HS-6 or 800-x ?

[flyrobb]

Powder has been a bit hard to come by around here and found some HS-6 and 800-X at a LGS. I wondered which would be better for loading .45 230gr and 9mm 124gr, both plated RN. Just for range plinking.

[m657]

I prefer HS6 of that pair choice. It meters well enough in my Dillon & isn't too obnoxious smelling. It does seem to have a rather flat odd sound to the muzzle retort.

The 9mms I loaded recently in all recipes from mfg site, worked well enough and were pleasant recoil even at the upper end.

The only reason I loaded HS6 was nothing I was familiar with was on the shelves.

Even my 45 acps were acceptable.

And since 700x didn't work well in my 650 I figured 800x wouldn't either. Plus IIRC their data chart has less range of recipes than HS6...although I don't recall for sure now.

[flyrobb]

Thanks m657. I think I'll run over tomorrow and grab a lb. of HS6.

[old&slow]

I use & like HS6 in my 45 acp & 9mm. Sorry, I have never used 800x.
Seems to prefer heavy bullets and 'warmer' powder charges. There are better powders for light loads.

[JBnTx]

HS-6 is a very underrated powder. It performs well in a variety of handgun calibers and is one of my favorite powders.

It works really well in the 45acp and 9mm.

[Skeet 028]

Or Winchester 540. Same thing. I was surprised and felt very lucky to find 5 1 pound cans of older Win 540 at a gun show recently..bought 'em all for 40 bucks. 540(HS-6) is a good mid to upper range powder in many calibers. You can get close to mag results in the larger caibers and good mid to upper velocities in the pistol cals. Great powder

[indie_rocker]

800x meters like shellac flakes, I would go with HS-6 for 9mm any day, it's better suited for its weights anyways.

I do like 800x for 10mm, but I have to weigh every... single... drop... because the variations are all over the place. But it produces some outstanding velocities, shoots clean and is usually not hard to find.

[arkdweller22]

Hs-6 is definitely the easier powder with which to work.
800X is excellent for top velocities especially in 40S&W and 10mm but meters like corn flakes.

If I could only have one of those two, it would be HS-6.

[Nevada Ed]

Back in the 1970's I loaded 9mm with 800-x and it did not
produce maximum speeds in my old Radom.
It did a much better job with the 38 and 357 Magnum, however.

I did not load HS6 back then but have used it the last few years
since it was available. It has worked in the 9 to the 357 but
with mag primers only in the 38 and 357 cases.

The high pressure 9mm case is probably better off with just the
small pistol primers.

Good luck.

[flyrobb]

Thanks Gents! Sounds like HS6 is the way to go for what I am loading. Didn't get to the store today but hopefully tomorrow after work, if it's still there.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by flyrobb

Powder has been a bit hard to come by around here

LOLOLOLOL

[Treeman]

I expected that most would say HS-6. I am inclined toward the 800X. NO it does not meter as precisely as HS-6, however 800x burns cleaner over a wider range of pressures, is more versatile regarding plinking loads, doesn't leave tiny unburned powder balls to get under the ejecter star of a revolver and does not come with a "use magnum primers" notation.

[stillhere]

+1 on 800x
I use it for 45 Colt, 357 Mag and 44 Mag, all with excellent results. Yes, it meters poorly, but it's inexpensive, both to buy, and to use, and I've found the accuracy to be commendable.

[flyrobb]

I suppose I better get one of each

[Treeman]

Now there is an admirable idea!

[Huskerguy]

I tried HS-6, was very disappointed. I dont load hot and that turns out to be the weakness of 6. I have nearly all of a lb. and gave up on it. I use W231 and titegroup exclusively. Tend to like TG better.

[GJH77]

Originally Posted by Nevada Ed

Back in the 1970's I loaded 9mm with 800-x and it did not
produce maximum speeds in my old Radom.
It did a much better job with the 38 and 357 Magnum, however

I just bought my first 800x intending to load 45 and 9mm. I couldn't find any data on the 357 or the 38. What would your loads be and where did you all find them? Thanks

[Treeman]

I have not checked the Hogdon site(They own IMR now and have data online.) But I have my old Dupont Handloaders Guide which has data for 800x for almost every pistol caliber. Let me know chambering and bullet weight and I'll look it up for you.

[Nevada Ed]

If you can find a old IMR manual dated 5/2001..........

125gr jacket 6.9grs 980 fps 15,500 cup
158gr LRN at 5.7grs 875 fps 16,000 cup.
These will work in any J frame.............that is a 38 special.

[m657]

Appreciate the information from those favoring 800x....

re: "Yes, it meters poorly, but it's inexpensive, both to buy, and to use, and I've found the accuracy to be commendable."

in the case of 'meters poorly' just what procedures are useful to overcome that phrase?

While I'm not in the 'compulsive exactitudinarian' camp, I've found generally my pistol loads seem more predictable when I can manage to keep the charges within a couple tenths....

but when they start jumping around in .5 g from charge to charge I get nervous.....

Just what IS the 'acceptable variation' in powder charge weight can we comfortably accept?

[fredj338]

Definitely the HS6. Unless you want to hand weigh every charge, 800X offers little to the reloader IMO. Some are in love with it for 10mm full power loads, but I just can't stand to hand weigh charges.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by m657

While I'm not in the 'compulsive exactitudinarian' camp, I've found generally my pistol loads seem more predictable when I can manage to keep the charges within a couple tenths....

but when they start jumping around in .5 g from charge to charge I get nervous.....

Just what IS the 'acceptable variation' in powder charge weight can we comfortably accept?

Depends on where in the pressure range you are loading. I can get +/- 0.3-0.4gr with 800X in my Dillon. At the midrange, it's just annoying, at the top end, could be dangerous. So not for me. I have about 1/2# left, when it's gone, I'll never buy more. Many love it for the 10mm, but I prefer AA#9 or Longshot there.

[stillhere]

[QUOTE=m657;138515161]Appreciate the information from those favoring 800x....

re: "Yes, it meters poorly, but it's inexpensive, both to buy, and to use, and I've found the accuracy to be commendable."

in the case of 'meters poorly' just what procedures are useful to overcome that phrase?

Well, that is the bane of 800x. I use a Redding powder measure, which measures beautifully.....except 800x. Therefore I measure every drop...and and I simply accept that as the price for what is otherwise a technically excellent powder, and an uderrated one. 800x has a generally terrible reputation but only because it takes a little more work to measure it, and a lot of folks simply don't want the bother. There's no easy way around it, I'm afraid.

[indie_rocker]

Originally Posted by m657

While I'm not in the 'compulsive exactitudinarian' camp, I've found generally my pistol loads seem more predictable when I can manage to keep the charges within a couple tenths....

but when they start jumping around in .5 g from charge to charge I get nervous.....

Just what IS the 'acceptable variation' in powder charge weight can we comfortably accept?

I reload on a budget and use Lee equipment. The dies & press work great, powder measure leaves something to desire with larger flake powder though. With that said.

It depends on what I'm loading for:
If at the upper limits of data, precision is absolutely necessary and I strive for exact measurement. With 800x I drop close to my desired weight and trickle to the weight with a digital scale +/- .1gr., but I would much rather be under than over.

If just loading target stuff, it's a little different. Most of my other powder meters great... except 800x. So I'm still tricking but +/- .3gr.

[GJH77]

Originally Posted by Nevada Ed

If you can find a old IMR manual dated 5/2001..........

125gr jacket 6.9grs 980 fps 15,500 cup
158gr LRN at 5.7grs 875 fps 16,000 cup.
These will work in any J frame.............that is a 38 special.

Nevada Ed and Treeman,
Thanks for the info. The 38 Spl-158 LRN is what I am looking for.
Do you have a load for the 158 LRN in .357?

The Hodgdon website only lists the 800X for 9 and 45. The Lee manual also only lists the 9 & 45 but shows higher loads than the website for the same bullet.

[aurora40]

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/357mag.php
http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/38spec.php

Glad many don't like it, that may be why it's been easy to get.

[Treeman]

.357 158gr Lead SWC lists 8.9 as max. 158 grain jacketed has 8.6 as max. No listing for 158 lead rn.(but in .38/.357 almost all lead bullets have crimp grooves giving near equal powder space encroachment and have similar bearing surface so that most sources show nearly the same pressures and max loads for various 158 grain bullets.
My own favorite "soft magnum" load in .357 is 8.2 grains of 800X with 150-160 grain cast bullets. that does 1100+ fps from a 3" barrel.

As for metering I find that in charges over 8 grains + or- a tenth is easy to achieve with the Lee autodisk IF measure /press operation is consistent.