anybody using HS-6 in a 9mm

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1sailor

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I've always used either Universal or w231 (HP38) for loading my 9mm's. these seem to flow extremely well through my Lee powder measure and I get consistant charges. right now though I can't find either of these two powders in my area but they did have a couple of 1lb cannisters of HS-6. Can't seem to find any info at all doing a search on the site. Anyone have any experience with it. In all likelyhood the two cannisters won't be sitting long on the shelf before they too dissapear.
 
What general area are you in? Maybe someone can point you in the right direction for supplies. It seems a tad slow to me, for most uses. I'd check the Hodgdon site & see what they offer for data.
 
I'm on the oregon coast. the next closest outlet is about 125 miles away. Hodgdon does list some loads for it . Seems to be about equal to Universal in velocity and pressure with a decidedly heavier charge.
 
I just looked & see Powder Valley got hit pretty hard with orders, out of stock with many items. I do see some H Universal in stock though. Maybe just order from them & pay the Haz-Mat fee? It would most likely still be cheaper than local with your time & gas. You could add some primers if they have them too? Just an idea. This is no time to have low supplies.
 
No primers available at powder valley. the shipping and hazmat for a couple of pounds of powder kind of puts it out of range. I figure I've got enough powder and primer to load about 1000 rounds. Kind of on the lucky side is that during the winter I don't get out shooting as often so, I probably have maybe a couple months worth of supplies. Hope things start getting better by then.
 
The best use I've found for HS-6 is with 147gr bullets in the 9mm. It does a fair job with 115gr but is a bit flashy and other powders like Unique and AA5 will produce better velocities.
 
I've been using HS-6 for the last couple years.
There is 9mm reloading info in the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Ed.,, Lyman 48th Ed. Reloading Handbook, Hornady 5th Ed. & Speer #12. I like the Lyman books. I think they have more powder / bullet combinations listed.
I've used HS-6 in my 9's, .40's, 10's, & .45's seems to work OK.
 
It works fine on my 125gr lead bullets. I would buy some until all this blows over.
 
Rule3 said:
You say some place has HS6?? BUY IT.

It is a great powder for a lot of calibers.


Very good for the 9mm and 40 as well as 38, 357.

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

ArchAngleCD eats it for breakfast.:D

It's late or I would dig out my manuals.
Click to expand...
I do not eat it for breakfast although I have been known to sprinkle it over my cereal! LOL

To OP,
Go out and buy the Feb. 2013 issue of Handloader #282. On page 50 there is an entire article by Brian Pearce on the 9mm including a lot of load data and it includes some data for HS-6... The reported velocity using HS-6 with a 147gr bullet is impressive.
 
I've not used HS 6, but my experience has been very good with slower powders in the 9 mm. I'm a fan of Longshot for top velocity loads in 9 and .40 S&W.

I've had great results with Accurate #7 in both these rounds too.
 
my everyday target,plinking loads in 9mm are 6 gr of HS-6 with Berrys 124 gr plated flat nose. Nice soft recoil, and never a FTF in my Sig P225.
 
Ive got some but havent used it, I think a lot of the action pistol guys use it. Dont t even think this shortage will be gone in a few months.
 
ArchAngel uses it like pepper! :D

All kidding aside, from what I have used of the powder, it is lead friendly and when used with magnum primers, is a great powder for those upper end or higher pressure semi-auto loads.

I think AA will verify that a magnum primer is much needed with HS-6.
 
Skip Sackett said:
ArchAngel uses it like pepper! :D

All kidding aside, from what I have used of the powder, it is lead friendly and when used with magnum primers, is a great powder for those upper end or higher pressure semi-auto loads.

I think AA will verify that a magnum primer is much needed with HS-6.
Click to expand...
While you will come across those who swear you don't need to use a magnum primer. I have tried both standard and magnum primers in several different cartridges and with nothing different other than the primer itself the magnum primers always perform better. The SD numbers go single digit, the powder burns completely and the accuracy improves. Since they cost no more than standard primers there's no reason not to use what works better...
 
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HS-6 canister shows 6.8 grains with 124 gr. bullet. Tryed it in my 39 primers a little too flat for my taste and slide cycled so fast that with out a round in the mag to help slow the slide down the last round case mouth got caught, and ruined, by the slide! And yes the recoil spring is stock and changed out at approx. 500 rounds ago. Got more rounds loaded with same bullet and 6.3 grs. of powder. Half box with fed. standard primers and half with fed. magnum primers. Too many people at the range the last two times to set up chrono, so haven't checked out the "reduced loads".
 
Just for fun...........how deep did you seat those 124s? The 9mm is more seating depth sensitive than most due to its small case capacity. I have run 124s in front of 7.0 of HS6 and while peppy it isn't violent.
 
Treeman said:
Just for fun...........how deep did you seat those 124s? The 9mm is more seating depth sensitive than most due to its small case capacity. I have run 124s in front of 7.0 of HS6 and while peppy it isn't violent.
Click to expand...
Sorry about the delay in replying! Bullet is Xtreme 124 FP and I seat it to 1.110. That works out to .020 over Hodgdon's recomended length of 1.090. Could run a stronger recoil spring to slow the slide down, that's just hiding the fact that the load is too hot in my gun. Besides I got this 357 sig (9mm on steriods) when I have that ole need for speed!
 
I use HS-6 in 9mm, 6.8 gr. std primer, 124 gr. Gold Dot. Have not chrono'd, shoots nice in several Smith's, Glock 19, Berreta 92. Used to load it in commercial shop, 6.6 gr. with Berry's 124 plated, never had any problems in several hundred thousand shot.
 
Due to the small case of the 9mm , HS-6 is the slowest Hodgdon powder that will work the best with the larger bullets.
I sort of like to have a case that is at least 50% full of powder or more when reloading,for peace of mind. I am always double checking loads with Bullseye and other fast powders to make sure there IS powder in the case and also not too much !!
I don't mind a little more powder in the case, to keep the gray hairs away a little longer.

Herco seems close to this powder also but you do not hear of it being used in 9mm loads. Just Unique and a little Bluedot.
 
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