BE-86

[red rick]

My Sixth Edition has loads for 9mm, 9mm +P, 38 Spec and .38 +P, .357 mag, .40 S&W, and 10mm. It lacks data for .45 ACP and .45 Colt, though.

My mistake my Sierra book is the 5th edition , 6th printing . There is no BE-86 data in my book for any of the calibers that you listed . Time for me to update my reloading books .

 

[Charlie98]

Time for me to update my reloading books .

Every once in a while you have to bite the bullet and update! I just did so with both my Speer and Hornady manuals...

 

[red rick]

I just called Sierra and asked if I could buy the pages for the calibers that I am reloading since it’s in a binder and not bound like most books . They were very nice and told me that they don’t have pages to sell , but would email me the data on the calibers that I wanted data on .

 

[red rick]

I opened my email and I was surprised at their load data for BE-86 . It seems way off from everything thing else that I have seen on it , very low in comparison .

Do your own research and verify :

Sierra Load Data
Bullets :
124gr fmj v crown OAL 1.09
125gr fmj match 1.09
125gr jhp. 1.03
125gr jhp v crown 1.03
Start 3.7 @ 900 fps
Max 4.7 @ 1100 fps

Alliant Load Data
Bullets :
124gr Federal FMC max 5.8 L 1.12”
124gr Federal JHP max 5.9 oal 1.12

With my RMR and Xtreme 124 gr RN bullets , I was going to start at 5.2 gr OAL 1.14 and work up . I haven’t seen this much difference in load data before , usually Hornady is a little conservative . I see that the COAL is a lot less also in the Sierra data . Could that be the reason for the low charges ?

 

[2ndtimer]

I opened my email and I was surprised at their load data for BE-86 . It seems way off from everything thing else that I have seen on it , very low in comparison .

Do your own research and verify :

Sierra Load Data
Bullets :
124gr fmj v crown OAL 1.09
125gr fmj match 1.09
125gr jhp. 1.03
125gr jhp v crown 1.03
Start 3.7 @ 900 fps
Max 4.7 @ 1100 fps

Alliant Load Data
Bullets :
124gr Federal FMC max 5.8 L 1.12”
124gr Federal JHP max 5.9 oal 1.12

With my RMR and Xtreme 124 gr RN bullets , I was going to start at 5.2 gr OAL 1.14 and work up . I haven’t seen this much difference in load data before , usually Hornady is a little conservative . I see that the COAL is a lot less also in the Sierra data . Could that be the reason for the low charges ?

Yes. If you check the C.O.L. on the heavier charges listed in other data, you will see they generally list a longer overall length. Sierra lists their 125 JHP and V-Crown at just 1.03” overall length (hence their maximum loads are limited to that seating depth). While Speer lists their 124 gr bullet overall length at 1.125“ and 1.135”, with heavier powder charges. You do need to “plunk test” your loads in your barrel to ensure they will feed right at the overall length you choose.

 

[red rick]

Yes I do that .

 

[Beancounter81]

I suppose you could say I like BE-86 as well. I've burned 23 lbs of it so far and the FedEx man just dropped off another 8 lb jug about an hour ago.

 

[red rick]

I suppose you could say I like BE-86 as well. I've burned 23 lbs of it so far and the FedEx man just dropped off another 8 lb jug about an hour ago.

What calibers are you using it in ?

 

[Beancounter81]

What calibers are you using it in ?

So far I've only used it in 9mm as I had other powders on hand for .45, .357 and .44.

 

[savagemann]

I've found with the Speer Gold Dot and the Sierra V-Crown 124gr bullets, 5.6gr, both at 1.125" oal, was a sweet spot for me.
1185fps avg out of a Glock 17. That OAL was also good in my Sig P365.
With the RMR Nuke 124gr bullets, I found they needed to be a much shorter OAL. I seem to remember settling on 1.07" and the same charge of 5.6gr felt pretty hot.
I need to work that back up and was planning on starting at 5.2gr.

 

[bullseye308]

I suppose you could say I like BE-86 as well. I've burned 23 lbs of it so far and the FedEx man just dropped off another 8 lb jug about an hour ago.

You have me beat, I’m only at #20 so far, all in 9mm.

 

[Lee Q. Loader]

I too, love the stuff in 9mm. I bought, and still have a ton of the old RMR 124 "multi purpose" hollow points. They are very good bullets, but don't expand reliably, but BE-86 will push them fast and accurately.
Also, after being ready to give up, I finally found some good loads with BE-86 in 44 mag with a 240 LCSW. I found that it really needs to be a stout load to produce accuracy. Down loading for mild loads didn't work at all for me.

 

[geo57]

I used Unique for many decades in loads that favored it but am a fairly recent BE-86 convert. So far I'm sure liking it in somewhat less than full throttle .357 mag loads and for later, slightly reduced from original ballistics level .45 Colt.