Alliant BE-86 with 9mm 147grain Berry's RN - Test Data

[Auslander]

With powder supplies still being tight, most everyone is having to experiment to develop replacements for their pet loads.  In my case, I happened upon a 8# container of Alliant BE-86.  On this site, I've seen some data in regards to lighter projectiles with 9mm & BE-86.  Figured I'd share.  With 147gn projectiles, I like to stay around 50 FPS lower in my practice loads than the 147gn Federal HST load I carry.  Similar recoil and cadence.  I'll probably drop down 1/10th of a grain.  HST data is included at the bottom.   

I found that the BE-86 meters very consistently in my Dillion powder measure, but found I have to throw more test charges when dialing in the equipment.  With VV and the Winchester powders I've been using, I normally have to throw 5-6 charges between adjustments for the measure to settle in.  For one reason or another the BE-86 seemed to take about 10 test charges before they settled down.  Seems to burn clean but pressure/velocity jumps quickly as you begin to fill the case.  I ran some 4.7gn loads.  The first few were all over the place and when I had one register at 1045fps, I stopped and pulled those apart.  4.5gn is about as hot as I want to tempt.

In my experience, the Berry's and X-Treme 147gn heavy plate projectiles perform very close to one another so I began with X-Treme's load.  Worked up from there.  Overall, I like the powder in 9mm.   

9mm Luger (Alliant Data)                        
Projectile   Powder   Primer   OAL   Grains   Velocity   10% reduction   Theoretical  VEL   
115-gr Federal FMC   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.120   6.1   1219   5.5   1097.1   
115-gr Federal JHP   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.120   6.3   1238   5.7   1114.2   
124-gr Federal FMC   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.120   5.8   1167   5.2   1050.3   
124-gr Federal JHP   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.120   5.9   1175   5.3   1057.5   
125-gr Cast RN   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.120   5.7   1179   5.1   1061.1   
147-gr Federal JHP   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.120   5.1   1020   4.6   918   
147-gr FP Federal   BE-86   Fed. 100   1.080   4.7   999   4.2   899.1   
                        
X-Treme Data                        
124-gr FMJ   BE-86      1.14   5.6   1170   N/A      
124-gr HPCB RN   BE-86      1.15   4.7   1052   N/A      
147-gr HPCB RN   BE-86      1.15   3.9   896   N/A      
147-gr RN   BE-86      1.15   3.9   907   N/A      
                        
Weapon:  CZ75BD                        
Powder:  Alliant BE-86                        
Case:  Federal 9mm                        
Primer:  CCI 500                        
Projectile:  Berrys 147gn RN                        
OAL:  1.150+/-                        
                        
                        
Name   4.5gn BE-86 (61F)                     
Notes   N/A                     
Number of Shots   10                     
Extreme Spread   17                     
Average   980                     
Standard Deviation   6                     
Power Factor Average   144                     
Power Factor Low   142                     
Power Factor High   145                     
                        
Shot List   Index   Velocity   Temperature   Barometric Pressure   Bullet Weight   Ft/lbs   Power Factor   Date
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   1   983   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   315.38   145   12/31/2021 14:43
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   2   979   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   312.82   144   12/31/2021 14:43
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   3   979   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   312.82   144   12/31/2021 14:45
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   4   972   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   308.36   143   12/31/2021 14:46
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   5   973   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   308.99   143   12/31/2021 14:46
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   6   988   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   318.59   145   12/31/2021 14:46
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   7   976   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   310.9   143   12/31/2021 14:46
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   8   989   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   319.24   145   12/31/2021 14:46
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   9   987   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   317.95   145   12/31/2021 14:47
4.5gn BE-86 (61F)   10   979   61F   30.0 in Hg   147   312.82   144   12/31/2021 14:47
                        
Name   4.5gn BE-86 (43F)                     
Notes   N/A                     
Number of Shots   10                     
Extreme Spread   53                     
Average   973                     
Standard Deviation   15                     
Power Factor Average   143                     
Power Factor Low   138                     
Power Factor High   146                     
                        
Shot List   Index   Velocity   Temperature   Barometric Pressure   Bullet Weight   Ft/lbs   Power Factor   Date
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   1   970   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   307.09   143   12/25/2021 15:30
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   2   973   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   308.99   143   12/25/2021 15:31
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   3   978   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   312.18   144   12/25/2021 15:31
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   4   985   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   316.66   145   12/25/2021 15:31
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   5   998   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   325.08   147   12/25/2021 15:31
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   6   979   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   312.82   144   12/25/2021 15:31
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   7   952   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   295.8   140   12/25/2021 15:32
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   8   981   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   314.1   144   12/25/2021 15:32
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   9   945   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   291.47   139   12/25/2021 15:33
4.5gn BE-86 (43F)   10   977   43F   30.3 in Hg   147   311.54   144   12/25/2021 15:33
                        
Name   4.3gn BE-86                     
Notes   N/A                     
Number of Shots   10                     
Extreme Spread   27                     
Average   916                     
Standard Deviation   9                     
Power Factor Average   134                     
Power Factor Low   132                     
Power Factor High   136                     
                        
Shot List   Index   Velocity   Temperature   Barometric Pressure   Bullet Weight   Ft/lbs   Power Factor   Date
4.3gn BE-86   1   901   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   264.96   132   12/23/2021 13:56
4.3gn BE-86   2   924   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   278.66   136   12/23/2021 13:56
4.3gn BE-86   3   927   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   280.47   136   12/23/2021 13:56
4.3gn BE-86   4   913   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   272.06   134   12/23/2021 13:56
4.3gn BE-86   5   913   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   272.06   134   12/23/2021 13:56
4.3gn BE-86   6   917   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   274.45   135   12/23/2021 13:56
4.3gn BE-86   7   925   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   279.26   136   12/23/2021 13:57
4.3gn BE-86   8   900   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   264.37   132   12/23/2021 13:57
4.3gn BE-86   9   917   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   274.45   135   12/23/2021 13:57
4.3gn BE-86   10   923   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   278.05   136   12/23/2021 13:57
                        
Name   4.1gn BE-86                     
Notes   N/A                     
Number of Shots   10                     
Extreme Spread   51                     
Average   881                     
Standard Deviation   14                     
Power Factor Average   129                     
Power Factor Low   125                     
Power Factor High   132                     
                        
Shot List   Index   Velocity   Temperature   Barometric Pressure   Bullet Weight   Ft/lbs   Power Factor   Date
4.1gn BE-86   1   852   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   236.92   125   12/23/2021 13:53
4.1gn BE-86   2   881   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   253.32   130   12/23/2021 13:53
4.1gn BE-86   3   892   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   259.69   131   12/23/2021 13:53
4.1gn BE-86   4   884   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   255.05   130   12/23/2021 13:53
4.1gn BE-86   5   903   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   266.13   133   12/23/2021 13:53
4.1gn BE-86   6   877   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   251.03   129   12/23/2021 13:54
4.1gn BE-86   7   882   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   253.9   130   12/23/2021 13:54
4.1gn BE-86   8   879   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   252.17   129   12/23/2021 13:54
4.1gn BE-86   9   871   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   247.61   128   12/23/2021 13:54
4.1gn BE-86   10   897   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   262.61   132   12/23/2021 13:54
                        
Name   3.9gn BE-86                     
Notes   N/A                     
Number of Shots   10                     
Extreme Spread   54                     
Average   861                     
Standard Deviation   18                     
Power Factor Average   126                     
Power Factor Low   123                     
Power Factor High   131                     
                        
Shot List   Index   Velocity   Temperature   Barometric Pressure   Bullet Weight   Ft/lbs   Power Factor   Date
3.9gn BE-86   1   843   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   231.94   124   12/23/2021 13:50
3.9gn BE-86   2   895   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   261.44   132   12/23/2021 13:50
3.9gn BE-86   3   892   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   259.69   131   12/23/2021 13:50
3.9gn BE-86   4   846   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   233.6   124   12/23/2021 13:50
3.9gn BE-86   5   874   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   249.31   128   12/23/2021 13:51
3.9gn BE-86   6   852   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   236.92   125   12/23/2021 13:51
3.9gn BE-86   7   858   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   240.27   126   12/23/2021 13:51
3.9gn BE-86   8   853   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   237.48   125   12/23/2021 13:51
3.9gn BE-86   9   841   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   230.84   124   12/23/2021 13:51
3.9gn BE-86   10   857   42F   30.3 in Hg   147   239.71   126   12/23/2021 13:51
                        
Name   Federal 147gn HST                     
Notes   CZ-75BD                     
Number of Shots   10                     
Extreme Spread   49                     
Average   1004                     
Standard Deviation   15                     
Power Factor Average   147                     
Power Factor Low   143                     
Power Factor High   150                     
                        
Shot List   Index   Velocity   Temperature   Barometric Pressure   Bullet Weight   Ft/lbs   Power Factor   Date
Federal 147gn HST   1   1020   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   339.57   150   8/1/2021 12:46
Federal 147gn HST   2   1002   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   327.69   147   8/1/2021 12:46
Federal 147gn HST   3   1006   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   330.31   148   8/1/2021 12:46
Federal 147gn HST   4   1022   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   340.9   150   8/1/2021 12:47
Federal 147gn HST   5   1018   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   338.24   150   8/1/2021 12:47
Federal 147gn HST   6   994   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   322.48   146   8/1/2021 12:47
Federal 147gn HST   7   1016   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   336.91   149   8/1/2021 12:47
Federal 147gn HST   8   1006   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   330.31   148   8/1/2021 12:47
Federal 147gn HST   9   973   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   308.99   143   8/1/2021 12:47
Federal 147gn HST   10   990   77F   29.9 in Hg   147   319.89   146   8/1/2021 12:47

           

[Catfishmoon]

Thanks for sharing your extensive notes on laddering BE-86 rounds in your firearm, in the near future I need to undertake a similar endeavor. I have about three pounds of BE-86 and I have never used it before. I also shoot primarily 9mm and use Xtreme and Berry's for my range ammo. I did a bunch of reloading over the Christmas Holiday and I used up the CFE Pistol that I had been using for 147 grain rounds and I finished the W231 I was using in 124 and 115 grain rounds.

[DJK11]

Yes thank you for the data!  A link to a bit more on BE86 http://www.natoreloading.com/be86/

I recently cobbled some 38 super and 45 acp with BE86. 

[Auslander]

Yes. Post moved

[Wobbly]

Thank you !

Enjoy your time here. Any questions, just ask !

• All your testing was done with the 75BD ??
• What model chrono did you use ??

[Auslander]

Yes.  All data is with the 75BD.

Chronograph is Competition Electronics, ProChrono DLX.

I did run one set of this combination (BE-86, Berry's 147gn RN) through my PCR with 4.5gns of powder.

Name   4.5gn BE86, CZPCR, 147 Berrys
Notes   CZ PCR
Number of Shots   10
Extreme Spread   49
Average   936
Standard Deviation   14
Power Factor Average   137
Power Factor Low   134
Power Factor High   141

I also apologize for the breach of decorum.  I normally don't post anything online, but I've used the forum several times to gather information.  Figured I'd start sharing the answers to my questions. 

I reload to shoot and don't particularly enjoy recalibrating my equipment and running ladder tests for pistol cartridges.  For rifles, its part of the fun to dial in a weapon but for pistols its a pain.  Under current conditions, I can't get what I'm used to getting and happened upon the BE-86.  It has potential, which is good, because I had to buy 8 pounds of the stuff, but really wanted to share that this combination (Berrys 147 RN and BE-86) has the potential to build pressure very rapidly.

In this instance, I took a shortcut and wished to share a cautionary tale.  DON'T go up in .2 grain increments, particularly if you are charging your cases with a Dillion powder measure.  It takes a while for this powder measure to settle in (at least mine does), particularly with this powder.  Figuring out that while dropping charges for your test rounds is a bad idea.  Hand weigh your charges then calibrate your equipment once you are certain of your load then test a few of those.  I would also go up in .1 grain increments.  Its slow and a pain in the wazoo, but Alliant's data is hot and this powder appears to have a steep pressure curve at its top end.  I assumed that a lengthened OAL would give a bit of a safety margin.  When I threw my 4.7 grain charges, I don't think my measure had settled in yet.  If I had to guess, one of my charges was a tad heavy, probably around 4.8 grains which sent one down range at 1048 fps.  Not necessarily dangerous, but definitely in +P territory.  The brass looked fine, but what does that really mean.  On the other hand, if you WANT to risk it and build +P loads, it's certainly within its capabilities.  Just let me know what range you'll be at that day so I can avoid showing up.   

Anyway, thanks for the opportunity.