New guy, first post, so take it for what it is worth....
I keep hearing how casting your own bullets saves all this money... personally I don't see it. First off is equipment; molds, sizer-luber, bullet lube, and let's not forget lead! Even if you go around and get "free" lead from tire stores (no such luck here unless you walk about the parking lot and pick up a bucket full of wheel weights laying all over, and even that involves time and gas, or the ever faithful 6 pack - or 12 pack - of beer to "pay" for your "free" lead), lead pot (electric, gas, etc.), ladle (if not bottom pour), etc.
OK, I am not anti-cast bullet, I shoot a lot of them, but how much money do you really save after gas, time, equipment, etc.? Anyone ever done a spread sheet on that? Some people (Mike Ventrino for one, but he buys his lead from the foundry so he knows what he has) likes casting bullets and if it calms your nerves and makes you happy I'm all for it! OK, yes, I got all the molds, lubes, furnaces, lead, etc. but I got no idea if it pays! Mostly I do because I can cast my own bullets and am not limited to factory bullets if/when the left gets around to banning bullets again. Lots of bullet and ammo ban bills have come down the road in the last 40 years, and lots going back to the 1920s (read your old American Rifle mags), there is nothing new under the sun, just recycled anti-gun bills introduced over and over and over.
Personally watching the pile of brass get smaller and the pile of loaded ammo makes my nerves calmer, not casting bullets, but that is me.
Yes, Bullseye was the first smokeless powder used in US military handguns ammo, and pretty much it for military handgun ammo until after WWII. OK, please note I said "first smokeless powder used in US military handguns ammo", NOT the first smokeless powder used by the military! the first cartridge loaded with smokeless powder in the US was the .30 Army/US (.30-40 Krag) in 1892, the .30-30 Win was the first commercial cartridge loaded with smokeless power in 1895. I personally favor 5.5gr W 231 (same as Hogdgon P-38 according to the Hodgdon web site, always was) or the new Win 244. Doesn't matter what you use, if it works and you are happy I'm happy for you.