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preacherJohn
Member
I'm going to have to try this BE-86. I hear nothing but good things about it.
Your "Go-to" pistol powder
- Thread starter preacherJohn
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I do not have a single "go-to" powder. I have different favorite powders for different cartridges. 700-X in 45 ACP, Unique or AA#5 in 45 Colt, W231/HP-38 in 38 Special, True Blue in 9x19 and some other semi-auto cartridges that I do not shoot much of, Unique or W296/H110 depending on plinking or Magnum load in the Magnum cartridges and so forth.
I have back up loads with alternate powders already developed for most of my handgun cartridges in case shortages develop.
If I was forced to use just one powder, I'd pick Unique. I've probably used it in just about all the cartridges that I reload at one time or another and it works great in 20 and 28 gauge shot shells as well.
I have back up loads with alternate powders already developed for most of my handgun cartridges in case shortages develop.
If I was forced to use just one powder, I'd pick Unique. I've probably used it in just about all the cartridges that I reload at one time or another and it works great in 20 and 28 gauge shot shells as well.
Salmoneye
Member
Red Dot
.38 S&W
.38 SPCL
9mm
.357 Mag
.44 SPCL
.44 Mag
Full on Mag rounds are loaded with H110 or H4227 (still using up old stock)...
.38 S&W
.38 SPCL
9mm
.357 Mag
.44 SPCL
.44 Mag
Full on Mag rounds are loaded with H110 or H4227 (still using up old stock)...
Charlie98
Member
I'm actually quite curious about it as well... particularly for the 9mm, but Alliant has load data for the .45ACP and, of all things... the .41Mag?
ray15
Member
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- 946
You can load a lot of things in the magnum revolver cartridges, but BE86 is a medium speed powder Alliant claims to have the same burn rate as Unique. While it will probably make great mid-range 41 mag, you'll still need H110 or the like if you want magnum performance.
BE86 is a very versatile and effective powder. It is however subject to the same burn rate implications as any other powder, and being a medium speed powder is only going to take you so far with 41 mag. and the like. Its burn rate is about perfect for full-power to +p 9mm, and it will tolerate a little downloading.
Hondo 60
Member
During the 1st Obama scare, when powder was almost unobtanium, I found a good supply of titegroup.
So developed loads for all of my guns.
32 S&W Long, 32 h&r mad, 7.62x25,, 380. 9mm. 39 spl. 357, 44 spl & mag & 45 Colt
I don't get extreme velocity, but they're pretty easy to shoot a lot.
So developed loads for all of my guns.
32 S&W Long, 32 h&r mad, 7.62x25,, 380. 9mm. 39 spl. 357, 44 spl & mag & 45 Colt
I don't get extreme velocity, but they're pretty easy to shoot a lot.
Charlie98
Member
Well, I use Unique in 80% of my .41 cartridges, IMR4227 in the other 15+%. I don't shoot a lot of full-house stuff. Alliant data gives a load of 10.8grn BE86 under a 210grn JHP for 1120fps... that sounds awfully 'Unique' to me.
irishlad
Contributing Member
I started loading 380, 9mm and 45 acp a few months ago using W231 . It has worked well in all 3.
Average Joe
Member
BE 86
Doublehelix
Member
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- Nov 7, 2016
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Like others have said, I really don't have one favorite for all pistol calibers.
HP-38 seems to work well enough for most calibers, but it is never my favorite for anything. Sort of a versatile powder that does OK everywhere, but not great anywhere (maybe .38 Special).
HP-38 seems to work well enough for most calibers, but it is never my favorite for anything. Sort of a versatile powder that does OK everywhere, but not great anywhere (maybe .38 Special).
bbqreloader
Member
40- CFE-P
9mm HS-6
45- BE 86
223-H335
I could use CFE-P for all but the rifle, however I found that each bullet performs better with a particular powder
9mm HS-6
45- BE 86
223-H335
I could use CFE-P for all but the rifle, however I found that each bullet performs better with a particular powder
bullseye308
Member
I load 2.7 gr of Bullseye under a 148 wc in 38.
I load 5.0 gr of Bullseye under a 158 swc in 357
I load 4.6-5.2 gr of BE-86 under a 120-124 in 9mm.
When I run out of Bullseye I’ll load the 38 & 357 with BE-86 as well and when I get my 45 fixed it will be loaded with BE-86. I don’t hunt or need max power loads, so it works perfectly for me.
I load 5.0 gr of Bullseye under a 158 swc in 357
I load 4.6-5.2 gr of BE-86 under a 120-124 in 9mm.
When I run out of Bullseye I’ll load the 38 & 357 with BE-86 as well and when I get my 45 fixed it will be loaded with BE-86. I don’t hunt or need max power loads, so it works perfectly for me.
380 with HP-38 for mild and CFE-P for top end. (95 & 100 gr.)
9mm with HP-38 for mild, CPE-P for heavy loads, and HS-6 for +P. (124 & 125 gr.)
38 Spl. with HP-38 for mild and Silhouette for wild. Snubbies (105, 140, & 158 gr.)
357 with Titegroup for mild and 2400 for magnum. (140 & 158 gr.)
45 Auto with WST for mild and CFE-P for top end. (185 & 200 gr.)
40 S&W, I haven't loaded enough to know any better.
9mm with HP-38 for mild, CPE-P for heavy loads, and HS-6 for +P. (124 & 125 gr.)
38 Spl. with HP-38 for mild and Silhouette for wild. Snubbies (105, 140, & 158 gr.)
357 with Titegroup for mild and 2400 for magnum. (140 & 158 gr.)
45 Auto with WST for mild and CFE-P for top end. (185 & 200 gr.)
40 S&W, I haven't loaded enough to know any better.
What are you loading with HS-6?
FROGO207
Member
I have many caliber handguns I reload for and the "best" propellant is not a single one IMHO. I mostly use Blue Dot. Promo/Red Dot, and 700X and keep large containers of all three on hand. In reality though I have about 12 other different propellants that I use for accuracy with hand guns. I probably have enough of my lesser propellants to keep me going for the rest of my life as long as I use the three first mentioned primarily as I do for plinking ammo and resupply those as needed. If I had to choose only one it would be Red Dot/Promo due to the many OK loads in both handgun and rifle ammo with lead bullets it works with. For rifle use google "The Load" on how to use the Red Dot.
Toprudder
Member
Some people have referred to BE86 as "the new Unique". I think for good reason. And it meters better than Unique.
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preacherJohn
Member
This PPQ really likes the HP-38, the Beretta... well, not so much. I used 3.8, 3.9, 4.2, & 4.3 (it's what I had loaded and on hand) and shot these guns side by side. The PPQ grouped pretty good with all 4 loads with the 3.9 looking like this picture. I can't find a happy load for that 92FS. I went to the bench and loaded up some cases with 4.0 & 4.1 last night; I'll see how that fairs, but I have my doubts. What kind of luck or you having with an Inox?
TigerCreek
Member
Since powder in our area became hit or miss a few years ago I decided to go with Unique for my pistol loads (9mm, 45 acp and 44mag) and 4895 for all of my rifle loads (.223, 30-30, .308, 30-06, 7.62x54r). Loaded up on those powders when I could and stopped worrying about trying to locate difficult to acquire powders. At least now I know that I can reload without worries of running out or setting up a temporary fix.
9mm / 40s&w
Toprudder
Member
I took a slightly different route during the big crunch, I tried several different powders as I could find them. I now have knowledge of what will work, and what doesn't work as well. I have accumulated load data for each. So now I am ending up in a similar position as you, I'm trying to stock up on the few powders I like. There are several powders I will use up and won't restock. When (not if) we have another shortage, I hope to be stocked up well enough to make it through the dry spell, but I will also know which powders I can use in a crunch.
someguy2800
Member
I can't say any one powder is my go to since I use a pretty wide range of burning rates depending on the application. As of recently though my new favorite powder is power pistol and that's what I would go with if I could only have one. Its very similar to BE86.
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