I'm planning to load the last of my Sierra 190 gr. Tournaments, about 180 count. I'd like to pick one powder to use them up with, what is your favorite powder if you have shot these bullets before they were discontinued?
Objective is a nice balance between power and accuracy in my Witness full size steel with Henning guide rod and 20 or 22 lb spring.
Given your goals of balance I picked BE86. I am also probably influenced by the giant jub of that powder I have. Never-the-less, it produces good velocities, a decent clean burn and good accuracy for me.
If it were me and based on my latest results for 10mm with 8.4 grains of BE-86 and the 200 Grain Gold Dots at just over 1200 fps it would be my go to loads. It burns clean, use less, meters well.
Also recent documentations of UW ammo has also shown them using BE-86 for its flash suppressed properties it their 10mm loadings...
QuoteI picked BE86. I am also probably influenced by the giant jub of that powder I have
Yeah, that's a consideration for sure. I have a pretty good supply of Power Pistol; I wonder if BE-86 offers enough advantage to make the purchase worthwhile, or if I should be looking at something slower like AA#7, AA#9, Longshot?
BE-86 looks to match if not beat #9 in the velocity department.
Accurate #9 (Accurate Load Data Edition 3.5, pg 6)
| Weight | Style | Primer | Charge | Velocity |
| ---------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | ------------ |
| 180 | HP | WLP | 13.5 | 1,235 |
| 200 | XTP | WLP | 12.5 | 1,170 |
Alliant BE-86
| Weight | Style | Primer | Charge | Velocity |
| ---------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | ------------ |
| 180 | JHP | Fed 150 | 8.2 | 1,256 |
| 190 | JHP | Fed 150 | 7.6 | 1,182 |
Accurate #7 appears to lag behind BE-86 a bit as well.
| Weight | Style | Primer | Charge | Velocity |
| ---------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | ------------ |
| 180 | HP | WLP | 11.0 | 1,195 |
| 180 | XTP | WLP | 10.7 | 1,183 |
| 190 | FPJ | WLP | 11.2 | 1,198 |
All that said, if you have Power Pistol already, it will perform great! Look no further
| Weight | Style | Primer | Charge | Velocity |
| ---------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | ------------ |
| 180 | FMJ | Fed 150 | 9.3 | 1,296 |
| 190 | JHP | Fed 150 | 8.4 | 1,207 |
Printed BE-86 data for BE-86 is somewhat misleading in velocity... but they do list their data as using a 5" barrel
(https://i.postimg.cc/xCnssXdR/Alliant-Be8610mm-zps99575ebc.jpg)
In my test with BE-86 using the Speer 200 gr Gold Dots 8.4 grains yielded 1237 fps from the S&W 1006
Sig Sauer Elite Performance 180gr FMJ
Muzzle Velocity: 1250 fps
Muzzle Energy: 624 ft. lbs
Had BE-86 8.8 grains
Glock 29 velocity 1178 case expansion 0.4315"
Glock 20 velocity 1250 case expansion 0.4315"
Glock 20 velocity 1260 case expansion 0.4315"
S&W 1006 velocity 1276 case expansion 0.4265"
S&W 1006 velocity 1286 case expansion 0.4270"
Underwood 200gr Hornady XTP
Muzzle Velocity: 1250 fps
Muzzle Energy: 694 ft. lbs
Had BE-86 8.6 / 8.6 / 8.6 grains