Did BE-86 Fall Off The Map?

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MI2600

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I bought a pound of BE-86 a few months back and have never used it. I went through the archives and found an Alliant site dated 2014. The applications appear very narrow. My new Lyman manual doesn't even mention it.

What happened?
 
I bought a pound at the last gun show. What do you mean by "narrow". They have data for numerous calibers. Alliant has pushed it pretty hard, so I don't see it going anywhere.
 
Use BE-86 for my 45 acp, and sometimes my 9. Seems to work just fine in the 45. They have data on it, just remember they only publish max loads.
I suggested at it be put into the library of reloading wisdom due to the extensive info it has in it.
 
I consider BE-86 the "modern Unique" that meters well.

And unlike Unique, BE-86 has produced some very accurate loads in 9mm and 40S&W (even at lower mid-level powder charges) that surpassed my previous reference accurate loads. Supposedly, BE-86 has been used as OEM powder for many premium factory JHP ammunition for decades and only released in recent years as canister powder.

BE-86 is my favored powder for 40S&W followed by Herco, the cousin of flaming dirt, Unique.
 
Last edited:
After re-reviewing the Alliant chart, I'll have to broaden my "narrow" comment. But most loads are for calibers I seldom have need to load.
I do wish they gave the min-max figures.
 
MI2600 said:
After re-reviewing the Alliant chart, I'll have to broaden my "narrow" comment. But most loads are for calibers I seldom have need to load.
I do wish they gave the min-max figures.
Click to expand...
They do, sort of. They give the max, and when reading Alliant's data pages we see that they recommend starting charge 10% below max.
 
Just yesterday tested BE-86 7.3 gr as 357 Magnum, 158 gr LSWC Br12, standard primer, intending a medium load for my Security Six. It was pretty stout for shooting 50 rounds of magnum, and my grips weren't the best for that kind of punishment, but the load proved accurate. I think I will look at reducing the load a bit, just trying to enjoy time at the range. The carry load is Speer Short Barrel, noting that this gun is actually 4".
 
Resurrecting this thread because I got an Email special from Widener's, they have BE-86 on sale 8lbs for $125 + Hazmat.

I've no affiliation with Widener's other than as a satisfied customer, since I don't need to order powder at present I though others interested in this thread might want to know about it.

Nice to see powder "on sale" again!
 
RealGun said:
Just yesterday tested BE-86 7.3 gr as 357 Magnum, 158 gr LSWC Br12, standard primer, intending a medium load for my Security Six. It was pretty stout for shooting 50 rounds of magnum, and my grips weren't the best for that kind of punishment, but the load proved accurate. I think I will look at reducing the load a bit, just trying to enjoy time at the range. The carry load is Speer Short Barrel, noting that this gun is actually 4".
Click to expand...

I also did some workup with BE-86 in 357 magnum using ACME 158gr coated SWC bullets with good accuracy. The testing was done with a 3" Ruger SP101. My only concern was that my max load showed a lower velocity than two of the lighter loads. I'm not sure if it indicates a pressure issue, or if I mislabeled my loads. I will definitely retest these loads just to verify. Following are the chrono numbers.

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 6.9gr, WSP
Average: 998
ES: 24
SD: 10.8
Force: 349
PF: 157
Velocities: 995, 1012, 1007, 988, 989

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 7.1gr, WSP
Average: 1020
ES: 54
SD: 21.4
Force: 365
PF: 161
Velocities: 1037, 1031, 983, 1026, 1024

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 7.3gr, WSP
Average: 1027
ES: 48
SD: 21
Force: 370
PF: 162
Velocities: 1017, 995, 1041, 1043, 1041

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 7.5gr, WSP
Average: 1014
ES: 25
SD: 11.4
Force: 361
PF: 160
Velocities: 1023, 1008, 1006, 1005, 1030
 
I also tried 7.3 and then 7.5 Grs of BE-86 with a coated 158 Gr SWC and both were accurate, but with 7.5 I gained very little velocity for the added recoil and the ES & SD numbers were similar, so I am sticking with 7.3 for a midrange load. BE-86 would have very sharp recoil at max. Slower powders are better if you want velocity. PF numbers were very good.
 
I'm upset with myself. I bought a bottle of W572 months ago and have not loaded anything with it yet. I think it would serve the same purpose as BE-86 in the .357 Magnum but I'll never know unless I load some!!! :notworthy:
 
vaalpens said:
I also did some workup with BE-86 in 357 magnum using ACME 158gr coated SWC bullets with good accuracy. The testing was done with a 3" Ruger SP101. My only concern was that my max load showed a lower velocity than two of the lighter loads. I'm not sure if it indicates a pressure issue, or if I mislabeled my loads. I will definitely retest these loads just to verify. Following are the chrono numbers.

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 6.9gr, WSP
Average: 998
ES: 24
SD: 10.8
Force: 349
PF: 157
Velocities: 995, 1012, 1007, 988, 989

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 7.1gr, WSP
Average: 1020
ES: 54
SD: 21.4
Force: 365
PF: 161
Velocities: 1037, 1031, 983, 1026, 1024

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 7.3gr, WSP
Average: 1027
ES: 48
SD: 21
Force: 370
PF: 162
Velocities: 1017, 995, 1041, 1043, 1041

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, BE86, 7.5gr, WSP
Average: 1014
ES: 25
SD: 11.4
Force: 361
PF: 160
Velocities: 1023, 1008, 1006, 1005, 1030
Click to expand...
For an SP101 or Smith 60 I would stay at the very bottom of the load range. 7.0 is where I ended up for a mid level load for the Security Six or a target load in heftier guns.
 
RealGun said:
For an SP101 or Smith 60 I would stay at the very bottom of the load range. 7.0 is where I ended up for a mid level load for the Security Six or a target load in heftier guns.
Click to expand...
I actually put some Hogue grips on my SP101, which handled the loads very well.

I also like Power Pistol in 357 magnum, but I still need to work up some higher loads. Following is my 6.9gr load chrono data to compare against the BE-86 load. Power Pistol seems a bit slower than BE-86, so I should be able to test similar loads as I did with BE-86:

357mag
COL: 1.620"
ACME, 158gr, SWCNLG, PowerPistol, 6.9gr, WSP
Average: 965
ES: 29
SD: 11.2
Force: 327
PF: 152
Velocities: 970, 971, 947, 976, 964
 
I use it for 357 and 38 loads. In my 3" model 60 .357 a load of 7.5 gr behind a 163 gr WFN gets me 1,080 FPS. My 38 load only gets me 680 fps with the same bullet, I don't remember the charge weight but it's plenty accurate when it's fed through my dad's 6" K38 for plinking at the range. Still trying to find some sort of published data for it in 44 Special +P loads similar to the old Skeeter load with Unique so I can condense the number of powders I have on hand.
 
I want to try it, the apparent universality is appealing. The max only data is off putting. A pre BE-86 Alliant manual shows ranges of charge and velocity, I ordered a newer manual, hoping it does the same.
I wasn't willing to wade through the 31(!) pages of the two year old thread for The Answer.
 
stoky said:
I want to try it, the apparent universality is appealing. The max only data is off putting. A pre BE-86 Alliant manual shows ranges of charge and velocity, I ordered a newer manual, hoping it does the same.
I wasn't willing to wade through the 31(!) pages of the two year old thread for The Answer.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't it be easy enough to work within 10% lower? I don't think they are testing the point at which the bullet won't exit the barrel.
 
No, the range of the velocities for a given bullet weight is of interest to me.
Marketeers and lawyers are going to do what they do, but dad said don't ever beg anybody to take your money.
 
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