BE-86 for .44 Special

[TXTad]

I just took advantage of the opportunity to pay too much for some Bullseye, BE-86, and 2400 from Powder Valley. At least they have it in stock. I know what to do with the Bullseye and 2400, but I would have rather have gotten some Unique. I still have a good amount of Unique, but I want to go easy on it until I know I can get more.

My biggest use for Unique currently is Skeeter loads for .44 Special and real .38 Special +P loads.

Looking at the burn rate chart, it seems that .44 Special Skeeter loads could be duplicated with BE-86. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

[376Steyr]

No experience, but I have thoughts. The Alliant Powder website shows a load of 6.7 grs of BE-86 with a 240 Lead RNFP: https://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...2&bulletid=446

The Alliant site also has a list for loads with the 250 gr cast Keith, but without a BE-86 load: https://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...32&bulletid=47

Looking at the Alliant load for 44 MAGNUM, with the 240 lead RNFP, a lot more BE-86 is used.

In my guns, I would be comfortable starting with 6.7 grs of BE-86 and a 250 Keith and slowing creeping upwards. I wouldn't load a charge exceeding 8.0 grains until I had tested my experimental loads.
That's what I'd do, your mileage may vary, be safe, etc.

[Kosh75287]

I used BE-86 with data for Unique, and desired results are usually within 0.2 gr. Like Unique, BE-86 usually gives best results when pushed hard.

[bimus]

I like BE-86 in 45 ACP +P loads with 200 or 230 grain cast bullets that run very nicely in a UZI I don't use these rounds in my other 45 pistols .

[TXTad]

No experience, but I have thoughts. The Alliant Powder website shows a load of 6.7 grs of BE-86 with a 240 Lead RNFP: https://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...2&bulletid=446

The Alliant site also has a list for loads with the 250 gr cast Keith, but without a BE-86 load: https://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...32&bulletid=47

Looking at the Alliant load for 44 MAGNUM, with the 240 lead RNFP, a lot more BE-86 is used.

In my guns, I would be comfortable starting with 6.7 grs of BE-86 and a 250 Keith and slowing creeping upwards. I wouldn't load a charge exceeding 8.0 grains until I had tested my experimental loads.
That's what I'd do, your mileage may vary, be safe, etc.

This is more or less my plan. I've never chronographed my Skeeter loads, but will do that soon and then ease up on the BE-86 until I get to the same velocity. I expect this should be safe since BE-86 is slower than Unique. I'm not really looking to go faster than 7.5 gr of Unique.

[TXTad]

I used BE-86 with data for Unique, and desired results are usually within 0.2 gr. Like Unique, BE-86 usually gives best results when pushed hard.

I've seen a little bit of conflicting info, but the majority of it seems to match your observation here.

[Chill Wills]

Any idea what the pressure is for a 7.5grn Unique load pushing a 240 or 250 grn SWC?

I have 3" barreled 44 Specials and one 4-5/8 SAA. I have not ever tried this much Unique but can imagine it is a handful.
My RCBS mold for the "K" casts heavy at 265 to 270 depending on alloy.
I may have to try it in my Ruger SBH first.

[TXTad]

Any idea what the pressure is for a 7.5grn Unique load pushing a 240 or 250 grn SWC?

I have 3" barreled 44 Specials and one 4-5/8 SAA. I have not ever tried this much Unique but can imagine it is a handful.
My RCBS mold for the "K" casts heavy at 265 to 270 depending on alloy.
I may have to try it in my Ruger SBH first.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post4910451

[Chill Wills]

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post4910451

Thanks for the link. I had forgotten all about this thread.

[TXTad]

Thanks for the link. I had forgotten all about this thread.

You're welcome!

I have fired several different loads of 7.5 gr Unique underneath various bullets weighing around 240 to 250 gr in my 5.5" flat top and they all feel mild.

Most go through my 5.5" Ruger flat top.

[bimus]

In a 45 colt 7.3 grains of Unique with a 250 grain cast bullet with a 4 3/4 barrel chronograph at 639 and 609 FPS .
The same load with a 7 1/2 barrel chronograph at 718 and 734 FPS.