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Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:01 am
by fortyshooter
Had a few questions about their BE-86 powder so gave them a call. I also asked if they were still making Unique powder since I haven't seen any in a good while. He said " Heck yeah we are still making it and if we stopped there would be riots in street!" that's what he said which was great to hear!
Also told him last time I saw a 1lb container of it at my LGS it was $ 75.00 bucks and he replied if they were charging that much I was being scalped.
He said that it was being bought up as fast as they could make it so I wonder where the heck it is all going since all my online searches show up as not in stock. BE-86 is right at 40 bucks per 1lb. which seems about normal nowdays with price increases and still being considered a new powder doesn't yet have the usage history as the ol' Unique.
Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:41 am
by Rifletom
What were the questions regarding BE-86? So far, it's worked very good in the calibers I've loaded using it. Hopefully, you'll like it.
Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 10:03 am
by JEBar
I'm curious, did he say anything as to using BE-86 as a substitute for Unique

Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 12:01 pm
by fortyshooter
JEBar wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 10:03 am
I'm curious, did he say anything as to using BE-86 as a substitute for Unique
He told me it is a bit slower burning and can work well as a substitute for Unique type performance but burns cleaner and is low flash.
However just don't try a same load as Unique when starting out. After looking at their load data for .44 Special and 44 Magnum I am safe to start
with my .44 Mag low end load that I used Unique for. Caution though their load data just shows the MAX load.
Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 1:22 pm
by DsGrouse
That is good info to know
Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 2:00 pm
by JEBar
fortyshooter wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 12:01 pm
He told me it is a bit slower burning and can work well as a substitute for Unique type performance but burns cleaner and is low flash. However just don't try a same load as Unique when starting out. After looking at their load data for .44 Special and 44 Magnum I am safe to start with my .44 Mag low end load that I used Unique for. Caution though their load data just shows the MAX load.
info appreciated
Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 2:44 pm
by Rifletom
"Caution though their load data just shows the MAX load". Reduce by 10% and you're good.
Re: Talked to the Alliant powder tech yesterday....
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 5:12 pm
by Mags
Page 7 of the Alliant 2020 Powder Catalog for reloading.
The powder charge weights listed in our data tables are maximum. For rifle and pistol loads, the maximum powder charge should be reduced by 10% to establish a minimum or starting powder charge. The exceptions are those powder charges designated “DNR” (Do Not Reduce).