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Using Bullseye Power - 180 grain Hornady XTP - .40 cal do you have any suggestions? I have found a few recipes in my book, but having a hard time finding info for that combo. Would like to achieve 950 to 1000 fps (and test at range for accuracy)

Thanks in advance for ANY suggestions.

HotLeadSolutions wrote:Using Bullseye Power - 180 grain Hornady XTP - .40 cal do you have any suggestions? I have found a few recipes in my book, but having a hard time finding info for that combo. Would like to achieve 950 to 1000 fps (and test at range for accuracy)

Thanks in advance for ANY suggestions.

Here's the Alliant load data page for .40 S&W with 180 gr Gold Dot. Slower burning powders will give higher velocities with 180 gr bullets.

The thought of using Bullseye with 180gr bullets makes me very uneasy.

Bulleye is such a low volume powder that double charges can escape unnoticed, causing dangerous pressures.

.40 S&W 180gr bullets have a reputation for bullet setback, even with factory loads, causing drastic increases in pressure.

Use extreme caution and a firm crimp.

I'm only saying that I would never construct such a load.

Mike1951 wrote: Bulleye is such a low volume powder that double charges can escape unnoticed, causing dangerous pressures.

You could say the same thing about TiteGroup (although I use 165gr Montanas). The results are fantastic though, but a double charge can have disastrous effects - not that I've ever had that. The key point here is "Don't reload when you're distracted" (Not even a TV or radio in my reloading room).

Using Bullseye Power - 180 grain Hornady XTP - .40 cal do you have any suggestions? I have found a few recipes in my book, but having a hard time finding info for that combo. Would like to achieve 950 to 1000 fps (and test at range for accuracy)

Thanks in advance for ANY suggestions.

Honestly, I would look at slower powders: Power pistol, Blue Dot, SR-4756 are the ones I'm trying. I may also try Longshot.

Mike1951 wrote:The thought of using Bullseye with 180gr bullets makes me very uneasy.

Bulleye is such a low volume powder that double charges can escape unnoticed, causing dangerous pressures.

.40 S&W 180gr bullets have a reputation for bullet setback, even with factory loads, causing drastic increases in pressure.

Use extreme caution and a firm crimp.

I'm only saying that I would never construct such a load.

+1000

Look at the powders like AutoComp, H-Universal, etc. that are designed for this class of cartridge (high pressure autopistol, 9mm, 40S%W, 10mm, etc.) There is no advantage and several possible major disadvantages to a very fast powder+heavy bullet combo like that.

I am currently using Unique powder, but my Lyman reloading manual says that Bullseye is one of the better powders to use for the .40S&W

Here is my question:
Bullseye is recommended for the .45acp almost as the powder of choice. Yet most .45 acp bullets are much heavier than 180 grain. Why is it ok to use Bullseye in the .45 and not the .40?
I appreciate everyone's help, and ask for patience while I get past a little of the learning curve.

Bullseye is a very fast burning powder.

40 S&W is a HIGH PRESSURE cartridge the slower burning powders will develop higher velocities at lower pressures than the fast burning powders. My Lyman 48th manual shows 5.6 gr of Bullseye as a maximum load with 180 grain bullets (heaviest practical) in 40 cal. The data shows 844 FPS and 23,500 CUP. The data for 800x (a slower powder) and a 180 gr bullet shows 7.4 grains (max) developing 1013 FPS and 23,400 CUP.

The 45 ACP is a low pressure cartridge. Bullseye max load for 230 grain bullet (heaviest practical) is 5.7 grains 878 FPS and 17,100 CUP. Blue Dot (the slowest power listed in my book) max load is 9.2 grains, 806 FPS and 15,100 CUP.

Now, are you thoroughly confused? I hope not, a lot of this has to do with the age of the firearms that the 45 ACP can be used in. I have a friend that shoots a load in his Kimber that might blow up a WWI vintage 1911 (230 Barnes X bullet at 1500 FPS!) If I want magnum performance I'll buy a magnum gun.

MoJo, thanks for the input. That does help to shine a little light on the topic.

I did 1 run of bullseye for 20 rounds and will never touch it again in my .40 cal. I have almost a full pound sitting in my safe. Have you tried power pistol?

Sputz

HotLeadSolutions wrote:MoJo, thanks for the input. That does help to shine a little light on the topic.

You're welcome, Unique is my "load everything" powder. It's not the "best" powder for all applications but, it's "good" in all applications. I can load everything from .25 auto (why?) to .500 S&W in handgun, 12 and 20 gague ammo, and reduced rifle loads with it. Very versitile stuff indeed. I buy it in 8# jugs.

HotLeadSolutions wrote:I am currently using Unique powder, but my Lyman reloading manual says that Bullseye is one of the better powders to use for the .40S&W

Here is my question:
Bullseye is recommended for the .45acp almost as the powder of choice. Yet most .45 acp bullets are much heavier than 180 grain. Why is it ok to use Bullseye in the .45 and not the .40?
I appreciate everyone's help, and ask for patience while I get past a little of the learning curve.

Lyman recommends Bullseye? With lead bullets I might see it, but I still recommend against it.

See, the big hazard with very fast powders in high pressure loadings is the fact that small overcharges result in large pressure spikes (it's a matter of percent, .5 grain is near 10% of your load) coupled with the fact that accidentally dropping 2 charges in the same case can easily go unnoticed...with catastrophic results. In all probability, double charging a 180 grain 40 S&W with Bullseye will result in the rapid disassembly of your handgun. A 10 % overcharge is much more than a 10% increase in pressure (somewhat logarithmic increase).

First and foremost...safety!

CDH wrote:

HotLeadSolutions wrote:I am currently using Unique powder, but my Lyman reloading manual says that Bullseye is one of the better powders to use for the .40S&W

Here is my question:
Bullseye is recommended for the .45acp almost as the powder of choice. Yet most .45 acp bullets are much heavier than 180 grain. Why is it ok to use Bullseye in the .45 and not the .40?
I appreciate everyone's help, and ask for patience while I get past a little of the learning curve.

Lyman recommends Bullseye? With lead bullets I might see it, but I still recommend against it.

See, the big hazard with very fast powders in high pressure loadings is the fact that small overcharges result in large pressure spikes (it's a matter of percent, .5 grain is near 10% of your load) coupled with the fact that accidentally dropping 2 charges in the same case can easily go unnoticed...with catastrophic results. In all probability, double charging a 180 grain 40 S&W with Bullseye will result in the rapid disassembly of your handgun. A 10 % overcharge is much more than a 10% increase in pressure (somewhat logarithmic increase).

First and foremost...safety!

This is what my gun shop guy told me if you feel like eventually having a kaboom keep using bullseye. I didn't like the way it felt in my g23 anyways so there it sits in the safe.

Sputz