Looking for a load for my wifes 96 Ruger lever gun. Checking several manuals found the "max" listed for Bullseye at anywhere from 7.5 to 12.5 grains. That's one hell of a spread for this powder. Anyone with real world experience?

I sure wouldn't load any more than 7gr. Bullseye in a 44 mag under a 240gr. bullet. Check with www.alliantpowder.com and see what the maker says. BTW, 11.8 is max for Unique, and it's a lot slower than Bullseye.

They are right in the middle at 8.9 grains for handgun.

John....You didn't say what bullet you're using but since you're looking at bullseye powder,I assume you want a mild practice load.Alliant's manual lists 9.8 gr.as maximum behind a 240 gr.cast bullet.An old lyman manual lists 7.5 as max......Having been loading various 44 mags for 32 yrs or so,my advice for a mild practice load will lean heavily towards Unique powder rather than bullseye.For informal practice,8.5gr.of unique behind a cast 240 swc has worked very well.

240 grain Speer, 240 grain cast
Not really looking for a practice load, looking to use up a batch of Bullseye, and see what accuracy I can get from full house loads.

John....If I were you,I'd use up that supply of bullseye in some other way.If you want full house loads in the 44 magnum,Bullseye is definately not the right powder.

I'm told that Bullseye makes a great fertilizer for the flower garden. Can't think of any other way to use a large quantity of such a fast powder.
VH

Seems like I've struck a nerve. Wonder why they make the stuff? You guys sure don't like it.
I understand it's usefull in reduced loads for cast bullets in the 45-70, but fear of double charging has kept me away from that.

Bullseye is a VERY good, and versatile powder--but its main use is for economical loads in small-to-medium size cases. Bullseye will work with the .44 Mag without any problems--but you probably won't get the full potential from your gun with it. For target accuracy, in my .44 I use either Unique, Blue Dot, or Herco. For power, I use H110 or 296. Your stash of Bullseye would prok best in smaller cartridges, such as the .38 Special, .32 Long, and even the .45 ACP with target loads.

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Happiness is a 200 yard bughole.

John...I like bullseye just fine.I've used lots of it.It's just not the right powder for the use you described.

I've used red dot in the 44, which is also a very fast powder, though a tad slower then bullseye. What I used it for was the most economical light loads I could assemble with cast bullets. I'd try from 5 to 7 gr, and see what shoots most accurately. If you have alot of the powder, then get a big box of 240 gr cast bullets, or better yet, one of Lee's inexspensive 240 gr molds, and make your own bullets out of wheelweights.

If that doesn't appeal to you, then see if you can sell or trade the powder to a buddy. I really can't see the use of trashing a powder, unless its gone bad. My buddy picked up a very old can of 2400, and he's been shooting the heck out of it in his 480 with the various bullets I'm been casting for him.

Heck, I've even used red dot in the 480, it is less then ideal, but does make for a mild practice load, and did account for two spruce hens.

Way ahead of you on the cast bullets.
Just got a Lee double cavity mould today. I have two five gallon pails of wheel weights to use up.

John,

I melted down 3 five gallon pails of ingots in a 10# bottom pour furnace, small batches at a time, until I finally got around to getting a $.75 sauce pan at a thrift store to melt them down over a coleman camp stove. I doubt I burned 1/3 gallon of white gas, and in three sessions, had 90#'s of ingots. I'm sure my wife would kill me if she new how much electricity I used just to melt down the wheelweights, not to mention stinking up the garage.

You should net over 200#'s of lead from those buckets, makes lots of bullets! I've used lee's 240 gr swc, but I cut off the gas check shank, it is a good shooting bullet w/ 5-7 gr red dot, as well as 22 gr 2400 for the old elmer load.

If you want a hunting load, try lee's 310 gr gc mold, it's a good bullet, and w/ 17 gr 2400 or 21.0 gr H110, will leave your lever gun at downrite immpressive speeds.

Anyhow, use your bullseye, just realize you will be looking at ~1000 fps carbine loads, which isn't that bad, many a head of game has been killed with such loads from sixguns.

You also might want to try casting a few bullets from pure lead, and using a 22rf case as a dipper. This will produce a very quiet load when using bullseye, you can actually back the load down to the point that you have just enough powder to push the bullet out the barrel, and it'll be quieter then a cap gun, but it'll still penetrate the better part of a phone book at point blank ranges.

Paul H
I've been using a dipper and a propane coleman stove for years, for my 45-70, and 30-30 moulds. Works real good, see no reason to change.

Ok
Warning NOT for HANDGUNS!
Bullseye test complete, worked up to 10 grains under a 240 grain Speer FP No problems , no pressure sign what ever.
Rifle is a 96 Ruger Lever action.

Accuracy, about 3", not great.

[This message has been edited by John Y Cannuck (edited 09-24-2001).]

Geeze JCanuck if your just a little closer ( I'm just north of Bancroft ) I'd lend you my melting pot, they really do work much better than a stove.

sxr6
My cottage is just north of Harcourt, and I hunt east of Denbiegh. Visit "Lock Stock and Barrel" lately for a small community thats an impressive shop?
Really, I have tried a pot one time. It was nice, bottom pour, but my stove serves me well.

I lived in Maynooth until could afford a place on Kamaniskeg Lk. Combermere. Worked for Martins till it's demize. If your refering to Lock, St & Barrel in Bancroft, Mr. Stro is a complete J--K. My opinion of course.

Yep, my opinion also.
Still, he carries a good stock.

Good luck on up coming hunt. I got my venision the other night compliments of Highway 62, it seems a fawn was atempting to cross & put it's head out before looking, never touched the body but was killed instant!

Got a nice doe that way last year from just outside Lindsay. Had to be hamburger though. Lost most of the hind quarters.
Good luck yourself!