BE-86

Well done, bds! Looks like that BE-86 has a new fan & the rest of us are itching to try it out

I am glad you guys are having success with BE-86, but I really would have been shocked if you were not.
Professional ballisticians have utilized this powder for almost 30 years, and we have produced millions of pounds of it since.
As a hint, perhaps try 45Auto 185gr jacketed, 9mm 124gr, 40S&W 165gr. It can also be used to push 147gr 9mm, but I prefer Power Pistol(R) for full power loads there. We have one large ammo manufacturer, that shall remain nameless, that uses BE-86 in their Gold Medal Match 45Auto 185gr.
Another application that BE-86 has worked really well is 38Spl+P. Medium power 357Mag is another, but you have figured that already. We had one large mfg that was using BE-86 in a 125grJHP duty load, and that surprised me, but the engineer for that product said he wanted 1350ft/sec, accuracy and low sd's, and BE-86 was best for that.
Thanks for trying our "new" canister pistol powder. Hopefully the supply issues let up soon and everyone can get what they want, when they want, and BE-86 will be readily available.
Shoot well,
Paul

Paul @ Alliant Reloading

Thanks for checking-in & posting the additional comments. There are a couple members that have had very good initial results with BE-86. I'm working up my first test 9MM & 380 ACP cartridges; looking forward to results similar to the bds session

Deep Dark Secrets

tightgroup tiger said:

How many more deep dark secret formulas are you hoarding? A lot I'll bet.

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I'll leave my request for 165g 9MM load data - think we will get a response on that one?

Alliant Reloading said:

Professional ballisticians have utilized this powder for almost 30 years, and we have produced millions of pounds of it since.

Thanks for trying our "new" canister pistol powder.

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I am glad Alliant finally decided to release this powder in canisters for us reloaders. Based on my initial testing, I think you have a winner on your hands for accurate loads.

... one large mfg that was using BE-86 in a 125grJHP duty load, and that surprised me, but the engineer for that product said he wanted 1350ft/sec, accuracy and low sd's, and BE-86 was best for that.

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Wow, that's almost 9 Major velocity (Note to readers: 9 Major velocities exceed all published load data velocities). While I have used WSF for full-power higher velocity loads with published load data, I will keep this in mind as published load data on Alliant's website shows higher velocities. Can't wait to do some chrono testing.

Paul, does Alliant plan to publish average maximum chamber pressures with the load data in the future?

Artofgolf said:

I'll leave my request for 165g 9MM load data - think we will get a response on that one?

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Chances are unlikely as most powder manufacturers publish up to 147 gr for 9mm.

Since BE-86 is a denser powder with less case fill, I think it will work with 165 gr bullet with longer bullet base. If you are interested, you can send me some of the bullets and I will calculate the maximum case fill with 165 gr bullet loaded to 1.150"-1.160" and do a "careful" work up for you (I never shot heavier than 147 gr in 9mm and kinda interested myself).

I hope this post doesn't come across as cynical, but I'm curious as to why a powder, that has been produced 30 years for ammo companies, wasn't released in canisters until a year and a half after it was announced.

ON EDIT: Nevermind, I went back to the beginning of this thread:

Sorry to take so long to get it to market, but we have been under siege demand wise for all of our existing products in both OEM and canister markets that marketing didn't want to prioritize this new product (for canister). We will continue to get some out as we can, so if you ask for it, those orders should pull through.

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Heavy boolits

bds said:

If you are interested, you can send me some of the bullets and I will calculate the maximum case fill with 165 gr bullet loaded to 1.150"-1.160" and do a "careful" work up for you (I never shot heavier than 147 gr in 9mm and kinda interested myself).

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I remember you pining about the Just Right carbine for the future; this might be right up your alley. I'll send 10 each of the 158g Berry's & 165g Xtreme. PM the address you want me to send the package to

Thanks for the help, bds!

Regarding the heavy bullets, I will see about getting some of those. Sorry I wasn't aware of 165gr 9mm, so I'll see about that.
bds, the max loads we have developed are close to the SAAMI MAP for the caliber in question.

Alliant Reloading said:

Regarding the heavy bullets, I will see about getting some of those. Sorry I wasn't aware of 165gr 9mm, so I'll see about that.

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Paul, you're the best We have never had such interaction from a powder manufacturer; I think it's fantastic! There are a lot of members that shoot carbines ~ most blow-back designs can handle heavier loads. We think the BE-86 powder will fit very well for this application.

I finally got around to chronographing some 9mm loads. The first load was 5.6 grs of BE-86 under a 125 gr Zero FMJ/FN, the results were as follows.

4.25 inch barrel velocity average of 10 shots=1164.3 FPS SD=8.6
3.1 inch barrel velocity average of 10 shots=1083.3 FPS SD=5.9

The second load was 5.2 grs of BE-86 under a 125 gr SNS coated lead FN.
The results were.

4.25 inch barrel velocity average of 10 shots=1133.6 FPS SD=13.8
3.1 inch barrel velocity average of 10 shots=1058.8 FPS SD=16.5

As you can see the 1.15 inch of barrel makes quite a difference in velocity. For information the 3.1 inch barrel was an M&P Shield 9 and the 4.25 inch barrel was an M&P 9 full size. The more I use this powder the better I like it. I did not make any effort to check the accuracy by shooting for groups. For chronographing purposes the target was only 30 feet distance. At that distance the groups seemed fine. Besides, at my age any gun I owm will shoot much better than I can.

Alliant Reloading said:

bds, the max loads we have developed are close to the SAAMI MAP for the caliber in question.

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Paul, that's good to hear. With the accuracy results I have gotten so far, will definitely consider using BE-86 for full-power loads. Really appreciate you taking the time for feedback to our questions and information on BE-86!

Artofgolf said:

Alliant Reloading said:

Regarding the heavy bullets, I will see about getting some of those. Sorry I wasn't aware of 165gr 9mm, so I'll see about that.

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Paul, you're the best We have never had such interaction from a powder manufacturer; I think it's fantastic! There are a lot of members that shoot carbines ~ most blow-back designs can handle heavier loads. We think the BE-86 powder will fit very well for this application.

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+1. I am planning to get Just Right carbine in 9mm with 40S&W/45ACP caliber conversion kits and BE-86 is powder I will consider. Artofgolf is sending me some 165 gr bullets. I will do a full powder work up and post results.

forty5 said:

I finally got around to chronographing some 9mm loads ... I did not make any effort to check the accuracy by shooting for groups.

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Thanks for the chrono data. I am planning to range test 9mm loads today so I will post my accuracy results.

bds said:

+1. I am planning to get Just Right carbine in 9mm with 40S&W/45ACP caliber conversion kits and BE-86 is powder I will consider. Artofgolf is sending me some 165 gr bullets. I will do a full powder work up and post results.

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Bullets went out in this morning's mail

Thank you!

I got to continue my BE-86 testing from 40S&W to 9mm.

Due to the bullet I was using (RMR 124 gr TP RN), 5.2 gr was the max case fill with 1.160" OAL/COL. Glock 22 was used with KKM 40-9 conversion barrel at 25 yards with hands resting on top of a small ice chest. More on case fill calculation and reloading details on this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9655361#post9655361

BE-86 load produced smallest group that was sub 2" and sub 1" 4-shot cluster definitely shows promise as an accurate load. I tell you, I am really liking BE-86!

HAP's with BE-86

bds said:

....information on BE-86! ...... I am planning to range test 9mm loads today......

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Thought I would start my BE-86 experience with the new sights on my G-19
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The Advantage Tactical arrangement helps my fading eyes, especially during the day. After a month, I'm starting to get used to them

Everyone knows that XTP's work well; HAP is XTP's little brother that's slightly less expensive & works well for practice.

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Powering those 115-grain HAPs downrange was a work-up from 5.8g in 1/2g gradations. I settled in on 6.15g of BE-86. Supported @ 10 yards.
The new rounds felt powerful enough, yet controllable. Moderate recoil (for me) was comfortable and relatively accurate for this first testing session

I likum' BE-86 and I think you will, too.

This new info is right in line with my super accurate 124 grain 9mm rounds. Now to load some 45 cal 185 grain FP bullets. I couldn't get much accuracy out of the 230 grain RN at the middle of the range loads I did. I'm thinking they will do better with a bit stronger charge. The 9mm were not barn burners, but no kitty poots either. They felt comparable to 5.0 grains of Unique with the same bullet, 1.120 OAL. Accuracy was very good with the 124 grain RN I was using, I believe they were Winchester FMJ.

Russellc

tightgroup tiger said:

I look forward to doing a lot more testing with 9mm but work comes first. Busy at work and now have to go to Wisconsin to look at new equipment.

I have 3 lbs of BE-86 left and all I can do it look at it and read your posts.

nice

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I just have one pound, but have a gun show this weekend where I got it in the first place, hopefully they will have it again.

Russellc

BE-86 9MM testing

Walkalong said:

There is a gun show here the 1st and 2nd. Maybe I'll get lucky.

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Good luck findin' the BE-86

I got lucky today @ the range with the continuation of BE-86 testing

Must be getting used to the new sights on my G19. 7 yards supported.

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BE-86 works well when I do my part. The 147g HP's from Xtreme seemed to know where to go on their own!
I can't remember the last time I hit near dead-center Help me, Potatohead!

Tryin' the new load through my carbine, it performed better than the shooter (995TS w/bipod & Bushnell red-dot)

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The 10-round cluster-to-starboard (25 yds.) is my usual position (low-right), however tighter than normal (for me)

Give the BE-86 a try; it sure helped me today

Artofgolf said:

Good luck findin' the BE-86

I got lucky today @ the range with the continuation of BE-86 testing

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Today, I got lucky again with BE-86.
Paul from Alliant sent me a PM to tell me that they actually tested the 165g Xtreme 9MM with BE-86.
Factory testing with a THR board request!
Although I won't post the results now, primarily because he said they will integrate the information on their website load data.

I don't impress easily; I was totally flabbergasted when he actually went through the trouble to get the bullets and develop a safe load.

BRAVO, Paul!

Outstanding!

Their was some BE at Wideners site last nite.