BE-86 in 9mm

[Maj Dad]

I loaded up ~200 rounds of 124 gr RMR plated RN with 5.7 gr BE-86 & Fiocchi SP and didn't get to the range to try them out today (more rain: just what SC needs...). Anyone have any experience with that load? I bought a truck load of powder a couple of months ago and I'm just getting around to loading it. I also picked up Power Pistol, but haven't decided on a trial for it yet. I will be shooting the 5.7 loads in a Taurus PT-99 & my new Sig 226 MK-25 (possibly the best pistol I own). What I have read here & elsewhere is that BE-86 is similar to Power Pistol but with a flash suppressant added. I don't really mind flash since I don't shoot at night or twilight, but it's another nifty bell/whistle, chemically...

 

[CZ9shooter]

I dont know much about BE86, but loading 200 rounds of ANY load of unknown performance sounds risky to me. What if they don't cycle, or produce abnormally high pressure, or give horrendous accuracy...

Power Pistol I do know about. It rocks in 9mm. Not so much at the low end, but it excels in every aspect at mid to high end levels.

 

[egd]

I use BE-86 with the RMR round nose at 5.0 gr with an oal of 1.133. Depending on your oal 5.7 seems very "hot" to me.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Alliant show's a maximum of 5.8 grains with a 124 grain FMJ....you've got yourself a maximum load there.

 

[1KPerDay]

I assume you tested for feeding, chambering, etc? Usually not the best idea to start with a max load out of the gate.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

What is your OAL?
Your at pretty much the max loading of BE-86 with the 124gr bullet in 9mm.

I load mine at 1.125"OAL w/5.5 gr and shooting them out of my full sized SR-9 they shoot really well. Out of my compact they are on the edge of getting snappy.

BE-86 is more simular to Unique than it is to power pistol. Paul at Alliant responded to my post on BE-86 telling us that. The flame deterrent seems to speed up the burn rate to Uniques range and Power Pistol is just a little slower.

You will find it burns very clean at any where from 5.4-5.7gr and is very accurate. The flash didn't go away but it is highly reduced from what Power Pistol generates.

 

[vaalpens]

The key is going to be your COL. This is a load I just tested:

SIG SP2022 3.9"
9mm
COL:1.060"
Berrys 124gr HBFPTP BE86 5.6gr CCI500
Average:1076
ES:28
SD:11.4
PF:133
Velocities:1076, 1083, 1067, 1091, 1063

Please note that the COL I have is for a FP bullet, not the RN you are using.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I loaded up ~200 rounds of 124 gr RMR plated RN with 5.7 gr BE-86 & Fiocchi SP and didn't get to the range to try them out today (more rain: just what SC needs...). Anyone have any experience with that load? I bought a truck load of powder a couple of months ago and I'm just getting around to loading it. I also picked up Power Pistol, but haven't decided on a trial for it yet. I will be shooting the 5.7 loads in a Taurus PT-99 & my new Sig 226 MK-25 (possibly the best pistol I own). What I have read here & elsewhere is that BE-86 is similar to Power Pistol but with a flash suppressant added. I don't really mind flash since I don't shoot at night or twilight, but it's another nifty bell/whistle, chemically...

What's your OAL?
If you are approaching Alliant's max with a plated bullet you need to make sure you are not significantly under the published OAL they use for a 124gr round nose. Alliant's data is usually hot at max. You should be working up to it carefully.

I doubt it's dangerous but caution should still be exercised.
FWIW, 5.7 of Power Pistol is one of my standard full-power loads with 124gr plated bullets.

 

[Dudedog]

4.7 with a 124 gives me about 1060 fps. 5gr is close to 1100.
5.7 is a MAX load.
Since you have already loaded 200 I would load some at 4.7, some at 5, some at 5.3 and some at 5.5 and shoot them first (maybe 5 of each) before shooting the 5.7s.
(if you decide to shoot the 5.7s)

I posted some numbers of various OALs here.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=788813

For the OAL test I used 4.4 gr of BE86 with a MBC lead coated cone from 1.14 to 1.08

The loads were shot in my PT99 of course no two guns are the same.
I think 5.7 may be a bit to much, but I like to err on the side of caution.

 

[Toprudder]

I have not run 124gn bullets yet with BE86, but my 115gn plated RN tests, 1.150" OAL, I ran 5.2 - 5.6gn, 5.4 was my favorite and resulted in ~1080 fps (4.5" barrel). I would think 5.7gn behind 124gn bullet would be a hot load.

 

[sellersm]

Might want to check the BE-86 thread (see link below), and perhaps rethink your process. Starting at MAX, and then asking for advice may not be the most profitable way to success...

I'm about to start loading up both plated and coated lead 124gr RN in 9mm, with BE-86, and I'll be following what others have learned in the thread I mentioned.

The Highroad BE-86 Reloading thread

 

[GBExpat]

So far, my best (accuracy) 9x19 plated 124gr test-string load consisted of 5.8gr BE-86 under a 124gr RNHP X-Treme bullet (w/the hexagonal-opening HP) with an OAL of 1.073".

Thru my 659 (4" barrel, btw) no more ~4-5' from the muzzle (target was ~7yds away):

1168fps
25.30 ES
9.21 SD

My 124gr GoldDots also perform well over 5.8gr of BE-86.

It is a stout load but the cases exhibited no signs of overpressure.

I haven't yet had a chance to dial it down a few tenths to check for accuracy.

FWIW

 

[Steve C]

Alliants maximum load for a 124gr FMJ is 5.8gr. Your start load should have been -10% or 5.2gr esp. for a plated bullet. Your load is near maximum for jacked rather than a maximum mid range jacketed load for plated bullets as usually specified by makers of plated bullets.

Not a wise choice. Possibility of stripping the plating. If you get poor accuracy drop the load down to start level and go no higher than 5.5gr.

 

[sellersm]

Alliants maximum load for a 124gr FMJ is 5.8gr. Your start load should have been -10% or 5.2gr esp. for a plated bullet. Your load is near maximum for jacked rather than a maximum mid range jacketed load for plated bullets as usually specified by makers of plated bullets.

Not a wise choice. Possibility of stripping the plating. If you get poor accuracy drop the load down to start level and go no higher than 5.5gr.

These are RMR plated bullets, no worries of stripping plating or pushing too fast...

All plated bullets are not equal.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

These are RMR plated bullets, no worries of stripping plating or pushing too fast...

All plated bullets are not equal.

correct, he should be able to shoot RMR's standard plated up to 1250fps and the plate match hard core up to 1450fps without danger of stripping.

When I ordered my .357 hard core plated from RMR, they told me to just keep them under 1500fps.

 

[AV8TOR]

I have been using Berry's and Xtreme but want to try the RMR next. Firing a Glock 19 I was concerned about what looks like open lead on the base. Are you getting any flash burn lead deposits in you barrel? That was the reason I went with bullets that had full 360° plating.

 

[ku4hx]

I loaded up ~200 rounds of 124 gr RMR plated RN with 5.7 gr BE-86 & Fiocchi SP and didn't get to the range to try them out today

Emphasis mine ...

Whoa! I start with 10 max. and if they seem fine I'll go to a higher round count. I've had to breakdown one too many in my time to start with a production level run.

 

[Maj Dad]

Thanks To All

I have tried other 124/125 gr bullets with 5.8 BE-86 with no issues. It will get run through my Sig P226 which will take the beating with no problems based on its previous firings. I do appreciate the advice from all on starting low, and I didn't settle on 5.7 arbitrarily but after much review and consideration (which is why I dropped 0.1 gr). I guess what I really was asking was for experiences of other shooters - accuracy, consistency, all that. The 226 eats up factory +P without a hiccup and this load, while near max for the 35k psi for standard, I doubt it will get into the 38.5k range for +P. Really wish I had a chronograph to check them, maybe Christmas

 

[evtSmtx]

in 9mm i've only tried it with 115 gr montana gold fmj - worked well but I miss the flash-bang of power pistol

 

[vaalpens]

I have tried other 124/125 gr bullets with 5.8 BE-86 with no issues. It will get run through my Sig P226 which will take the beating with no problems based on its previous firings. I do appreciate the advice from all on starting low, and I didn't settle on 5.7 arbitrarily but after much review and consideration (which is why I dropped 0.1 gr). I guess what I really was asking was for experiences of other shooters - accuracy, consistency, all that. The 226 eats up factory +P without a hiccup and this load, while near max for the 35k psi for standard, I doubt it will get into the 38.5k range for +P. Really wish I had a chronograph to check them, maybe Christmas

Maj Dad,

I have not tried the RMR 124gr RN with BE-86, but I tested the Berry's 124gr HBFP-TP bullet. I posted the chrono results in a previous post. The accuracy using the Berry's bullet and BE-86 was very good. here are my results shooting a Sig P229 from 15yards using a rest. Your Sig P226 should be more accurate:

 

[evtSmtx]

agree with walkalong that starting lead loads can be too weak for plated. It sure was for Titegroup w/230 gr Berrys PRN in .45 acp. The dirtiest smokeless round I've ever fired. About 75% up the fmj range it was nice and clean. The 1250 fps speed limit was not a factor in this load.

 

[Maj Dad]

Weather permitting (I live in a rain forest, apparently), heading to the range this weekend & see what shakes out. I'm ready to get out after some ungodly weather here in SC - areas are still flooded from the 3-5 Oct 1000-year flood, and with the latest rain some roads are almost to the closing point again... But: looking forward to taking several pistols (to start, then rifles) and trying out new loads with the new powders! 44 mag pistol & rifle, 45 acp & colt, 38/357 - the whole banana