Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Bullseye Question

I have been handloading for decades, but am relatively new to handgun shooting in general, and loading for them.

In working with Bullseye, it seems to be exceptionally "sticky", as a description. It may be some quality of the powder, or static, but it seems to stick to everything, sides of cases, the powder hopper, even the adjustable cavity in the powder drum. The latter doesn't bode well for accuracy of measuring. Static cling happens, but I've never encountered the extent of this with any other powder. It also seems to discolor or even pit, I can't tell which, the inside of the RCBS powder hopper where it touches.

Is this common with Bullseye? If so, what makes it different from other powders in this regard ?

Paul

Yes, static is a problem. I've had to replace a plastic RCBS hopper due to the powder "etching" the plastic. I don't leave it in the hopper anymore. I've had the same problems with Unique and Red Dot. I use Bullseye for 9mm & 45ACP, Red Dot for shotgun and Unique for 357. The powders all work great but some of these properties are annoying. I try to avoid anything plastic and use aluminum where possible.

Any double-base powder can react chemically with some plastics (ruining BOTH, btw). Current hopper tubes are made of plastics that are a lot less susceptible to nitroglycerin etching, but you should never leave powder in the measure when you aren't actually reloading.

Static does indeed happen. Many reloaders keep a used (NOT new) dryer sheet in the hopper between loading sessions. I do. You can also wash the hopper in dish soap and water, then allow to air dry without rinsing. Or, use an anti-static spray like Endust for Electronics. Finally, it never hurts to run a thin copper wire from your measure and/or scale to a good ground to prevent or dissipate any static build up.

Thanks for the replies.

Always something new to learn.

Paul

My static problem is with Power Pistol. I have tried the washing and not rinsing and wiping the inside of the hopper with a new dryer sheet. I will have to try storing a used sheet in the hopper. If that doesn't work I may try the copper wire.

Ernie

RCBS is sending me a new hopper. No surprise, they back their products exceptionally well.

So, as a matter of interest, why does static cling happen more with some powders than others? Is is something in the chemistry, perhaps like fabrics, where some seem to generate static while others don't, e.g., cotton vs. synthetics?

Paul