BE 86 is much finer than Unique. Unique is like flakes
Yes, Unique is a large flake powder compared to W231/HP-38 (Small flattened ball powder)
Here's close up of Unique compared to W231/HP-38 and BE-86 being much smaller than Unique (Notice BE-86 granule size is smaller than W231 and more uniform?)
Are they similar in volume also? What I'm asking will the BE 86 fill up a case similar to the Unique?
Here are 9mm cases filled with Alliant/Speer max charges for 124 gr JHP/GDHP -
https://www.speer-ammo.com/download...m_caliber_355-366_dia/9mm_Luger__124_rev1.pdf
Top of Unique charge was .180" below case mouth and top of BE-86 charge was .240" below case mouth.
I was slightly surprised to see it almost fill the case of a 9mm with 5.5 gr.
Unique ... 124JHP RMR ... thinking about bumping it up ... 5.8 and leaving it there. Any thoughts?
Unique is fluffy and can settle in case quite a bit.
Using RMR 124 gr MPR with bullet length of 0.558" and average resized RP case length of 0.749", we can calculate OAL that won't compress 5.8 gr charge Unique:
- OAL - Bullet length = Max case fill
- Top of powder charge below case mouth = Case length - Max case fill
Since we know 5.8 gr of Unique fills the case to 0.180" below case mouth,
Top of powder charge below case mouth = Case length - Max case fill
0.180" = 0.749" - Max case fill
So Max case fill = 0.749" - 0.180" = 0.569"
And we have,
OAL = Max case fill + Bullet length = 0.569" + 0.558" = 1.127"
You will need to load longer than 1.127" OAL/COL.
And here's Alliant load data calculations for comparison using 124 gr GDHP at 1.120" (Average bullet length 0.562")
- OAL - Bullet length = Max case fill
And 1.120" - 0.562" = 0.558"
So, Case length - Max case fill = Top of powder charge below case mouth
0.749" - 0.558" = 0.191"
Since top of 5.8 gr charge of Unique is 0.180" below case mouth, there is 0.011" compression of powder charge but Speer load data lists 5.8 gr of Unique loaded to 1.120" not as a compressed load.
So, you could subtract 0.011" from calculated OAL of 1.127" to get 1.116" OAL for RMR 124 gr MPR and 5.8 gr of Unique (Do this at your own risk). What if your barrel requires OAL shorter than 1.116" for RMR 124 gr MPR?
You can go with BE-86.
Using RMR 124 gr MPR with bullet length of 0.558" and average resized RP case length of 0.749", we can calculate OAL that won't compress 5.9 gr charge BE-86:
- OAL - Bullet length = Max case fill
- Top of powder charge below case mouth = Case length - Max case fill
Since we know 5.9 gr of BE-86 fills the case to 0.240" below case mouth,
Top of powder charge below case mouth = Case length - Max case fill
0.240" = 0.749" - Max case fill
So Max case fill = 0.749" - 0.240" = 0.509"
And we have,
OAL = Max case fill + Bullet length = 0.509" + 0.558" = 1.067"
You will need to load longer than 1.067" OAL/COL.