RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
More than the rest of my life.
Alliant BE-86
- Thread starter 300BLK
- Start date
Yeah, that bucket dried up when the last shortage started. For many years I shared - flat out gave away a lot of stuff. I remember in 2008 or 2009, I gave away 500 new 45 Colt cases, same number of used 44 Mag cases, something like 1k once-fired 7.62x51 cases, 45 ACP stuff, partial cans of powder, moulds I no longer used, die sets,... Get someone started, help someone out, etc. I don't regret that, BUT...
Did my time, took my lumps, paid my dues, gave at the office (so to speak).
I have to mind my own logistics at this point - and I don't feel guilty about not "redistributing the wealth." Can't think of one time anything came my way, except from my brother or my dad. That's OK too.
Nope. Ain't no "bucket" no-mo'. It done dried up.
I've also always been fairly conservative about my shooting anyway. Load ten rounds - I have ten rounds, I have to make those ten rounds COUNT. I have never been of the mind that "missed, well, I have 18 more (misses) in the mag, so..." Maybe it's a character flaw, but I actually get irked when people brag of "round count" when they go shooting. So someone blows multiple 30 round magazines at a whack and chalks up a 300-round "round-count" at the range. My question to those people is did ANY of them actually COUNT?? Just too many people "in need" who are wasteful anyway.
Not directed at YOU, Fiver. I get what you're saying. Like any dear old friend, you KNOW where that button is for me, but I don't even know what you look like. We must be compatible. I truly wish I KNEW some of the people here, like neighbors or something.
LOL, probably just sent a chill up a lot of members' backs with that last comment.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Yeah when you have to pay $30 to $50 a pound and 6 to 10 cents a primer makes you kinda tighten up a little.
Pretty good group of guys up here in the north but we’re all dying off a little at a time.
Lot of people I run into are all semi auto junkies.
What’s that saying- can’t miss fast enough or something like that.
Pretty good group of guys up here in the north but we’re all dying off a little at a time.
Lot of people I run into are all semi auto junkies.
What’s that saying- can’t miss fast enough or something like that.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
See it at the range all the time. How many rounds can you shoot? 200+ and never change the target.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Not very often, occasionally at 100, sometimes at 50 and pretty steady at 7 yards.
There IS hope though.
I have a son in law who's version of "round-count" is acceptable - he has this idea that you should make every ROUND COUNT. I hope to have him set up to hand-load for his 38 revolver within a year. I'll share with him and my younger brother, period.
Ive got 60 years of history with my younger brother. The son in law has much less seniority, but that is one young man with potential in every aspect.
I have a son in law who's version of "round-count" is acceptable - he has this idea that you should make every ROUND COUNT. I hope to have him set up to hand-load for his 38 revolver within a year. I'll share with him and my younger brother, period.
Ive got 60 years of history with my younger brother. The son in law has much less seniority, but that is one young man with potential in every aspect.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Component prices are based on supply & demand. Alliant powders were absent from the internet market, for quite some time. They are just now starting to show up. Hence, the steep prices. Unique is still non existent. That's why I purchased 8# jug of W-231, couple weeks ago. PV had it for $244/jug. Free HazMat, to boot. With Arkansas state tax and shipping, it came out $36/pound. W-231 is just a tad faster than Unique, just two slots lower on the burn chart. Known to meter better in mechanical measures.
The other site has a poll going between Unique & W-231 powder.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...que-Which-do-you-prefer-What-do-you-use-it-in
Since, I don't do low node shooting, don't know/pay attention or care to W-231 use as a replacement for Unique. I do know it works for my pistol cartridges......9mm, 38 & 44 Special. Might even have used it in LCR 357 magnum loads. Anyways, it will conserve my dwindling supply of a half of jug of Unique.
The other site has a poll going between Unique & W-231 powder.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...que-Which-do-you-prefer-What-do-you-use-it-in
Since, I don't do low node shooting, don't know/pay attention or care to W-231 use as a replacement for Unique. I do know it works for my pistol cartridges......9mm, 38 & 44 Special. Might even have used it in LCR 357 magnum loads. Anyways, it will conserve my dwindling supply of a half of jug of Unique.
Rick H
Well-Known Member
231 has always been my "go to" pistol powder. Use it in 380acp, 38sp, 45acp,45colt,40S&W. I have found useful moderate velocity loads for all of them with both cast and jacketed bullets. The stuff meters exceptionally well even if it tends to leak some with a Lee disc style powder measures.
W231 or HP38 are second in line to Unique on my list and there aren't that many on my list.
A few made the point that going too low with Unique warrants a different powder, so there are loads where W231 outshines Unique and there is a wide overlap as well. MANY useful and effective loads don't reach the eyebrow-raising velocities some seek, but W231 shines in those moderate loads.
One of my "tricks" to test a new 44 Special has long been 5.5 grains of W231 under a 429421 with traditional lube. If the gun won't shoot that, there's something amiss - might be too picky. For some reason, that load seems to always provide satisfying results on 25 yard targets. Sure ain't no Skeeter load or Keith load, but I seldom need that and the load is very accurate.
The bushings that throw 5.2, 5.5 and 6.2 grains of W231, for my Pacific Pistol Powder measure have been used for everything mentioned above and a few rifle cartridges. 5.5 grains in the 222 and LEE's C225-55, tumble-lubed is a head-shot squirrel load out to at least 65 yards. In a Remington 722 is was uncannily accurate and only a tad less so in the CZ.
A few made the point that going too low with Unique warrants a different powder, so there are loads where W231 outshines Unique and there is a wide overlap as well. MANY useful and effective loads don't reach the eyebrow-raising velocities some seek, but W231 shines in those moderate loads.
One of my "tricks" to test a new 44 Special has long been 5.5 grains of W231 under a 429421 with traditional lube. If the gun won't shoot that, there's something amiss - might be too picky. For some reason, that load seems to always provide satisfying results on 25 yard targets. Sure ain't no Skeeter load or Keith load, but I seldom need that and the load is very accurate.
The bushings that throw 5.2, 5.5 and 6.2 grains of W231, for my Pacific Pistol Powder measure have been used for everything mentioned above and a few rifle cartridges. 5.5 grains in the 222 and LEE's C225-55, tumble-lubed is a head-shot squirrel load out to at least 65 yards. In a Remington 722 is was uncannily accurate and only a tad less so in the CZ.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
One of my favorite Bulldog (44 Special loads) is 5.5 grains of W-231 under Lyman's 429667 RNFP. Chart says it 240 grains but mine are closer to 250 grains, conventionally lubed. Velocity out of 2.5" barrel is 660 fps. Bump the bullet up to 265 (RNFP) grains and velocity is 728 fps.
Ball powders have been far less expensive than extruded, single base, but flake double base is getting ridiculous. 4756, 7625, PB and 4759 supposedly went away due to the cost.
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Yes.
Not paying so much attention to the makeup of the powder as the brand, I noticed Alliant powders have been unavailable for some time and now selling for premium prices compared to others, but not that you mention flake v. ball, that's what I was looking at.
Looking back, any powder I EVER got a real deal on were ball powders.
Matt_G
Curmudgeon in training
I'm not sure who said it first but... "You can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight."
fiver
Well-Known Member
ball powders are easy and cheap to make so they should cost less.
heck they are so easy to deal with you can take other powders such as leftover cannon powder and make pistol powder from it.
high round counts just for the sake of high round counts are not a thing here unless they are put on target properly.
even shot shell rounds at clay targets will get you a what the hell? if you miss.
but you have to put bullets down range to be any good at it.
maybe 6-10 a day is enough, but you have to still go do those 6-10.
heck they are so easy to deal with you can take other powders such as leftover cannon powder and make pistol powder from it.
high round counts just for the sake of high round counts are not a thing here unless they are put on target properly.
even shot shell rounds at clay targets will get you a what the hell? if you miss.
but you have to put bullets down range to be any good at it.
maybe 6-10 a day is enough, but you have to still go do those 6-10.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Another user of WW-231/HP-38 here.
A few years ago, I switched to Bullseye as my go to “fast” powder, but 231 will remain on the shelf because it is just too useful to be without. I’ve probably used more 231 than all the other powders put together, particularly in 38 Special and 45 ACP.
Getting back to BE-86, I have to say that I’m not sure where I would use that powder. It looks like a good choice if you’re seeking that maximum velocity in a non-magnum handgun cartridge, but those few extra feet per second aren’t what I’m seeking. For ME (your applications may be different) it’s not worth the extra bottle of powder on the shelf just to squeeze a few more fps out of the occasional cartridge. I like simple logistics and do a lot of planning to achieve those simple logistics.
While BE-86 certainly has its place, I don’t think it is useful enough – For Me, to add to my inventory.
While I’ve used a large number of powders over the years, I’ve settled on relative few to meet my needs.
A few years ago, I switched to Bullseye as my go to “fast” powder, but 231 will remain on the shelf because it is just too useful to be without. I’ve probably used more 231 than all the other powders put together, particularly in 38 Special and 45 ACP.
Getting back to BE-86, I have to say that I’m not sure where I would use that powder. It looks like a good choice if you’re seeking that maximum velocity in a non-magnum handgun cartridge, but those few extra feet per second aren’t what I’m seeking. For ME (your applications may be different) it’s not worth the extra bottle of powder on the shelf just to squeeze a few more fps out of the occasional cartridge. I like simple logistics and do a lot of planning to achieve those simple logistics.
While BE-86 certainly has its place, I don’t think it is useful enough – For Me, to add to my inventory.
While I’ve used a large number of powders over the years, I’ve settled on relative few to meet my needs.
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