16ga.com ~ View topic - Alliant BE-86

With all the discussions about Green Dot, I decided to procure some BE-86.
There seems to be no shotgun data, but I think it would be great for 20 and 28.
I will send some out for testing. 16 should be good too for 1 oz. and above.
I will start with a standard 20 gauge 7/8 oz. target load with Cheddite primers, Remington hulls, and go from there.

Any other suggestions?

I personally believe big powder shortages are coming.
Buckle up.

Jim

Looking forward to your results.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

noticed it on several websites---haven't checked out it's burnrate---still interested--thanks

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

"...shortages are coming..." ?!?! Shocked

Sounds like a great off season project,

Comparing 357mag data the BE-86 comes roughly closest to Unique (given bullet weight, powder grains, FPS) in that platform. So, probably could use 16ga Unique data as a starting/reference point.

Exactly, I am going to use Unique as a guide.
I don't think it will be perfect for light 16 gauge loads, but should be OK for standard loads.
Of course by the time I get around to getting it all tested it won't be available anymore.

The guys at my club are all older and not computer literate. Our last bulk order came in with no powder. We all have primers and shot up the wazoo. I'm fine on powder, but many others are not.

Jim

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 818

Sounds good. Would be great to have another option.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1841 Location: Central ND

My 2 cents,

BE-86 is not a shotshell powder. There is no data for it from the manufacturer and there is no mention that it could be a shotshell powder. Where it might fall on some burnrate chart is irrelevant.

Some guy over on SGW tried Accurate 7 because it fell next to some shotshell powders on a burnrate chart and the results weren't all that good.

Before spending $$$ think about it long and hard. Why hasn't anyone else or the manufacturer used BE-86 in a shotshell?

I believe if you want powder that is available and completely usable in a 16 gauge shotshell look to VihtaVuori N320, N340, N350 and 3N37. There is data for them using Cheddite CX2000 primers and the Gualandi wads. From 27 grams to 33 grams.

The data is here:

http://www.gualandi.it/docs/tabpolv_2013_eng.pdf

I have tried N320 and it works very well. See this post - VihtaVuori Powders

VihtaVuori powders are a bit pricey, but how much are you going to spend trying to make pistol powder work in a shotshell? You have no real starting point and 5 test shells in all probability isn't going to give you any real information. It might just work, but the odds are against it,

There is only one way to find out.

I am pretty well stocked on shotgun powder, and worst case I'll just shoot a lot of 9mm 38 and 45.

I suspect its best use for shotgun is going to be the 28 gauge.

Jim

I have six 20 gauge shells ready to send to Tom. Fit was nice with zero wad pressure.
It is a little fine (BE-86) but other than that I am hopeful. Not as fine as W296 but close. Static may be an issue in winter.

If it works out I am thinking of sending a 16 gauge 1 oz. with Cheddite hull and primer, SG-16 wad and then a standard 28 gauge WAAHS skeet load. Likely with a Cheddite primer as well.

Jim

1st results are in.

Looks promising, but this batch was slightly over pressure.
With 16 grains.
Velocity was 1262 avg. with EV of 22 (1249 to 1271)
Pressure was 12840 avg. with EV of 500. (12600 to 13100)

My next test will be 1 grain lighter with the same components and I will also send a 16 gauge load with it.

Jim

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1308 Location: Western WA

Yikes, those are some pretty high pressures for a 16 grain load! I’m with Mark, I’d leave well enough alone.

B.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

Not obscenely high, as far as I understand it 20ga has a 12k SAMMI limit. Might end up working well in the lighter payload bandwidth similar to E3, Titewad, Promo, ect.

Thanks for sharing the results. What was your reference; a Unique 20ga load and just swap the powder all else equal?

Yes, I read a lot in pistol forums of guys comparing Unique to BE-86.
I used a Cheddite primer and a CB1078-20 wad.
There are loads of up to 17.5 gns. with Unique in an STS hull.
I think 15 will get me there, hopefully not losing too much velocity.
28 gauge may be iffy, but I think 16 will be OK.

If nothing a 3/4 oz. 20 gauge load should be great. I shoot a lot of those.

Jim

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Well thought out and executed, I like the way it's headed. I've found BE-86 very useful in pistol rounds, would be great to have it turn out to be a useful addition to the range of 16ga powders.

I have my 20 gauge loaded with 15.1 grains now.
Any suggestions for the 16 gauge as to how much powder?
I am thinking 18-19 grains.
Win/Cheddite hull, SG-16 wad and, and 1 oz. of 7.5s.

I'm going to send both at once to save shipping cost.

Jim