Power Pistol vs BE-86

[38SPL HV]

How does BE-86 compare with Power Pistol in performance?

Looks like BE-86 would be a good substitute for Power Pistol?

[rwsmith]

Doesn't Power Pistol and Accurate #7 get the best velocities in .38 spec. , especially in short barrels, I think. Does BE-86 get as high velocity?

This is a hypothetical question, because I've only seen one pound of BE-86 in my life.

[GavinLee]

BE-86 looks to be a touch faster than Power Pistol and not as much muzzle flash as PP. I've used it a little and like it.

[Nevada Ed]

Being old country, I did not try any "Please don't spill" fine grained ball powers
except w231 in my revolver or pistol loads until 2014.
I have yet to try Power Pistol and the rest.

In 2014 I picked up some CFE Pistol powder and just a few months ago
I ordered some BE86 off the net, to try out.

In my test, BE86 also "Looks" faster but I have no PP to test it against.
Hopefully someone will have both powders and post the results.

[at_liberty]

Originally Posted by 38SPL HV

How does BE-86 compare with Power Pistol in performance?

Looks like BE-86 would be a good substitute for Power Pistol?

I am betting Alliant sponsored a magazine article on BE-86. I like handling it as well as shooting it. Power Pistol has the advantage of much more developed loading resources and I think may be better for working near the top end of load ranges.

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by at_liberty

Power Pistol has the advantage of much more developed loading resources and I think may be better for working near the top end of load ranges.

Agreed. WAY more articles & reloading data. I've seen very little for BE-86. I load P-P in everything from 9mm to 500 Mag. If I could have only one powder, for this same range of cartridges, I'd be P-P. ( I like the flash too ! )

.

[Rule3]

This is all "so yesterday" As Alliant now has another powder out which you will need to ask about, it is called "SPORT PISTOL" Note that even he (Alliant) calls it a "Magic" formulation

But anyway here is a post direct from Paul at Alliant Powder.

"I am glad to see you have stumbled onto some of the BE-86 we began shipping into distribution recently. Sorry to take so long to get it to market, but we have been under siege demand wise for all of our existing products in both OEM and canister markets that marketing didn't want to prioritize this new product (for canister). We will continue to get some out as we can, so if you ask for it, those orders should pull through.
I am very confident you will really like this powder. It is the same magic formulation as Bullseye(R) and Power Pistol(R), and virtually the exact geometry of Power Pistol. It is a little faster burning that Power Pistol though, and very similar to Unique(R), burn speed wise. As you mentioned, we have added flash suppressant to this product to moderate the flash response, whereas we do not for Power Pistol. BE-86(TM) is a high energy propellant though, so do not expect it to be flashless. The FS added moderates what would be maybe a basketball or bushel basket size bloom for a stout load of Power Pistol down to more like a baseball or cueball. I find it very acceptable from the shooter's position, and we have several OEM's that use this material for duty applications.
So to summarize, the "so what" on BE-86 is that it has the outstanding ballistics and ignitability of the BE series powders, in Unique burnrate, with great metering characteristics, with FS to moderate the flash bloom.
We worked up a good amount of data for this powder, but if we have left any applications out that you think might be interesting, send a message in through our "ask the expert" on our website, www.alliantpowder.com
Thank you for your interest in our new pistol powder BE-86.
Shoot well,
Paul "

[Beemer-mark]

I love Power Pistol in 45 Colt

[Dicem]

I have used Bullseye, Unique, BE 86 and Power Pistol with both 125 and 158gn plated and coated projectiles (38 SPL). The Bullseye and Unique were similar with the loads I used, the BE 86 seamed to have a little more felt recoil and worked well with smaller loads. When I used Power Pistol it had much more recoil and flash loaded at the low end with 38 and 357. It was the high end that cracked the forcing cone on my 1980 vintage 19-4 barrel with 357. After 2 months to locate a usable replacement used barrel and then shelling out another $190 to have it installed and set up, I will not be using it again with the gun, only on guns that parts are easily available or larger framed ones larger than K frames.

[Fishslayer]

Originally Posted by Rule3

This is all "so yesterday" As Alliant now has another powder out which you will need to ask about, it is called "SPORT PISTOL" Note that even he (Alliant) calls it a "Magic" formulation

But anyway here is a post direct from Paul at Alliant Powder.

I read that. I've only recently had a need for the middle of the powder trinity. Haveing read about the poor metering & dirty burning of Unique since I was a kid I went with BE86.

Not saying it was "magic" but it meters great and burns clean even at lower .44 SP and .45 LC pressures.

I'm sold on it.