Going to start casting and reloading 180gr Cast HP and looking for powder recommendations? Thinking BE86?
BE-86 will work as well as many other powders. You need to consider if you want accuracy or velocity or a balance of both!
I would recommend you size the bullets to 0.4015" or 0.4020" for best fit against blow by leading whether using traditional lube or PC painted.
10.2 to 10.4 grains of Blue Dot has always been very accurate for me, but they were hand weighed to match grade. I'm sure I could get that with BE-86 as well.
Shadow gives great advice. I will echo the comments and stress that bullet diameter is THE single most critical factor in cast bullet results. All other factors are secondary.
To answer the questions, it would be useful to understand the intent. Plinkers, max velocity, etc.?
I load my cast bullet ammo from very soft shooting IDPA type of ammo to full house. In order of burn speed, I use Win 452AA (like WST), Unique, Blue Dot, and Accurate No. 9.
Mine are mostly powder coated bullets, and I use a "401 Cowboy" expander plug on my RCBS die to give a touch more neck interior diameter. That helps preserve the diameter of the bullets when seating.
For Glocks 29,20, and 40 with KKM Barrels. Will load moderate range loads to hot hunting and woods carry. Thanks for the responses, lots of knowledge here.
For me, that spectrum would be well covered by Blue Dot and Accurate No. 9. Longshot is in there too. My best max velocity overall results are with No. 9. But is inefficient. Therefore, I use some of the quicker burners for less-than-max loads.
Of course, if you want to drop and trickle each charge, 800-X will work. Longshot is too close in performance to 800-X, and it meters well. So I find no practical advantage to 800-X.
Another honorable mention is No. 7. It won't get the top velocities of some of the others, but it is a very well-manered powder. Meters well, clean, and low flash. Could cover the moderately warm range fodder.
For me, it's Longshot. All. Day Long. Nothing compares. 9 grains under a 180 grain JHP is my range ammo
Quote from: slayer61 on March 04 2019 07:54:11 AM MST
For me, it's Longshot. All. Day Long. Nothing compares. 9 grains under a 180 grain JHP is my range ammo
Longshot is one of the top 10mm powders. No question. Curious, how has it been working for your cast bullet ammo? I probably need to play with it some more with some of my 40 bore cast bullets.