wonder how it works on Cheerios?
  
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Timetripper
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Re: Bullseye powder
Reply #7 - Jul 30th, 2025 at 7:17am
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I have an 8 lb jug of Bullseye and use it in just about all my handgun cartridges for target loads and is as accurate as I can shoot in my revolvers. However, it does not do well in my longer barreled lever action and single shot rifles. 

John
  
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