Why do most pards neglect using Bullseye and Unique powder

[Lone Yankee]

I have been shootinga nd reloading handguns for 40 years and I don't unsderstand why so many pards don't use Unique and Bullseye powder. Yes, they smoke a little but I have never found any powder that makes a better light load in handgun ctgs than Bullseye.

As far as HOTTER loads Unique has always worked very well.

Here are my favorite loads:
1. .45 Colt 190 gr SWC and 6 gr Bullseye
2. .38 SPL 158 gr SWC 3 gr Bullseye
3. .45 ACP 190 gr SWC 3.8 gr Bullseye
4. .32-20 93 gr rn 3.2 gr Bullseye
5. .45 Colt 255 gr RNFP 8 gr Unique
6. .38 Spl 158 gr SWC 4.5 gr Unique
7. .45 ACP 200 gr swc 6.5 gr Unique
8. .32-20 115 gr rnfp 4.4 gr Unique

Lone

[Cheyenne Ranger]

Don't know, I use Bullseye in:

9mm
38 Sp
357
45 Auto
45 LC for both rifle and pistol

Bought 12 lbs a number of years ago and just now starting on the 7th lb.  

I look at Bullseye as a "bridging" powder between smokeless and BP :grin:

[Holiday]

Pure snobbism,I think. I haven't used Bullseye, but I am very fond of Unique. May have ta give Bullseye a try sometime. I hear a lot of folks complain how dirty Unique is, but I always repliy that after Black powder, it is as pure as the driven snow! :-D  Seriously, though, I have noticed a lot of posts over at the SASS Wire concerning cleaning of guns and it is shocking how many never give a thought to maintaining their firearms. And they always wonder "why" when they have a malfunction, usually blaming it on the manufactuer. I wonder how many "bad" Winchesters and Italian clones can trace their problems to poor cleaning and maintainence? Many of these folks are afraid to try Unique.

[T. Two Dogs]

Unique is GREAT!  But it is dirty!  I almost always come out of a shootig session looking like I have been petting a lump of charcoal.  However, it is in my mind very authentic being one of the oldest "smokeless" powders.  AND it makes a BIG BANG, a stout push to the hand, and if your good enough you can even hit the target once in a while.  Bullseye - hmmm, I believe I tried that years ago...can't remember what my impresson was with it, but it was in shotguns that I used it - I belive.

[Capt Hamp Cox]

Used to use Unique until I tried TITEGROUP.  Have never looked back.

[Shorty]

I use Bullseye for: .45 ACP, .44 WCF, .45 C and have been doing so for 20 years.  Why?  Because the man who got me started in reloading said, "a little goes a long way" (cost).  Well, I'm not rich, I don't mind the soot, and I'm not trying for better accuracy than I can use either.  Also, my manual is so old it doesn't even list the newer powders that are so popular! :wink:

[44 Man]

I have tried titegroup and it will probably be my powder of choice in the future.  It does work well for .45lc, but I use more Unique than any other powder.  Probably because I bought 40# several years ago and am still trying to use it up!  .45acp, and .44 spl mostly.  Yes, it is a little dirty but the secret here is to wipe the gun down as soon as you can.  Most of the gray stuff just wipes right off if you do not let it set long.  My only complaint with titegroup is the smudge down the side of the case.  Seems the pressure is so low that it doesn't seal well and dirtys the cases.  I always have to tumble my empty cases when I use titegroup.  I guess thinking about it, I always tumble them with Unique also!

[Shootin' Carts Jimmy]

I've used Unique and it is too dirty for me.  It also doesn't meter well in my Lee.  I use Clays and it is the cleanest I've ever seen.  It meters well too.  And yes, I  clean my guns after every outing.

[JBMauser]

Lone Yankee, I do not use Bullesye or Clays but I do use Unique and 2400 for .45 Colt.  I am put off by the extremely low volume of powder in the large LC case.  It is a Black Powder cart and with 6 gr of powder laying in the bottom, how can you get any kind of even ignition.  It must spray around in their with the primer blast.  I have read some on powders and how they are supposed to ignite and burn.  I don't think they were designed for spray ignition.  I bought 2400 to load 45 colt to use a bulkier powder to fill some of the space.  In rifle shooting we are concerned with load density.  I guess I am just not comfortable with so little volume.  We could cut 3/4 inch off each round , load them with bullseye and stuff 15 or more into a carbine like they do with those shortie shot shells.  Anyway, that is my .02 and my paranoia.  I guess I am fearful of detionation with so little powder.  JB

[Fightin Creek Slim]

Ya Know Lone:
I hear a lot of folks complaining about Unique being a dirty powder. I even had one fellow who was new to reloading for .45 Colt ask me if Unique was Black Powder cause it smokes so much :roll: . Unique is my preffered smokeless powder for most of my handgun shooting. I use Accurate #9 for my heavy Ruger loads, But I use the Unique for most other pistol applications when I'm not shootin BP.

[Rod WMG]

Put me down for Unique as my favorite handgun powder (I even use it in some reduced rifle loads).  I load it in everything from .32 S&W Long through .45 Colt and .44 Mag, at least eight cartridges I can think of right offhand.  In .44 mag it can be loaded down to cowboy levels or up to hunting levels.  It isn't the only powder I use or even the "best" in all applications, but it is the most versatile one I can think of.

[Chuck from arkansaw]

Some friends and I had a Sunday afternoon shooting session every week.
I found standing on the firing line while several hundred rounds were fired all loaded with unique made my eyes burn.  Took to carrying visine in my range bag till I figured out what caused the problem.  Switched to red dot and the problem went away.

[Cuts Crooked]

'S simple really! They don' smoke enuff, they don roar enuff, 'n they don' stink enuff! The one true powder is Black!  :-D  

[Percy Hallen SASS#1379]

I have been using Unique for CAS for 13 years. An old Speer reloading manual only recommends Unique for the 45LC. Dirty, but it works fine.