BE-86

[Low Left]

Oh, How rude of me not introducing myself first! I am new to this forum but a regular on others and from what I have read so far on THR forums it seems like a good group of respectful and knowledgeable people. Thanks for letting me come aboard the THR!!

 

[Walkalong]

Welcome.

 

[Jonesy814]

I have been loading the made in house RMR 124gr FMJ's with 5.3 gr of BE86 with an OAL of 1.135. They are very accurate and clean burning. I don't have a chronograph but recoil feels like factory ammo with brass flung about 6 feet. I have shot them in my Shield, SR9c and SD9VE and really like the way they shoot in all 3

 

[Low Left]

I have been loading the made in house RMR 124gr FMJ's with 5.3 gr of BE86 with an OAL of 1.135. They are very accurate and clean burning. I don't have a chronograph but recoil feels like factory ammo with brass flung about 6 feet. I have shot them in my Shield, SR9c and SD9VE and really like the way they shoot in all 3

I like that RMR 124 gr RN a lot, had a bunch but I'm running low now and hoping for a sale in the next month or two.

 

[gojones]

Yep, I probably need a chrony. The 40 is a bit more finicky and requires more attention than my trusty 38 & 357. Or maybe there is just much more data out there for my bullets and powder those other calibers.

 

[bbqreloader]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/be-86-w-rmr-115-gr-fmjs-9mm.820411/#post-10572889
more BE 86 info. For RMR 115 FMJ 9mm

 

[OilyPablo]

10mm - I'm going to try this soon. For a (generic) 180gr JHP. I use HAP 180gr. The fascinating part is not the nice velocity, but rather the 1.250" min. Most everyone except Alliant say 1.260" min. I think I will start at 1.260", or rather 1.255-1.260".

Minimum OAL (inches) = 1.25

Charge Weight(grains) = 8.2 gr

Velocity (fps) = 1,256

For the record these ran my 10mm AR just fine.

 

[bbqreloader]

and here's some more data I was able to accumulate today.. Please note the last two tests, SPP and LPP. 40 M&P Full Size, and Sig P220 (45) used, stock weapons.

Description: 40 BE86
Notes 1: 6.4gr
Notes 2: RMR
Distance to Chrono(FT): 10.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 165.00
Temp: N/A °F
BP: N/A inHg
Altitude: 5619
# FPS FT-LBS PF
13 955 334.20 157.57
12 971 345.49 160.21
11 953 332.80 157.24
10 944 326.55 155.76
9 939 323.10 154.93
8 984 354.80 162.36
6 975 348.34 160.88
5 940 323.78 155.10
4 961 338.41 158.57
1 966 341.94 159.39
Average: 958.8 FPS
SD: 15.3 FPS
Min: 939 FPS
Max: 984 FPS
Spread: 45 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.7


Description: 45 ACP BE86
Notes 1:
Notes 2: 6.7gr
Distance to Chrono(FT): 10.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 185.00
Temp: 85 °F
BP: 30.00 inHg
Altitude: 5619
# FPS FT-LBS PF
10 764 239.81 141.34
9 711 207.70 131.54
8 730 218.94 135.05
7 715 210.04 132.27
6 709 206.53 131.16
5 727 217.15 134.49
4 744 227.42 137.64
3 695 198.45 128.57
2 733 220.75 135.60
1 724 215.36 133.94
Average: 725.2 FPS
SD: 19.5 FPS
Min: 695 FPS
Max: 764 FPS
Spread: 69 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.3

Description: 45 BE86
Notes 1: SPP CCI
Notes 2: 6.3gr
Distance to Chrono(FT): 10.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 200.00
Temp: N/A °F
BP: N/A inHg
Altitude: 5619
# FPS FT-LBS PF
10 760 256.55 152.00
9 725 233.46 145.00
8 683 207.20 136.60
7 750 249.84 150.00
6 744 245.86 148.80
5 721 230.90 144.20
4 764 259.26 152.80
3 696 215.16 139.20
2 690 211.47 138.00
1 736 240.60 147.20
Average: 726.9 FPS
SD: 29.2 FPS
Min: 683 FPS
Max: 764 FPS
Spread: 81 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.2


Description: 45 BE86
Notes 1: LPP CCI
Notes 2: 6.3gr
Distance to Chrono(FT): 10.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 200.00
Temp: 85 °F
BP: 29.98 inHg
Altitude: 5619
# FPS FT-LBS PF
10 735 239.95 147.00
9 673 201.18 134.60
8 683 207.20 136.60
7 714 226.43 142.80
6 722 231.54 144.40
5 707 222.02 141.40
4 703 219.51 140.60
3 730 236.70 146.00
2 734 239.30 146.80
1 711 224.54 142.20
Average: 711.2 FPS
SD: 20.8 FPS
Min: 673 FPS
Max: 735 FPS
Spread: 62 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.2

 

[peterk1234]

Is anyone using a lighter load than the following?

9MM
1.130 OAL
4.7 gr BE 86
124gr coated conehead

Thanks Pete

 

[1KPerDay]

no but that's close to the load I settled on for MBC smallball... I tried the "recommended" LRN loads up to 5.7 but they felt like +p+. 5.1 was okay.

4.8 be-86, smallball, 1.067" (for my SIGs only... will not chamber in glock or M&P. Very accurate.

was thinking of trying a tad lighter still.

 

[DeadEye9]

Has anyone tried BE-86 yet and what did you think of it?

I see their lots of data for it now if you look up BE-86 on Alliants site, then go to the bottom of the page and click on "View Recipes".

I just bought 2 pounds of it yesterday and can't wait to try it. It seems a little hotter than Power Pistol according to the load data, I wonder if the flash suppressant has warmed it up a little.

Alliant told me yesterday that they "dribbled some out there to get it in our hands and they hope it catches on".

I know we used to call Power Pistol BE-84 so I expect this should be Power Pistol with a flame retardant added. I dumped a little of both together and they are virtually identical in appearance but they do not interchange as far as data goes.

I'm wondering how it will do at maximum load with the flame retardant added, as far as stability goes. It seems to be close to the same burn rate as Unique and Universal, right in the middle of my favorite area. As long as they got rid of the bright white obnoxious flash I going to be a happy man since I haven't seen Universal for over a year.
I may stop at my LGS tonight on the way home from work and buy another 2 lbs if they have any left. I think they will because most people have never heard of it so they'll pass it by.

I have just started using BE-86 over the past 6 months or so for .223/5.56, .308, and some experimentation with .300 Savage. While a good powder overall, one thing I noticed early was that it is definitely temperature sensitive. I originally purchased a couple lbs to try when the local stores were out of Varget and I was low at home so wanted to try it out. So far I've worked up quite a few ladders and had good results with most strings. Velocities are good, accuracy is good, it loads/meters well and shoots clean. Can't really ask for much more, except as mentioned I've experienced notable velocity changes from cold to hot days. Other than that it's a very useful and versatile powder.

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I have just started using BE-86 over the past 6 months or so for .223/5.56, .308, and some experimentation with .300 Savage. While a good powder overall, one thing I noticed early was that it is definitely temperature sensitive. I originally purchased a couple lbs to try when the local stores were out of Varget and I was low at home so wanted to try it out. So far I've worked up quite a few ladders and had good results with most strings. Velocities are good, accuracy is good, it loads/meters well and shoots clean. Can't really ask for much more, except as mentioned I've experienced notable velocity changes from cold to hot days. Other than that it's a very useful and versatile powder.

Surprised to see you using it in Rifle loads. BE-86 is originally designed it to be a pistol powder. If you can please provide as much data as possible on your reloads for rifle using BE-86, interested to hear what it can do. Have any Chrono data?

LeftyTSGC

 

[Walkalong]

Surprised to see you using it in Rifle loads.

Yes, BE-86 isn't suited for a Varget substitute. DE9 must be thinking of another powder.

 

[eo1bart]

Is anyone using a lighter load than the following?

9MM
1.130 OAL
4.7 gr BE 86
124gr coated conehead

Thanks Pete

That's the exact load I've been using this year. Gets me 1,070fps from a Beretta 92A1

 

[OilyPablo]

I have just started using BE-86 over the past 6 months or so for .223/5.56, .308, and some experimentation with .300 Savage.r.

Please check that.

 

[peterk1234]

I just loaded some 9mm, 124 grain powder coated cone head, OAL of 1.120 (had shorten the bullet for a new gun), with 4.4 grains of BE86. Great accuracy with minimal recoil in an STI APeiro. Going to load up a bunch and let it rip tomorrow. This is way below the recommended max on the Alliant site (5.7 gr). I am thinking that this powder has a fairly wide range. I can't believe how low of a charge I am getting away with.

 

[santacruzdave]

Here are my lightest BE-86 Loads with RMR's MPR-HP 124gr. Cycled just fine.
Description: 9mm 4.4gr be86
Notes 1: Range Brass, COL = 1.06
Notes 2: XD-9 Tactical 5".
Distance to Chrono (FT): 12.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight (gr): 124.000
Altitude (FT): 0.0
Temp: 72 °F
BP: 30.07 inHG
Shots
# FPS FT-LBS PF
9 958 252.74 118.79
8 988 268.81 122.51
7 1004 277.59 124.50
6 983 266.10 121.89
5 1002 276.49 124.25
4 969 258.57 120.16
3 1006 278.70 124.74
2 1022 287.63 126.73
1 1017 284.83 126.11
Average: 994.33
StdDev: 21.50
Min: 958
Max: 1022
Spread: 64
True MV: 994.33
Shots/sec: 0.19

 

[jell-dog]

santacrusdave,
What COL are you using?
Thanks!
JD

 

[santacruzdave]

santacrusdave,
What COL are you using?
Thanks!
JD

COL = 1.06

 

[joneb]

I've been playing around with BE-86 a little, so far I like it.
Here are some results for a Remington R-1 commander
bbl 4.25"
bullet, X-treme 45 acp plated 200 gr RN
col, 1.263"
case, Win.
primer, GM-150
charge, 7.2 gr BE-86
average velocity (av), 934 fps
extreme spread (es), 24 fps
Standard deviation (sd), 9
X 7
muzzle energy (me) 387 ft lbs
For me this was a accurate and clean load that functioned well in my pistol, lighter charges of BE-86 did not do as well.

And for a S&W 696 nd 44 spl.
bbl, 3"
bullet, Penn 205 gr .430" lead PBTCFP, bhn 12
crimped to groove, medium
case, Starline, trim length 1.148"
primer, WLP
charge, 7.2 gr BE-86
av, 917 fps
es, 22 fps
sd, 10
X 5
me, 383 ft lbs
This load was accurate and clean there was no leading. This BE-86 load produced similar results as all else being the same except for 9.2 gr of Accurate # 5 with a (av) of 912 fps, (es) of 27 fps, (sd) of 9, (me) 379 ft lbs.

 

[dtwalters]

Does anyone load Lehigh Defense 50 grain Xtreme Cavitator bullets in .32 ACP with BE-86? If so, I would appreciate your load suggestions. TIA, DTW

 

[Bill Siler]

I just purchased some BE 86 and 9MM 124 and 147 RN Extreme Copper plated bullets. Was wondering what others have been doing with this combo or what a good starting point would be. Charge and COL if you have it.

Thanks

 

[Taroman]

TCFP 147 BE86 GR 4.5 LO 908 HI 958 AVG 939 ES 38 SD 15.30 LOA 1.1"

 

[LiveLife]

 

[mamanes]

I’ve been using 5.0 gr of BE-86 behind RMR 124 gr JHPs witH a COAL of 1.075. Of course the JHPs are shorter than the round nose. This is a medium load and I’ve been able to reload WIN brass 13 times so far and it still seems in good shape! I don’t have any chrono data but it appears to be a good load. I started with 4.3 gr (with occasional FTEs) up to 5.8 gr (which showed pressure signs).