Be86 and rmr 124gr tcfp

[Big-bore-bob]

Hi all, my powder supplier was out of power pistol so I picked up a pound of be86, I currently have cci 500 primers, starline brass, rmr 124gr matchwinners. I'm running 1.10-1.103 coal and 5.2gr power pistol currently. Anyone using this be86 combo? Experiences? I'm looking for at least minor power factor for uspsa, but cleanliness and accuracy are important too.

 

[LiveLife]

be86 ... rmr 124gr matchwinners ... 1.10-1.103 coal and 5.2gr power pistol currently.

looking for at least minor power factor for uspsa

From 2023 Alliant Reloader's Guide - https://www.alliantpowder.com/resou...iantPowderReloadersGuide_SinglePgsNoCrops.pdf

• 9mm 124 gr FMC BE-86 COL 1.120" Max 5.8 gr (1167 fps)
• 9mm 124 gr Federal JHP BE-86 COL 1.120" Max 5.9 (1175 fps)

Power Pistol and BE-86 load data from Speer - https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/handgun/9mm_Luger__124_rev1.pdf

• 9mm 124 gr Speer TMJ BE 86 COL 1.135" Start 5.4 gr (1124 fps) - Max 6.0 gr (1199 fps)
• 9mm 124 gr Speer TMJ Power Pistol COL 1.135" Start 5.6 gr (1033 fps) - Max 6.4 gr (1157 fps)

Since you are using 5.2 gr of Power Pistol and making minor PF (Likely from deeper seating depth), you likely will produce power factor with 5.2 gr of BE-86 as well (Maybe even with 4.8 - 5.0 gr) as you only need 1008 fps for 125 PF and 1048 fps for 130 PF with 124 gr bullet.

cleanliness and accuracy are important too.

I tested Bullseye, Clays, WST, Titegroup, W231/HP-38, Universal, WSF, HS-6 for my USPSA loads in the 90s for 9mm/40S&W/45ACP and WST consistently produced smallest 9mm groups - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...er-target-published-load-data-for-9mm.870180/

Since, I have tested many other powders and BE-86 is pretty accurate and clean burning as well. (Buzz is BE-86 is OEM powder used for premium JHP ammunition for decades ... Think Speer/Federal premium ammunition )

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Thanks for the help LiveLife! Is 4.8gr a pretty good start load for my coal? 5.2gr power pistol at 1.10 coal gave me 1.17in group at 20yds. I'd like that sort of accuracy but it's not too important for uspsa. I'm looking for a bulk target/ uspsa minor load for all three of my 9mm sigs with this powder.

 

[LiveLife]

4.8gr a pretty good start load for my coal?

You could start at 4.6 gr and see what the load chrono at and go from there while watching accuracy trends.

And to help with accuracy, I would use .378" taper crimp to not squish the bullet as RMR sizes their 9mm bullets to around .3555" (.3555" + .011" + .011" = .3775" ~ .378")

And be sure to use headstamp brass that won't produce any bullet setback to maintain more consistent chamber pressures - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...neck-tension-and-bullet-setback.830072/page-4

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I use 5.3 gr of BE-86 as one of my go to loads for target shooting with my Q5 SF Pro. My OAL is 1.1 and I've found good is accuracy with it in all my 9mms.
That was with 124 gr Matchwinners and 124gr Xtreme plated TC bullets.


Like LiveLife said to do, sort your brass for headstamps also, it does help.

 

[rfwobbly]

Just to reinforce what LiveLife said... BE-86 is a favorite of mine too. Not my first choice for Minor PF but proabably up to the task just the same. It's going to be slightly slower burning than a typical competition powder, and that's the unknown. However the accuracy is there for you. Use it with confidence with 124gr or 147gr.

The only thing I know "wrong" with BE-86 is that every time I buy a can, I get giddy, and then all of a sudden... the can is empty.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll start low and work up my loads for the weekend testing session. I'll update with my results. Happy shooting!

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Results are in, I tested 4.6, 4.8, 5.0, 5.2 be86, 124gr matchwinners, gfl brass, cci 500, coal 1.10, crimp .377. Tested at 10yds from the bench.

4.6gr be86, Avg 1015, SD 13.1, ES 39, hi 1037, lo 998.

4.8gr be86, Avg 1074, SD 6.3, ES 19, hi 1085, lo 1066.

5.0gr be86, Avg 1107, SD 11.3, ES 32, hi 1123, lo 1091.

5.2gr be86, Avg 1146, SD 15.1, ES 49, hi 1158, lo 1109.

I found the 4.8gr charge to be the most accurate from my p226, it shot poa-poi, 5.0 and 5.2 also did good but I had some fliers, I'm pretty sure they were my fault.
How do these numbers look compared to anyone else's testing? These were 10 shot groups, the one with the two fliers was 5.2gr, the other was 4.8gr.

 

[LiveLife]

You could start at 4.6 gr and see what the load chrono at and go from there while watching accuracy trends.

Results are in ... found the 4.8gr charge to be the most accurate from my p226, it shot poa-poi, 5.0 and 5.2 also did good but I had some fliers

How do these numbers look compared to anyone else's testing?

Nice. They are in line with Brian Enos forum BE-86 thread results.

Thanks for the range report.

 

[rfwobbly]

Lower your front sight and you have it !

Thanks for the follow-up report.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Lower your front sight and you have it !

I actually used a 6 o'clock hold to try to get a more precise point of aim, the sights are the x-ray night sights set up for combat sight picture, so I think they'll shoot where I'm aiming with the proper sight picture. I guess I'll see next weekend. Thanks again everyone for taking the time to share your knowledge! Happy shooting!

 

[longdayjake]

You've stumbled upon my favorite bullet combination. Unfortunately, my experience with BE86 is that it is not a clean powder. However, it is my favorite powder anyway. I can get some crazy velocities from it without really trying. But you don't have to push it hard if you don't want to. My load for the 124 is 1.12 with anywhere from 5.3-5.7 grains. It just depends on what I feel like for velocity.

 

[joneb]

I load the RMR MW 124gr TCFP for a Sig 938 using CCI 500 and 5.2-5.3gr of BE-86 at a COL of 1.10" and it works very well. I've loaded COL's down to 1.075" with poor results.

 

[KYregular]

Hi all, my powder supplier was out of power pistol so I picked up a pound of be86, I currently have cci 500 primers, starline brass, rmr 124gr matchwinners. I'm running 1.10-1.103 coal and 5.2gr power pistol currently. Anyone using this be86 combo? Experiences? I'm looking for at least minor power factor for uspsa, but cleanliness and accuracy are important too.

dont have anything for 124MW but here's a few using BE86:

124 Speer Gold Dot
5.9 grains (near max load)
1.120 oal
FC Brass
1225 fps
SD 12

125 RMR plated round nose
5.1 grains
1.130 oal
FC brass
1102 fps
SD14

135 RMR MW
4.7 grains
1.090 oal
Win brass
1030 fps
SD11

FWIW BE86 is probably my favorite powder for 9mm and 45. Consistent, clean, low flash. Burn rate between Unique and Power Pistol. Hope this helps

 

[Big-bore-bob]

My load for the 124 is 1.12 with anywhere from 5.3-5.7 grains

I read around 1.10ish was ideal for these bullets, but mabye I should load a bit Longer? I just plunked at 1.10 in my sig classic p series but I didn't try plunking a longer coal.

 

[KYregular]

I read around 1.10ish was ideal for these bullets, but mabye I should load a bit Longer? I just plunked at 1.10 in my sig classic p series but I didn't try plunking a longer coal.

I always like to see how long each new bullet will plunk and work back from there. I don't like to push pistol bullets out to far, so I try to find a happy medium.

 

[LiveLife]

rmr 124gr matchwinner ... I read around 1.10ish was ideal for these bullets, but mabye I should load a bit Longer? I just plunked at 1.10 in my sig classic p series but I didn't try plunking a longer coal.

I always like to see how long each new bullet will plunk and work back from there. I don't like to push pistol bullets out to far, so I try to find a happy medium.

Max/working OAL depends on your barrel/leade length - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...col-for-reference.848462/page-2#post-12249361

• Glock 22, KKM 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 124 gr FP MW: 1.150"
• M&P Shield 9mm - RMR 124 gr FP MW: 1.140"
• Glock 22, Tactical Kinetics 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 124 gr FP MW: 1.095"
• M&P Shield 9mm EZ - RMR 124 gr FMJ-FN: 1.090"
• Glock 23, Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 124 gr FP MW: 1.085"
• Taurus PT-809 - RMR 124 gr FMJ-FN 1.080"

 

[lordpaxman]

I read around 1.10ish was ideal for these bullets, but mabye I should load a bit Longer? I just plunked at 1.10 in my sig classic p series but I didn't try plunking a longer coal.

You should at least find your max COL in all your barrels so you know how far you can go. My American Sigs allow over 1.200” while the German variety are much shorter. To mitigate recoil and make minor PF, the fastest powder at the longest COL is advised.
Based on your targets, I’d say let the games begin! Good luck with the match!