Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading 357 Magnum and Bulleyes powder.

I reloaded some shells with 4.6 grains but they seem a little too hot with 158 gr lead bullets.
The only loads I found using that powder was from 4.2 to 4.8 grains.

Anybody have reloading data using that powder? These are fired in a single shot rollin block rifle.

Are you using a chronograph to monitor your loads? "Too hot" is a relative thing.

Bullseye is a bit of a fast powder to use for .357 rifle loading, maybe giving more "flash and dash" than a slower burning powder. Many manuals suggest AA#7, H-110, 2400, etc.

Check Lyman, Hodgdon, Alliant and other printed or online loading sources for some powder suggestions. I have not used Bullseye in any rifle reloading that I remember, so I can't offer any information for that powder.

I load Universal Clays or W231 in .357 cases instead of Bullseye. .357 hand guns and Ross 92 rifle. About 4.5 grains with a 158 gr cast. Serious loads get 2400.

With Bullseye, I would advise using 38 special data in the .357 case for range plinging

Swifty52 thanks.

I am pretty certain I will not use 7.0 gr of Bulleyes LOL. With my loads right now I am getting flatten primers and the cases stick in the chamber, some almost case separating, only took a couple of shots.

Thought Bulleye was a popular powder at one time. Anyway, would like to use up this powder, think I will try some with a starting load of 4.2. This is basically the only data I had found, don't have my old reloading books anymore.

Bullseye is/was my favorite powder for 38 special target loads and the smaller calibers listed. I don't think it is an appropriate powder for 357 or larger calibers because of the larger case capacity and the possible risks of detonation. I always kept Bullseye and Unique for my baseline loads, and then built from there with the newer powders. Thats just me though.

158 lswc 4.2 start 4.8 max. Is current at Alliant under products/pistol/bullseye see all recipes.

I gave up on bullseye and pretty much unique after Alliant changed (improved) the formulations. Better powders are out there for the 357 mag.

Sounds like this was a bad purchase. Now what to do with this powder. Having a bitch of a time pulling the bullets out of the cases on top of that. will stick to my other powder loads. Thanks all.

How many did you load?

I always loaded Bullseye in .38 Special with 158gr. SWC bullets for indoor shooting. 3.5gr. to 5.0gr. were typical loads, never loaded it in .357 Magnum.

I reread your post, no its not a bad buy for powder. I suspect there is other issues as in the load you are using is only generating 15K psi which is putting nothing more than 38 special in that thing. I punched in 18” barrel and the velocity is ~ 1150. That isnt hot by any means for a mag.

As far as Bullseye yup I have used that 7.4 grain load in previous years and still use the 7.0 grains of Red Dot to this day. Damn fine out of a 4” GP100.

How many did I load? Roughly 20.
They just seem hot and like I mention, cases stick in the chamber and need a rod to push them out and these are once fired cases.
My rifle has a 20 inch barrel.

I just don't feel safe firing them so gonna retire this batch.
I do have some 38 special cases I will try it with though. Just want plinking rounds.

5.0 gr seems overly hot for a 158 in .38 Spl. Alliant's load recommendation is 3.9 gr max for a 158 gr LSWC in .38 Spl +P.

https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloa...p;type=1&powderid=1&cartridge=27

And the Lyman cast bullet manual shows 3.4 grains as max for standard loads (16,600 C.U.P). No +P listed, but +P is listed for 160 grain and that's 4.1 grains (18,300 C.U.P.). 5.0 grains Bullseye would be a deal breaker in my book!

If you're getting pressure signs from a 4.6 gr. load with 158 gr. bullets, you may have a problem with the rifle. Do you have any photos of the cases that "almost" separated? I've never really believed in looking at the primer as an indication of pressure. How would a small pistol primer loaded in a .357 know to flatten when pressures exceeded 36K psi, yet not flatten when loaded in a .327 Federal to 40K psi (which is under maximum for that cartridge). Case separation and flattened primers can also occur when there is a headpsace problem.

I recently switched to Bullseye for my mid-range .357 loads and use 7.0 gr. with 158 gr. cast bullets (~1200 fps)and 6.0 with 173 gr. cast bullets (1097 fps), both in my SA Uberti .357. Both are very accurate loads that give me no trouble whatsoever.

you got something wrong. that load should not be a problem

Or the bullets aren’t sized?

Bullseye & double charges scare me

Better choices

My mentor reloader bud always suggested

Fill the case.....with the correct powder