Hodgdon HS-6
- Thread starter tgwillard
- Start date
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Calling Tony!
ARCHANGEL, ARCHANGEL,ARCHANGEL, we're talking about HS-6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(He either loves the stuff or is part owner of the patent!
)
All kidding aside, HS-6 is a great powder in the upper ranges of cartridge performances. It is a ball powder that meters like a dream and is consistent to the "inth" degree. All of that said, the old timers used magnum primers with it because it has a tendency to leave unburnt powder behind. If you try to make target loads with it, say 38spl, 158gr bullets at 800fps, you may be disappointed in it's performance.
No, HS-6 has a viable place in all the cartridges you have mentioned, it's application in all of them is towards the upper ranges of performance in them though.
ARCHANGEL, ARCHANGEL,ARCHANGEL, we're talking about HS-6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(He either loves the stuff or is part owner of the patent!
)All kidding aside, HS-6 is a great powder in the upper ranges of cartridge performances. It is a ball powder that meters like a dream and is consistent to the "inth" degree. All of that said, the old timers used magnum primers with it because it has a tendency to leave unburnt powder behind. If you try to make target loads with it, say 38spl, 158gr bullets at 800fps, you may be disappointed in it's performance.
No, HS-6 has a viable place in all the cartridges you have mentioned, it's application in all of them is towards the upper ranges of performance in them though.
James_Joshua
Member
I used HS-6 for a while. In my 5" 1911 it was getting incomplete burns. It meters quite well with any powder measure, because of the small flakes. I have been using Titegroup lately. Same size flake as HS-6, but to me it's much better than HS-6. More complete burning = cleaner, and will load to higher fps. The only down side is HEAT. After shooting 20 rounds through my j frame in about a 5 minute time frame, the cylinder was quite warm. Try Titegroup.
borealis
Member
As others have already mentioned, HS-6 performs best on the upper end loads. I use it with heavier, 230g .45 ACP loads for my 1911. I haven't seen any issue with unburned powder with these loads. I use the WLP primers with the HS-6 in this combination.
I am curious as to how it will perform if I ever get around to building some snappier loads for the .38 spl.
I am curious as to how it will perform if I ever get around to building some snappier loads for the .38 spl.
HS-6 is the best powder I have found for my 9x19s, particularly the 3rd generation S&Ws. It works well with all bullet weights, but I do not download 9x19 since I have never been able to get good accuracy with target or light loaded ammunition in any gun I have owned. I think Longshot may give HS-6 a run for its money in 9x19, but since you didn't ask about that...
I have a friend who prefers HS-6 for his .38 Special reloading and is very happy with it, but (again) his loads are not in the light category.
There are probably better powders for light loads in the .38 and .357, like 231.
Thanks for all of the comments. I can continue to use Unique for my light target loads and use HS-6 for something with more velocity. I would imagine that a recommended starting load for HS-6 would take this factor into account. For 9mm I use 115 gr, for .38 spl I use 125 gr, for .40 S&W I use 155 gr, and for .45 acp I use 200 gr as well as 230 gr.
For my .38 spl loads I can go with a hotter load, since I am using a 686 for my wheel gun.
For my .38 spl loads I can go with a hotter load, since I am using a 686 for my wheel gun.
When labeled as WW540 (once upon a time), it was the powder of choice for those adventerous folks who wanted to "make major" with 9mm or .38 Super. I've got an insert taped into one of my load manuals with pressure tested data for .38 Super. In the test barrel, the loads were within SAAMI pressure limits for .38 Super. Lord only knows about 9mm-I chickened out way before that.
Note: "make major" required bullet weight in grains x velocity/1000=170 or better for IPSC competition.
Note: "make major" required bullet weight in grains x velocity/1000=170 or better for IPSC competition.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Everything said above is spot-on. HS-6 does get a little hot, after all, it is a shotgun powder. HS-6 is a great powder IMO but only when used correctly and for the right applications. When HS-5 was still available it would have been a better choice for what you are looking to do. HS-6 will work very will for your 9mm and 40 S&W ammo but not .38 Special ammo at target pressures. I use HS-6 for .38 Special +P ammo. As for the .45 Auto, I would use HS-6 for hot ammo, not target loads because unlike the 9mm and 40 S&W, the .45 Auto is a fairly low pressure ctg. I would suggest using W231/HP-38 for target ammo in all 4 applications.
Do you really think I talk about HS-6 that much??? Naaaa...
In my experiments I have found that 9.0 gr of HS6 with a standard primer under a 158gr JHP bullet (used MagTech most recently) makes a great mid-range everyday .357 mag load. All my revolvers shoot very accurately with it. I have also used HS6 in mid-range .44 mag loads, again with standard primers and 240 gr SWC or JHP bullets. I don't remember the exact charge (I would need to look it up) but it was something like 11-12 grains or so. Still provides enough thump to let you know that you are shooting a .44, but recoil is much easier to handle. I am also going to try .45 colt midrange loads and some high-enegry .45 ACP JHP, probably 185's.
I've used it in .44 Special and Mag, .45 colt and .500 Linebaugh. My load development shows that it brings in some of the most consistent velocities that I've ever seen, and I've loaded at least 10 or more common handgun powders.
Sonny
Sonny
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Good choice. Do you need some loads for that powder?
HP38 Loads
Yes. Some recommended starting loads would be appreciated for the following:
9mm - 115 grain fmj
.38 special - 125 grain copper coated
.357 - 125 grain copper coated
.40 S&W - 155 grain copper coated
.45 acp - 230 grain fmj
.45 acp - 200 grain copper coated
Yes. Some recommended starting loads would be appreciated for the following:
9mm - 115 grain fmj
.38 special - 125 grain copper coated
.357 - 125 grain copper coated
.40 S&W - 155 grain copper coated
.45 acp - 230 grain fmj
.45 acp - 200 grain copper coated
Mortech
Well-known member
I've been using it mainly as my 40&W powder and in my plinking 10MM loads , its been quite good and I haven't had issues with incomplete burns in the lighter loads . I do like the way it meters as compared to 800-X .
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
9mm
115gr FMJ over 4.8gr W231/HP-38
124gr LRN over 4.0gr W231/HP-38
124gr FMJ over 4.4gr W231/HP-38
.38 Special
125gr LRN over 4.2gr W231/HP-38
125gr FMJ over 4.4gr W231/HP-38
148gr DEWC over 3.2gr W231/HP-38
158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231/HP-38
.357 Magnum
158gr LSWC over 4.8gr W231/HP-38
158gr JSP over 6.4gr W231/HP-38
.45 Auto
200gr LSWC or FMJ over 5.5gr W231/HP-38
230gr LRN or FMJ over 5.5gr W231/HP-38
Last edited:
doubleshotslim
Member
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- Mar 31, 2013
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And if you are using HS-6, how much for an 115gr. FMJ would you use?
I already suggested an answer to your question on the other thread. A manual will serve you well plus the online site I linked for you.
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