BE-86

[OilyPablo]

It looks like a very clean powder.

 

[AnselHazen]

9mm 147gr X-Treme RN BE-86

3.5gr OAL 1.17

801-817-832-797-790 fps

Gonna load up 50 of these and see how they hold up.

 

[eo1bart]

FYI: I emailed Alliant and asked what is the VMD for BE-86. Their response was "0.088"

Looks to be about the same as their Power Pistol which I have listed as 0.0889

 

[Mauser69]

That is interesting - I took the time to calculate it out myself, and my notes say the the VMD is .09385. Now I'm gonna have to re-check things.

UPDATE: I went back and re-calculated the VMD from my log, which shows both the scale-verified charge weights and the Lee disk size (cc) used, and I now confirm that Alliant's VMD of 0.088 seems accurate for BE-86. I have no idea where I made the mistake when I came up with the bogus number above.

 

[Mauser69]

Alliant Load Data

I have mentioned this before, but thought I'd update it again - there are some big discrepancies between Alliant printed load data and on-line load data. Thankfully the differences I have found so far are in published velocities and not incorrect maximum load weights; therefore, not a dangerous mistake.

I recently received the 2016 Alliant Reloader's Guide, and the same errors are still there for BE-86. In general, the printed data shows much higher velocities for the same max load as shown in their on-line data. I do not think this applies to all calibers, but in some cases it is very significant. For example, .357 loads with BE-86 are typically shown with velocities about 400 fps over the on-line data!

So just an FYI - best to check their on-line data before you decide that a particular load is something you want to try. In my limited chrono testing of .357 loads from my 6.5" Blackhawk, the more conservative velocities shown in the on-line date appear realistic.

 

[sellersm]

9mm 147gr X-Treme RN BE-86

3.5gr OAL 1.17

801-817-832-797-790 fps

Gonna load up 50 of these and see how they hold up.

Thanks! Those bullets are next on my list to load in 9mm. Nice group you got there!

 

[AnselHazen]

Thanks! Those bullets are next on my list to load in 9mm. Nice group you got there!

Putting together that batch of 50, probably test them today.

(Later that day) My oh my. Sure glad I have a couple pounds of BE-86.
Had a chance to swing by the club and I shot 50 rounds of that load. I'm ready to commit to loading up a sizeable batch of these.

This is about 30 of the rounds.

 

[GoldieMI]

This has become one of my most checked threads...I check at least once a day on this thread for new posts. I've ordered 3-8# jugs following my own initial tests. It has pushed Power Pistol, Unique, and AA5 back on the shelves for my needs.

 

[sellersm]

Putting together that batch of 50, probably test them today.

(Later that day) My oh my. Sure glad I have a couple pounds of BE-86.
Had a chance to swing by the club and I shot 50 rounds of that load. I'm ready to commit to loading up a sizeable batch of these.

This is about 30 of the rounds.

I agree, time for mass production! Thanks for sharing your results.

I'm waiting for my projectiles to arrive...

 

[AnselHazen]

All of mine so far have been from a box of bullets from X-Treme. Jake now has 147 RN up on the RMR site. I think it's time to try those.

 

[trackforever]

What distance were you shooting?

 

[Toprudder]

I have mentioned this before, but thought I'd update it again - there are some big discrepancies between Alliant printed load data and on-line load data. Thankfully the differences I have found so far are in published velocities and not incorrect maximum load weights; therefore, not a dangerous mistake.

I recently received the 2016 Alliant Reloader's Guide, and the same errors are still there for BE-86. In general, the printed data shows much higher velocities for the same max load as shown in their on-line data. I do not think this applies to all calibers, but in some cases it is very significant. For example, .357 loads with BE-86 are typically shown with velocities about 400 fps over the on-line data!

So just an FYI - best to check their on-line data before you decide that a particular load is something you want to try. In my limited chrono testing of .357 loads from my 6.5" Blackhawk, the more conservative velocities shown in the on-line date appear realistic.

Another thing I don't like about the printed data is that they don't list the firearm or barrel length - something that is very important when you are looking for a specific velocity. For instance, some of the 357mag loads were shot from a 10" barrel, some from a 6" barrel. So, when looking at the listed velocities in the printed data, you are comparing apples-oranges.

 

[AnselHazen]

What distance were you shooting?

All my testing has been 10 yards through a Steyr L9-A1.

 

[trackforever]

Thanks. That is some nice shooting. I bought a pound of BE-86 a couple of weeks ago, and ordered some x-treme 145 RN this morning. Looking forward to trying these. Thanks for your time spent.

 

[trackforever]

corrected 147 RN

 

[AnselHazen]

I've ordered RMR 147gr hardcore match to try. I'll put em head to head with the X-Treme I have been using for these tests.

 

[sellersm]

I've ordered RMR 147gr hardcore match to try. I'll put em head to head with the X-Treme I have been using for these tests.

I bet you will like them.

 

[AnselHazen]

Oh, no doubts about RMR at all.

What I'm really curious about is a batch coming from Eggleston Munitions. I bought a sampler pack of 150 147gr RN coated that I want to add to the BE-86 testing.

 

[mjtripper]

I finished up the load testing with the bullets I had on hand and be86. Here it is if useful. The hap and montana gold bullets seem to be interchangeable which is cool. The cases were all federal and the primers cci. The 147gr berry are revolver loads and I wouldn't recommend even trying that in an auto. The thick plate hollow base berry bullets didn't seem to work as well as the others for me but the normal target hollow point and the round nose 147gr seem to be pretty good. The hap and montana gold did work a little better then everything else though and grouped tighter. Your mileage may very, don't use with working up, yada yada yada, blah blah blah

Bullet Charge COAL AVG ES SD
HAP 125gr 5.6 1.080 1164 64 23
HAP 125gr 5.4 1.080 1104 30 11
HAP 125gr 5.2 1.080 1079 57 20
HAP 125gr 5.0 1.080 1053 35 12
HAP 125gr 4.9 1.080 1032 40 13
HAP 125gr 4.8 1.080 1026 61 25
Berry 147gr 3.6 1.160 763 30 10
Berry 147gr 3.4 1.160 719 76 24
Berry 147gr 3.3 1.160 686 22 9
Berry 147gr 3.2 1.160 659 40 13
Berry 124gr HBFPTP 5.0 1.060 1012 66 26
Berry 124gr HBFPTP 4.9 1.060 1005 44 17
Berry 124gr HBFPTP 4.7 1.060 944 35 13
Berry 124gr HBFPTP 4.5 1.060 929 58 24
Berry 124gr HBRNTP 4.9 1.160 961 52 19
Berry 124gr HBRNTP 4.7 1.160 911 45 20
Berry 124gr HBRNTP 4.5 1.160 880 57 22
Berry 124gr THP 4.9 1.060 972 30 11
Berry 124gr THP 4.7 1.060 946 35 12
Berry 124gr THP 4.5 1.060 912 36 12
Berry 124gr THP 5.1 1.060 997 9 5
MG 124gr JHP 4.9 1.080 1029 38 12

 

[vaalpens]

Interesting that you indicate that the thick plated Berry's did not work for you. Have you tried to increase the charge a bit?

Following is my preferred load for the HBFPTP bullets using BE-86

9mm, SIG SP2022, 3.9" barrel
Berrys, 124gr, HBFPTP
BE-86, 5.6gr, COL:1.060"
AVG: 1076fps
ES: 28
SD: 11.4
Grouping @ 15yards: .84"

 

[mjtripper]

More velocity might just solve it based on your data. I was trying to keep it around 1025 so I was above minimum power factor with a little wiggle room since I use a magneto speed and take it at the muzzle. Maybe the thick plate versions just need a little more speed. I have some left and might go back and revisit that.

 

[gonoles_1980]

My measured VMD is .1.02 (I always seem to be high with my Lee Perfect Powder), I use it with my copper plated extreme flat points 240gr 44 mag. I'm happy with it, wish I could get some more, I'm down to a 1/2 lb.

 

[alexcue]

That is interesting, I've shot both Xtreme and Bayou 124gr with BE-86 5.5gr and its shooting extremely well for me. I actually like the Bayou better as far as accuracy.

 

[splattergun]

More velocity might just solve it based on your data. I was trying to keep it around 1025 so I was above minimum power factor with a little wiggle room since I use a magneto speed and take it at the muzzle. Maybe the thick plate versions just need a little more speed. I have some left and might go back and revisit that.

This from berry's website;
Question: How fast can I shoot these bullets?


We guarantee our Standard Bullets to handle velocities up to 1,250 fps, and up to 1,500 fps for the bullets designated as TP (thick plated).

IME with Berry's the thick plated do improve with higher velocities.

 

[bbqreloader]

Soooo, picked up some BE 86 today to try and after reading the awesome amount of information in this thread, somewhat confused where to even start with the load?? I see that there is only one load listed in alliants data and none of the other books I have, Hornady, Lee, amd Lyman (all newer editions), have any data. So the only listed load is max, but even dropping that 10% doesn't even come close to what some people are loading at the low end.
So do you just keep dropping the charges after the initial test another 10% until the slide does not function, if I was not happy with the first test rounds, i.e. too snappy?
Planning on loading 9mm, 115 fmj, and 124 xtreme plated, OAL at 1.10.
45 data in the thread seems fairly consistent and might try 40SW