FWIW:
BE-86 is an interesting powder, alliant doesn't do it justice. Their loads are on the anemic side. BE-86 tends to do better with heavier bullets (+/- 158gr). in the 38spl's. Your loads are too lite for the already watered down reloading data.
A couple years back I did a little testing with a 2" bbl'd 38spl p+ loads using 5 different powders with 1 of those powders being BE-86. I used 10 different bullets in those tests, the bullets ranged from 140gr's to 160gr's. I used 5.7gr of BE-86 for all 10 bullets/loads. At the end of the day BE-86 and unique were within 10fps of each other. 5.7gr BE-86 ='s 5.5gr unique
Months later I decided to test some "target" bullets in that same 2" bbl'd 38spl. I used several different powders/ p+ loads and these 2 bullets. Left: a custom cast bullet/modern himmelwright design 140gr for the 9mm/38spl
right: a 110gr cast rn gallery bullet from a cramer mold
I used 6.2gr of BE-86 with that 110gr bullet and got a 910+fps average for 10-shots
I used 7.0gr of unique with that 110gr bullet and got 1100+fps average for a 10-shot string
With the 140gr bullet both powders were within 10fps of each other. I tested a couple other 110gr to 130gr bullets using BE-86 and wasn't impressed. BE-86 doesn't do well with the lighter bullets. Light bullets/light loads with be-86 isn't a good combo in the 38spl cases.
On a side note:
Most short bbl'd/snubnosed 38spl's have sights that are designed for 158gr bullets, poa/poi for 158gr bullets. Light bullets aren't the greatest choice for snubnosed 38spl's/p+ loads. More often then not you reload a 125gr/130gr bullet with p+ loads for the 38spl or 158gr/160gr bullets and end up with the same velocities with the lighter bullets & heavier bullets in the snubnosed 38spl's. Bullet selection plays a huge role in the performance of your reloads. Typically coated bullets are the fastest followed by cast, then jacketed and finely plated bullets. These are some of the bullets I used in that 10 bullet/5 powder38spl p+ test in that 2" bbl'd snubnosed 38spl.
These bullets performed the best in that test. What they have in common is either a large bottom drive band/bullet base or a long bullet body. They sealed the cylinders & bbl quicker making better use of the pressures of the loads. These bullets were as much as 70fps faster then other bullets. Same powder/brass/firearm/chronograph/ect. Huge differences in velocity
Lastly, some people like a taper crimp, others prefer a roll crimp for their 38spl reloads. I prefer a heavy roll crimp for my 38spl target & p+ reloads. Some will say it's not needed & for most applications that's true. Shorter bodied bullets/bullets with less neck tension benefit from a good solid roll crimp. A good solid crimp tends to make a more consistent/accurate target load for the 38spls.
BE-86 is an interesting powder, alliant doesn't do it justice. Their loads are on the anemic side. BE-86 tends to do better with heavier bullets (+/- 158gr). in the 38spl's. Your loads are too lite for the already watered down reloading data.
A couple years back I did a little testing with a 2" bbl'd 38spl p+ loads using 5 different powders with 1 of those powders being BE-86. I used 10 different bullets in those tests, the bullets ranged from 140gr's to 160gr's. I used 5.7gr of BE-86 for all 10 bullets/loads. At the end of the day BE-86 and unique were within 10fps of each other. 5.7gr BE-86 ='s 5.5gr unique
Months later I decided to test some "target" bullets in that same 2" bbl'd 38spl. I used several different powders/ p+ loads and these 2 bullets. Left: a custom cast bullet/modern himmelwright design 140gr for the 9mm/38spl
right: a 110gr cast rn gallery bullet from a cramer mold
I used 6.2gr of BE-86 with that 110gr bullet and got a 910+fps average for 10-shots
I used 7.0gr of unique with that 110gr bullet and got 1100+fps average for a 10-shot string
With the 140gr bullet both powders were within 10fps of each other. I tested a couple other 110gr to 130gr bullets using BE-86 and wasn't impressed. BE-86 doesn't do well with the lighter bullets. Light bullets/light loads with be-86 isn't a good combo in the 38spl cases.
On a side note:
Most short bbl'd/snubnosed 38spl's have sights that are designed for 158gr bullets, poa/poi for 158gr bullets. Light bullets aren't the greatest choice for snubnosed 38spl's/p+ loads. More often then not you reload a 125gr/130gr bullet with p+ loads for the 38spl or 158gr/160gr bullets and end up with the same velocities with the lighter bullets & heavier bullets in the snubnosed 38spl's. Bullet selection plays a huge role in the performance of your reloads. Typically coated bullets are the fastest followed by cast, then jacketed and finely plated bullets. These are some of the bullets I used in that 10 bullet/5 powder38spl p+ test in that 2" bbl'd snubnosed 38spl.
These bullets performed the best in that test. What they have in common is either a large bottom drive band/bullet base or a long bullet body. They sealed the cylinders & bbl quicker making better use of the pressures of the loads. These bullets were as much as 70fps faster then other bullets. Same powder/brass/firearm/chronograph/ect. Huge differences in velocity
Lastly, some people like a taper crimp, others prefer a roll crimp for their 38spl reloads. I prefer a heavy roll crimp for my 38spl target & p+ reloads. Some will say it's not needed & for most applications that's true. Shorter bodied bullets/bullets with less neck tension benefit from a good solid roll crimp. A good solid crimp tends to make a more consistent/accurate target load for the 38spls.
