Alliant BE as a rifle powder

[huckleberg]

Howdy, folks ...

I have a metric ton of specific reloading components that I need to use ... the rifle is 24" '92 in .38/.357 ... the powder is an old (still fine condition) keg of Bullseye, .38 cases, CCI 500 primers, and 158gr copper plated RNFP bullets.

What I am wondering is if I can use the BE in a reliable load for use in the rifle, given that BE is such a fast burning powder and is more suited for revolver use (which I use in my revolver with great success).

I want a more medium-burning powder, for example Power Pistol but cannot find any (even at the gun show I just went to).

Thanks for any ideas.

[Archer]

The Lyman manual does not list any .38 loads for use in rifles.
The loads that it does list cautions against reduction to prevent lodging a bullet in the barrel.
Since they are talking about a barrel probably no more than a third the length of your rifle and since the Bullseye loads are sometimes pretty close from starting load to max load I would think you'd be better served with some other powder or with careful load development near max loads and possibly with lead rather than jacketed projectiles.

I once worked with a fellow who told me he owned a Winchester 1873 in .44-40 and he was shooting it when he felt a light report. He looked at the barrel and saw smoke coming out of it so he racked in another round and touched it off again. Turns out he should have looked THROUGH the barrel as he had a bullet lodged in it when he touched off the next round. Bulged the barrel. Value of the gun cut in half. Cost of a new barrel he said was a couple hundred bucks and the value of the gun rebarreled was the same as with the original bulged barrel so he chose not to screw with it. I'd have probably done the fix to get it shooting again rather than have it non functional and potentially dangerous hanging around.

[klr]

Here is info from my Speer reloading manual number ten:

357 magnum (rifle)
Rifle: Marlin model 94, 18.5" barrel, 1-16 twist, CCI-500 primer

158gr LEAD SWC, Bullseye
min 2.8 gr = 689 fps
3.8 gr = 935 fps
max 4.8 gr = 1173 fps

The loads for a 6" Security six revolver with the same bullets and Bullseye are:

38 special - 3.8 gr = 801 fps, 4.2 gr = 888 fps
357 = 4.3 gr = 848 fps, 4.8 gr = 939 fps

158gr Copper JACKETED bullets:
38 special - 4.3 gr = 813 fps, 4.9 gr = 850 fps. These are listed as +P loads.
357 - 6.6 gr = 1028 fps, 7.1 gr = 1123 fps


You can also look up loads here:
http://castpics.net/subsite2/LoadLookup/default.html

[donhuff]

I shoot 3.5g of BE behind a 160g LRN (lyman 358311) in 38 cases, all the time in my 92. It shoots and cycles great. With that plated bullet, just make it longer or shorter till it cycles like you want it to. With the flat point, you may have to go a little longer to make it work right.

This is a very mild load, but could be increased a good bit if that's what you wanted. With this load it is very easy to empty the mag quickly "from the shoulder" and stay on, or at least close to, the target.

[huckleberg]

I shoot 3.5g of BE behind a 160g LRN (lyman 358311)

I already load mass quantities of .38 with 4.0gr of BE behind a plated 158 gr FP & CCI 500 primers ... my rifle is 24" ... sound feasible? I just want a cheap accurate practice load with low risk of sticking one in the barrel.

I will be using the following for my "real" load:

various .357 cases
158gr SJHP (various)
CCI 550
16.0gr H110
firm taper crimp on the cannelure


I cannot find any other relevant powder anywhere! (power pistol, unique, universal etc)

[donhuff]

Heck yeah feasible.

You WILL NOT stick one in the barrel with 4.0 of BE garrenteed! That should be a fine load too.

And 16.0 H110 W/158g anything, should be a very good top end load.

[Archer]

I shoot 3.5g of BE behind a 160g LRN (lyman 358311)

I already load mass quantities of .38 with 4.0gr of BE behind a plated 158 gr FP & CCI 500 primers ... my rifle is 24" ... sound feasible? I just want a cheap accurate practice load with low risk of sticking one in the barrel.

I will be using the following for my "real" load:

various .357 cases
158gr SJHP (various)
CCI 550
16.0gr H110
firm taper crimp on the cannelure


I cannot find any other relevant powder anywhere! (power pistol, unique, universal etc)

IF you are running that load with plated I'd expect cast to work fine unless it leaded for some reason.
Most of the time it seems cast bullets cost me as much or more than plated, especially when I can find plated on sale with shipping thrown in and cast always seems to be plus shipping.

I guess if I take up casting that might change.

[bigtrumpetman]

I have a very nice subsonic Bullseye load that actually works well in a revolver as well as a 20" barrel Rossi '92. I've been using it for about five years:

CASES: Mixed .357 Mag (Rem, Win, S&B)
PRIMERS: CCI550 ((Magnum)
POWDER: Alliant Bullseye -- 4.2 grains
BULLET: 158 grain soft RNFP, 14 BNH.
CRIMP: Light
VELOCITY: 1,083 fps (RIFLE), 859 fps (5.5" Ruger Vaquero)

The powder is "position sensitive," but it is very accurate as long as you pay attention to how the powder is leaning prior to firing. It's a good squirrel load out to 50 yards in a Rossi '92, and out to 50 ft. in a good cowboy revolver.