Does BE-86 render Power Pistol Obsolete?

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I was completely joking! No offense intended.

Thanks. I was kind of afraid maybe I was the one being offensive. In these times of want I am truly Blessed with plenty. A whole lot of really, really good people have made sure of that on my behalf.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Thanks. I was kind of afraid maybe I was the one being offensive. In these times of want I am truly Blessed with plenty. A whole lot of really, really good people have made sure of that on my behalf.

That’s how I feel too! When I got started in September 2019 a fellow I bought supplies from at the gun show told me to buy more than I thought I needed until I figured out what I was doing and because I’d need it eventually anyway. He’d also throw in extra at no cost just saying, “try this.” Much of what I’m still using is his “try this.”

I do have enough to last me a while, unfortunately partly because I can’t get to the range as often as I’d like. On the specific brand being discussed, I’m finishing up a pound of BE-86 as we speak and have two left. I like it a lot. I load by the pound…when I open one, I load 45ACP & 9mm in all sorts of combinations and permutations until it’s gone then move on to something else. Next up is HP-38.

 

[NWcityguy2]

No, but AA#7 did?

 

[CQB45ACP]

No, but AA#7 did?

Are you saying #7 renders PP obsolete so to speak?

I use #7 in my rotation but never PP. Until now I guess?

 

[BBarn]

I like both powders, but for my current loading I prefer Power Pistol. I use it mostly in medium pressure 125gr. 357 Mag. loads.

 

[NWcityguy2]

Are you saying #7 renders PP obsolete so to speak?

I use #7 in my rotation but never PP. Until now I guess?

I was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but AA#7 is a really good powder for pushing velocities in semi-auto cartridges without the drawbacks of PP (concussion, flash, supply).

 

[rfwobbly]

Apparently, the very first words trickling out of Alliant marketing (in early 2016 ?) was that "BE-86 was Power Pistol with a flash suppressant". While that may be chemically true, as others have said and demonstrated, the 2 powders don't shoot the same. They are 2 discrete powders.

I prefer the BE-86 version.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Unless I missed it, no one has mentioned this BE-86 sticky thread:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/be-86.760289/

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I still have 3lbs of Power Pistol and like it for really light loads in .357 mag because it downloads really well and still burns clean.
I also have about 10 lbs of BE-86 that I prefer over the Power Pistol.
I prefer it in .357 and 9mm both to PP.
Paul from Alliant told us in that thread that BE-86 was developed in 1986 and was only sold for factory loads up until they finally released it in canister grade in 2014 when I started that thread.

It is good stuff, no doubt about it.

 

[Palladan44]

I still have 3lbs of Power Pistol and like it for really light loads in .357 mag because it downloads really well and still burns clean.
I also have about 10 lbs of BE-86 that I prefer over the Power Pistol.
I prefer it in .357 and 9mm both to PP.
Paul from Alliant told us in that thread that BE-86 was developed in 1986 and was only sold for factory loads up until they finally released it in canister grade in 2014 when I started that thread.

It is good stuff, no doubt about it.

I agree, it seems to be the "Magic Powder" for 9mm and 40 S&W and a "darn good" powder for 45 ACP, 10mm, and just about all other Autos and wheel-calibers alike.

It's not a coincidence it has maximum energy potential for 9mm and 40 s&w, with the perfect case-fill for virtually fail-safe loading in these calibers, with the lot-to-lot consistency and flash suppressant to boot.... it's no wonder it was (and probably still is) the choice for commercial powders, where all of the above criteria is a prerequisite.