10mm and Alliant BE-86

radiotom · December 26 2014 09:19:30 PM MST

Made my first handloads today. ${$default_grin_smiley}$

Shot some 180 grain Gold Dots, in new Starline brass, Winchester Large Pistol primers, and 7.4 grains of Alliant BE-86. Also made a run of 7.8 grains BE-86. Both shot very well, accurate, and clean. No muzzle flash in an indoor range with good lighting.

Tomorrow I'm going to load up some 8.0 grains and chronograph them. I hope to make this my new carry load. I'll post with results. I will also shoot them at night sometime to test muzzle flash.

Now, I want to load up some 220 grain Rim Rock Flat Nose Premium Hard Casts. The problem is that Alliant has no data for this powder and such a heavy bullet. What do you guys recommend?

The_Shadow · December 27 2014 08:26:44 AM MST

RadioTom, thanks for the info and will be looking forward to your results over the chronograph.
They show the 190 gr JHP using 7.6 grains of BE-86, you will probably be able to use that one for the 220 gr RimRock.

However after looking over the Buffalo Bore 220gr notes I think they were useing BE-86.

QuoteWeight: 8.4 grains*
*(Comparing this to BE-86 powder which has the an identifier of slightly larger, translucent, off color flakes in the mix. Only testing will show which is which)

here is the link (see if you thing the powder is the same? ${$default_huh_smiley}$
http://10mm-firearms.com/factory-10mm-ammo-pull-downs/buffalo-bore-220gr-hard-cast-pull-down/

radiotom · December 27 2014 04:55:00 PM MST

Shot two different runs today. All the same components except the powder charge weight. This is a Glock 20SF, KKM 4.6 barrel, factory recoil spring.

Temp: 26 F
Humidity: 55%
Elevation: 4600

8.0 grains of BE-86
Average: 1209
High: 1231
Low: 1168
SD: 16

8.3 grains of BE-86
Average: 1238
High: 1252
Low: 1215
SD: 9

I'm going to stick with the 8.3 grains. ${$default_grin_smiley}$

radiotom · December 27 2014 05:02:32 PM MST

Here's what the powder looks like:

http://i.imgur.com/vDYkTy8.jpg

Notice how some of it is stuck to the side? Yeah...I've been having to deal with that... ${$default_angry_smiley}$

The_Shadow · December 27 2014 05:42:31 PM MST

The powder has some static properties as it flows causing it to cling, wipe your scale pan with a fabric softener sheet (it can be a used dryer sheet).

Thanks for the picture, you can see the whitish/translucent identifier flakes mixed in, the Buffalo Bore Pull-Down showed the same...

DAVIDF · January 01 2015 08:44:41 AM MST

radiotom,

How does it meter? Alliant claims it meters well & has a flash suppressant. I haven't reloaded for 10mm yet, but planning on purchasing some of the BE-86 & 180gr XTP's. Your chrono results were with the 180 gr Gold Dot's?

The_Shadow · January 01 2015 09:48:56 AM MST

BE-86 is very similar to Bullseye and Power Pistol which meter very well!

radiotom · January 01 2015 10:56:01 AM MST

Quote from: DAVIDF on January 01 2015 08:44:41 AM MST
radiotom,

How does it meter? Alliant claims it meters well & has a flash suppressant. I haven't reloaded for 10mm yet, but planning on purchasing some of the BE-86 & 180gr XTP's. Your chrono results were with the 180 gr Gold Dot's?

Correct. Seems to meter very well. I can't stress enough how happy I am with these full power, reduced a bit from nuclear power, 10mm loads. I feel like I don't have to death grip the gun anymore to get them to function. As a result I'm shooting 10mm much more accurately. Once it warms up a little next week I'll shoot the BE-86 at night to test the flash suppressed properties.

radiotom · January 03 2015 05:36:00 PM MST

Quote from: Turo on January 01 2015 12:36:39 PM MST
Numbers look very nice! I've been looking for this powder since I first heard about it becoming available. Where did you find some? If you don't mind me asking.

Interwebs. I ate the hazmat fee to try some out.

Loaded up some more! Tests coming tomorrow.
200 grain Rim Rock lead truncated core + 8.0 grains Power Pistol (reloads)
220 grain Rim Rock lead flat point 7.6 grains Power Pistol (reloads)
220 grain Rim Rock hard cast flat point + 7.5 grains BE-86 (new starline brass, hoping for a hard cast carry load here)

radiotom · January 04 2015 07:46:37 PM MST

220 grain premium hard cast with 7.5 grain BE-86, WLP, new starline brass, 1.254 COAL
1148
1154 (FTF)
Stopped after that shot.
Too high for me, and failed like the old days. Had excessive recoil, but no pressure signs. Gonna drop the charge and try again.

220 grain flat point with 7.6 grans Power Pistol, WLP, reloaded brass, 1.254 COAL
1125
1118
1108
1135 (FTF)
Stopped after that shot. Gonna have to drop the charge there too.

200 grain flat nose with 8.0 grains Power Pistol, WLP, reloaded brass, 1.256 COAL
Shot a whole mag.
Avg: 1199
High: 1208
Low: 1189
SD: 6

Well...I guess that's what I get for not starting lower like you're supposed to and trying to get my charge weight perfect the first time.
I'm looking for 1080 - 1100 for the 220's and 1180 - 1190 for the 200's. I'll drop the charges and report back next weekend.

The_Shadow · January 04 2015 09:33:06 PM MST

Thanks for the range report, I was testing the 200 grain Hornady XTP's with 8.0 grains of Power Pistol an my results were 1200 - 1225 fps from my S&W 1006.

About those 220 grain, it may not be the powder charge, the nose of those bullet change the tipping angle with the wide nose meplat, this is why DT actually adjusted his to 1.2420" allowing the cartridge to feed up to the top of the chamber and tip inward easier.

Before you give up on the powder charge try seating shorter to match 1.2420" and i bet you will see improved feeding.

See this diagram

tommac919 · January 05 2015 07:13:31 AM MST

Quote from: The_Shadow on January 04 2015 09:33:06 PM MST
snip.., the nose of those bullet change the tipping angle with the wide nose meplat,... snip...

good tip

Had that exact problem in 45acp when changed over from 230g rn to nosler 230g fp... shorten up the oal and they worked flawlessly

radiotom · January 07 2015 07:35:41 PM MST

Yes, I'll shorten the OAL.

But I'm also not looking for 1150 fps for the 220's. At least you guys know how many grains it is for yourselves now!

The_Shadow · January 07 2015 07:49:28 PM MST

Radiotom, I understand your not wanting the highest velocities, but shortening the COL should give you the reliable feeding you seek. Seat the bullet a little deeper would also result in a slight increase in pressure, which inturn will provide a cleaner and more uniform burn!

radiotom · January 11 2015 08:53:20 PM MST

220 grain HC and 7.0 grains of BE-86 yielded:

Avg: 1110
High: 1118
Low: 1105
SD: 5

I'm thinking I'm going to drop this another 0.2 grains. COAL was 1.250. Down to 1 FTF for the magazine. Gonna shoot for 1.240 next time and 6.8 grains of BE-86.

I have ballistics gel now and this load penetrated two 16 inch blocks and was stopped by a book. Also gel tested the 180 Gold Dots from earlier.

Gold Dots expanded to 0.60 - 0.63 inches (petals peeled back all the way, not straight out, 100% weight retention) and penetrated 17, 18, and 19 inches respectively. The 19 incher was through bare gel and the rest were through 4 layers of blue jeans. I think I made a black bear load!

http://i.imgur.com/PgoTAj9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oeLHtGl.jpg

The first pic is of the Gold Dots through blue jeans. On the bottom of the 2nd pic is the HC wound track. Right above it is the bare gel wound track which has the biggest cavity.

I also tested the 7.62x39 Federal Fusion that I sent Raggedyman...and while the cavity was nice like his, my penetration of 23 inches was vastly different from his of 15. I think it's because the clear ballistics gel is different...