I just scored 2 pounds of Alliant BE-86 and have discovered that load data for this powder is very scarce. I have some data for .45 Colt and .45 ACP. I really liked the .45 Colt loads. Now I want to load .44 Special and possibly .44 Magnum (light). I can find nothing! Even the Alliant Web site has no data for .44 and BE-86.

People seem to like to compare it to Unique. I'm wondering how safe I would be directly translating my Unique data (which I have plenty of) to BE-86. Thoughts? Not a good practice, I know. However I need to start somewhere.

I also would appreciate any forum members sharing their BE-86 .44 load data, especially .44 Special.

Thanks!

Alliant shows .44 Mag data for this, so why dont you just back off the powder charge some? I did it with 200gr xtreme slugs. I forget the exact charge but it was less than 8gr.

When it comes to medium burn rate powders it seems the .357 Mag charges in a .44 Mag case with 200ish grain bullet makes about a .44SPL.

If you go to the Alliant website you can "Ask the Experts" for load data on the application you want to use BE-86 for. They should be able to give you guidance even to the point of developing data for your application. It may not be a fast turnaround and may take a few weeks to get the information. You can always find a powder with data that exists to use until they come through for you.

Alliant has max data load onfo.
Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

__________________
NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I've had a lot of luck over the last 10 years or so simply calling Alliant and asking for data. They NORMALLY give me a starting point and some useful data. At one point there was a tech there that I spoke with on an almost weekly basis (his name escapes me now) when I was developing some shotshell loads and found him to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Might be worth a shot, so to speak, if you can't find the data you need.

TRE

__________________
Fine guns and fine smokes.

You can also go to the Alliant web site, go to products and pull up the powder you want. Click on "view all recipes". For some reason, recipes will show up that you can't find by going to individual cartridges.

There arn't any for 44SPL.

Found this posted in an older thread that has been archived by an Alliant tech on THR. They may have more data available if you call or e msil.

October 22, 2015, 03:52 PM
mboe794,
I gave our ballistician Dave a list of 44S&W Spl loads to test, but he shot the BE-86 with a 200gr cast RNFP first.
With Federal brass and Federal #150 primer, the MAX load of BE-86 is 7.7gr. That is at COAL of 1.450". That MAX load is below the SAAMI MAP of 15,500psi, so back that down 10% and work up to a suitable load below the 7.7gr MAX.
I won't have a revolver velocity on that until next week, as Dave is shooting all unvented test barrel ballistics for safe pressures.
Good luck and be safe,
Paul