Alliant Bullseye is arguably the most storied smokeless handgun powder in existence, having been in continuous production since 1898. Originally developed by Laflin & Rand and later manufactured by Hercules and now Alliant, Alliant Bullseye remains the quintessential choice for target shooters who demand extreme accuracy and economical performance.
Executive Summary
- Main Application – Precision target loads and low-velocity handgun cartridges
- Key Advantage – Exceptional accuracy with very small charge weights
- Burn Rate – Ultra-fast pistol propellant
- What This Guide Covers – Technical profile, pressure behavior, metering, and ideal cartridge pairings
Best For: Bullseye competitors and high-volume reloaders seeking the absolute maximum number of rounds per pound of powder.
Powder Description & Technical Profile
Alliant Bullseye is a double-base, thin flake powder. Its physical structure is designed for rapid ignition and a near-instantaneous pressure peak, which is necessary to provide consistent velocities in the low-pressure environments of target-grade ammunition. Because it contains a high percentage of nitroglycerin, it ignites reliably even with the weakest primers and in extremely small volumes.
The pressure curve of Alliant Bullseye is a sharp, vertical spike. It reaches its maximum pressure almost immediately upon ignition, making it highly efficient in very short-barreled pocket pistols or for “soft-shooting” target loads in full-sized revolvers. Despite being a flake powder, the flakes are small enough to provide remarkably consistent performance, though it is often considered “dirtier” than modern spherical powders when used at the lower end of the pressure spectrum.
Pros & Cons
- Pros:
- Incredible economy; a single pound can load up to 2,500 rounds of 45 ACP target ammo
- Long-standing reputation for winning “Camp Perry” style bullseye matches
- Highly versatile for almost all standard-pressure handgun calibers
- Instant ignition regardless of powder position in the case
- Cons:
- Flake geometry does not meter quite as perfectly as spherical powders
- Leaves more carbon residue (soot) than modern “clean-burning” alternatives
- High sensitivity to small charge weight changes due to its ultra-fast burn rate
Technical Characteristics
| Characteristic | Specification |
| Density (g/cc) | 0.490 |
| Burn Rate Category | Ultra-Fast Pistol |
| Shape | Small Flake |
| Coating | Graphite-coated |
Temperature Stability & Burn Rate Analysis
Alliant Bullseye sits at the very top of the burn rate chart, often occupying the #1 or #2 spot alongside Vihtavuori N310. It is significantly faster than Hodgdon Titegroup and Winchester 231.
In terms of temperature stability, Alliant Bullseye is a legacy technology powder. While it is predictable, it lacks the modern coatings found in newer powders like Alliant Sport Pistol, which is a more temperature-stable benchmark for competition use. Compared to a more sensitive benchmark like Alliant Red Dot, Alliant Bullseye tends to be more consistent across a wider range of pressures, though it can still show velocity increases in high-heat environments.
Powder Comparison – 4-Way Analysis
| Powder | Relative Burn Rate | Density (g/cc) | Primary Cartridges |
| Alliant Bullseye | Ultra-Fast | 0.490 | 45 ACP, 38 Special, 9mm Luger |
| Vihtavuori N310 | Similar | 0.540 | 45 ACP, 38 Special |
| Hodgdon Titegroup | Slightly Slower | 0.848 | 9mm Luger, 45 ACP |
| Accurate No. 2 | Slightly Slower | 0.900 | 380 ACP, 9mm Luger |
| Alliant Red Dot | Similar | 0.480 | 12 Gauge, 45 ACP |
Performance, Metering & Equipment
While Alliant Bullseye is a flake powder, its flakes are significantly smaller than those of Alliant Unique, allowing it to meter reasonably well through most equipment. In a Dillon XL 750 or Lee Classic Turret, it usually holds a tolerance of +/- 0.1 to 0.2 grains.
For the ultimate in precision, shooters often use the RCBS MatchMaster or the Lyman Brass Smith Powder Measure. Because of its high nitroglycerin content, Alliant Bullseye can sometimes “stain” plastic powder hoppers if left inside for extended periods. Regarding fouling, it produces a fine, dark carbon soot that is easily cleaned with standard solvents, though it may require more frequent wiping of the breech face in semi-autos during long sessions.
Recommended Cartridges and Applications
| Cartridge | Primary Application |
| 45 ACP | 200gr SWC “Wadcutter” Target Loads |
| 38 Special | 148gr HBWC (Hollow Base Wadcutter) |
| 9mm Luger | Low-recoil Practice Loads |
| 32 S&W Long | Precision Olympic-style Target Shooting |
| 44 Special | Cowboy Action and Plinking |
Bullets
Alliant Bullseye is the “holy grail” powder for cast lead and coated bullets, though it performs adequately with jacketed projectiles at target velocities.
| Bullet Brand/Model | Recommended Weight (Grains) | Application |
| Hornady Match | 148 | 38 Special HBWC Target |
| Sierra MatchKing | 115-124 | 9mm Luger Accuracy |
| Berry’s Plated | 200 | 45 ACP Target |
| Speer TNT | 115 | 9mm Luger Plinking |
| Nosler Partition | 158 | 357 Magnum (Target Velocity) |
Primers
Standard pistol primers are almost universally used with Alliant Bullseye. It is so easy to ignite that magnum primers are never necessary and may actually degrade accuracy by increasing pressure unnecessarily.
- CCI 300 – Large Pistol
- Federal 150 – Large Pistol
- Winchester WLP – Large Pistol
- CCI 500 – Small Pistol
- Federal 100 – Small Pistol
- Winchester WSP – Small Pistol
- Remington 1-1/2 – Small Pistol
- Fiocchi Small Pistol – Reliable alternative
- Ginex Small Pistol – Budget option
Conclusion & Expert Verdict
Alliant Bullseye is more than just a powder; it is a piece of firearms history that remains relevant because it performs. For the shooter who wants a single powder to load accurate, low-recoil 45 ACP and 38 Special, there is still nothing that quite matches the “recipe for success” that Bullseye has provided for over 120 years. It is dirty, it is old-fashioned, but it is undeniably one of the most accurate propellants ever devised.
Expert Pro Tip: If you are experiencing “bridging” or inconsistent drops in your powder measure with Alliant Bullseye, try adding a mechanical vibrator or a simple fish-tank air pump to the side of your powder hopper. The constant, light vibration settles the flakes into the metering chamber more uniformly, often reducing charge weight variance to near zero.
