Ok folks,

In another thread, started by RonH, he brought up the question about HS-6 powder and the 45 Colt. I don't have a firearm that shoots the venerable old cartridge. I do have something that is similar in it's appeal to millions of shooting Americans. The 45ACP! Granted, the only Smith I have to shoot it out of is a M625JM, I still felt the need to give this powder a test in a 45ACP, 1911 platform.
The firearm is going to be a PT1911 Taurus, blued model. It is one of the best value firearms I have ever shot. Accuracy, function, never been a problem!

That being said here is the load I settled on. 230gr XTP, Winchester Large Pistol primer, Fiocchi case and the minimum weight of HS-6. The finish cartridge measured a little over the suggested OAL of 1.200" at 1.210".

One thing that I thought was odd was that there was very little "wiggle" room in the data for ALL jacketed bullets in 45ACP. It may be different in other calibers, I haven't checked yet. The minimum load was 8.0gr and the maximum is 8.2gr. There are a few powder measures that can't hold that kind of tolerance. If you choose to use this load maybe you should check your powder measure first and see how repeatable it is.
I like the way it meters. It is a "ball" powder with flattened balls in it too. All in all a good combination for most automated systems.

I only loaded 20 of them. I will bring the results of the accuracy test performed tonight and post the results.

No velocity test at this point, maybe this weekend.

At any rate, here is a picture:

Well I'm back and all in one piece!

The firearm is even in one piece!


These are some stout loads to say the least. I will have to load up some more and run them over the chronograph but I'll bet they are going 900fps or so.


Accuracy was ok. I sat down and put my arms on the table as a rest. @ 10yrds 1" groups would be possible, tonight, mine were in the 1 1/2" range.


I am going to try this in the rifle I spoke about in another thread sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Here it is under a microscope. Yes, I'm bored.

Jelly,
You need to get out more!

quote:

The minimum load was 8.0gr and the maximum is 8.2gr.

Are you working out of a Lee manual?

The lesser load in the Lee books is what you get from the Lee disk cavity next smaller than the maximum load they got from the powder company. Has nothing to do with "minimum" and is often too close to the maximum for a reasonable starting load. There are some in there in which the "starting load" and the "never exceed" are the SAME.

Hodgdon recommends a 10% reduction from maximum as a starting load (except for H110, -3%.)

Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

quote:

Are you working out of a Lee manual?

Hodgdon and Lee both show the same data on this one. Other manuals do differ so it's just a coinckydink, unless Lee just used what Hodgdon had since it fit their dippers/disks.

230 GR. HDY FMJ FP Hodgdon HS-6 .451" 1.200" 8.0 790 14,400 CUP 8.2 825 15,400 CUP

This is from Hodgdon's data website.

When EVER I start with a new powder I ALWAYS confer with the manufacturer's data first.

I may ignore it but I'm gonna check it!

With these possibly being shot out of a Glock 21 I am staying with their data until I chronograph them out of my 1911. Better safe than sorry when dealing with a new powder.

Even when I went to SR4756 in the 38spl I checked IMR data. I ignored it because of the amount of users that still had all of their vital organs after 20, 30 and even 40 years doing so!

A favorite 45 jhp to load is the 230 grain xtp, and at 1.210 (althoughuse Win cases and Fed 150 primer). Have found this bullet can be extremely accurate in semi's.

zeke,
Do you use HS-6 as a propellant?

smith crazy-use vv-n350 for the max velocity loadings, and unique for the moderate loading.

After trying 230 grain xtp,gold dot,golden saber and sierra's, picked the xtp.

Thanks zeke!

I went to the range and shot some of the above loads over a chronograph.

1911
High 832fps
Low 811fps
ES 21fps
AVG 820fps

Glock 21
High 856fps
Low 798fps!
ES 58fps

Every gun is an individual is all I can say!
Maybe next week for the Camp Rifle.

smith crazy

The reason for the "small wiggle room" is that HS-6 is on the slow side for the 45 ACP cartridge. This powder does better in larger cases and higher pressures than than what the 45 ACP can handle. You need X amount of powder to get to the minimum pressure level that the powder burns well; but then just a little more powder and you have exceeded the pressure limit for the 45 ACP cartridge. A slightly faster, easier to ignite powder like Unique, WSF or 800X gives a larger allowable range in the powder load for the 45 ACP cartridge. HS-6 is a good powder for maximum 45 ACP loads, it just doesn't have much capability for less than maximum power loads in the 45 ACP.

CMcDermott,
I thought about that too only their data opens up quite a bit with lead bullets!


I know that the XTP has a bunch of bearing surface so I just take it at that. With that bullet your analogy stands true. Not with lead though.

Here is the data from their website:
155 GR. CAST LSWC Hodgdon HS-6 .451" 1.230" 9.0 988 12,000 CUP 10.0 1126 16,300 CUP
180 GR. LFP Hodgdon HS-6 .452" 1.140" 7.8 805 10,900 CUP 9.0 961 16,600 CUP
185 GR. HDY JSWC Hodgdon HS-6 .451" 1.195" 8.6 888 12,200 CUP 9.5 996 16,800 CUP
200 GR. CAST LSWC Hodgdon HS-6 .451" 1.225" 8.2 860 14,400 CUP 8.4 907 16,300 CUP
200 GR. SPR JHP Hodgdon HS-6 .451" 1.155" 8.2 868 14,000 CUP 9.0 948 16,400 CUP
230 GR. HDY FMJ FP Hodgdon HS-6 .451" 1.200" 8.0 790 14,400 CUP 8.2 825 15,400 CUP
230 GR. LRN Hodgdon HS-6 .452" 1.200'' 7.0 751 12,900 CUP 8.0 859 16,600 CUP
Notice how things open up when using lead bullets!

I've been trying HS-6 for my Glock 21 and i found:
bullet MG 185gr JHP
OAL - 1.200
primer - CCI 300
case - Winchester
powder - HS-6/9.0gr (worked up from 8.6)
Avg. Vel - 847
Accuracy - very good
comments: no FTE's or FTF's normal recoil
200 rounds so far very consistant.

tac,
What about point of aim for that bullet? I think the gun was designed for a much heavier one and would think that that 185gr would print much lower than the 200 - 230gr.