9mm and Alliant BE-86 Chronograph Results

[JeffG]

There has seemed to be a lack of information on BE-86 usage on the forum. I had been looking for the powder for the 1-2 years it has been advertised with no luck then happened on a LGS that had a good supply of it 2-3 weeks ago so picked up a couple pounds. The charge listed on Alliant website for a 120 LRN is 5.7 gr for about 1175 fps.

I loaded up some rounds with a 5.3 gr under a 356-120-TC lubed with Lyman Alox lube, sized to .357, seated to 1.07", and put a couple strings over the chronograph today. The loads were dropped in the case via a Hornady case activated powder measure, and I checked a couple to ensure they were within .1 gr on the scale. Mixed brass that is on load 10 was used. My 'seat of pants' feel was these rounds had some steam behind them. Here are the numbers, which appear to confirm the feeling.

String 1
Low = 1115
High = 1161
Av = 1136
ES = 45.78
SD = 13.11
1 = 1161
2 = 1140
3 = 1149
4 = 1139
5 = 1130
6 = 1129
7 = 1133
8 = 1145
9 = 1125
10 = 1115

Hope this is useful to folks that might be looking at BE-86. It burned pretty darn clean, leaving just a little burnt powder residue.

[tazman]

What gun/ barrel length did you fire them in?
Did you test them for accuracy?

[JeffG]

It was a S&W SD9VE which I guess has about a 4" barrel. I was just shooting at some steel 6" swinging targets about 25-30 yards away. It was hitting a little higher than normal. I've yet to shoot them for accuracy.

Take care


What gun/ barrel length did you fire them in?
Did you test them for accuracy?

[tazman]

Sounds like the load is working pretty well then.

[FergusonTO35]

Wow, that sounds really good. How hard are your boolits do you think? I find that plain old range scrap is hard enough for my 9mm loads.

[MtGun44]

Sounds good, thanks for taking the time to report on this relatively new powder.

[khmer6]

I'm still sore for kicking myself in the **** for not picking up 16# of this stuff a few weeks ago. Great to see some real life results!! It seems to be a great powder and economical as well

[JeffG]

Don't know the exact hardness. They are just coww with 2-3 percent tin, age hardened several weeks.


Wow, that sounds really good. How hard are your boolits do you think? I find that plain old range scrap is hard enough for my 9mm loads.

[JeffG]

You bet, thank you for all the good information you have posted. I have learned much from it.


Sounds good, thanks for taking the time to report on this relatively new powder.