I’m getting low on power pistol and looking at what I’m gonna use for 9mm. I have 231/38 that’ll work but I also have a random pound of hs-6 on the shelf. Not sure when or why I got it but it’s here so I might as well use it. Seems like it might work for 9mm and I was wondering if you guys had any luck with it. Does it work better for mid or top loads? I shoot a mix of cast and plated bullets usually in the 115-124 range.

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Jim

That’s my favorite powder for full power 9mm loads, particularly in S&W semi-autos.

It's a great powder and use it in all of the calibers I load. 9mm,38/357.44special/mag, 45 colt and 480 Ruger. It was almost always available in my area during the recent shortages.

HS-6 is a great powder for 9mm loads from light target to +P loads.
You do need to go from a OAL of 1.075 to 1.165" with all of the bullets that I used
but you will find a "Happy load" in your ventures.

Here are some of my fps with the FMJ ( Ball) plated bullets that I tried.

in a 3.5" barrel ...................... a 5" barrel
115gr 1020-1180 ................. 1045-1325
124gr 1014-1150 ................. 1055-1198
147gr 807-975 ..................... 905-1025

Some of the starting loads in manuals are too low for my pistols
however the maximum loads are all, big time safe.

Have fun.

I've found very limited usefulness for HS-6. I have developed some (but not many) accurate loads with it in most of the popular handgun cartridges using cast bullets. I'm down to less than a pound from an 8 lb. container. I doubt I'd buy anymore.

Comparing HS-6 to Power Pistol? I developed a greater number of accurate loads with Power Pistol than HS-6. HS-6 allegedly works best with near maximum loads. Not necessarily, based on my experience. Magnum primers are generally recommended for HS-6. I've tested it for velocity and accuracy using standard and magnum primers; virtually no difference.

Use HS-6 if you like it. To me, it's the ultimate "niche" handgun cartridge powder.

Thanks guys! I’m not looking to duplicate power pistol exactly but the local store has 1lb containers for the cool price of $65 so I’m not in a hurry to buy more!

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Jim

HS-6 ok in 9mm , not 38 special. The higher pressure of 9mm burns the powder better.

I like HS-6 a lot in .45 Colt - great accuracy throwing a 255-grainer at 10 to 50 yards from a 7.5" handgun and it really delivers the mail (although I can't recall whether my load is still halal according to whatever SAAMI has published lately). I've tried HS-6 in several other calibers, but this is the only place I continue to use it.

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As I mentioned in an earlier post, I found little usefulness for this powder, but the most accurate load I developed for the .45 Colt was with HS-6 powder and a 255-260 cast Lyman #454424 design. Beat the Unique load I had used for many years.

HS-6 is the new name for Winchester 540. I used a lot of 540 / HS-6 when I was shooting 38 super major loads in USPSA. You have to have a supported chamber but you can get up close to 357 mag power with it. 540 was really popular among USPSA shooters in the early to mid 90’s. Of course do not try to load to this level without using a supported chamber and working up slowly to those levels.

I still like the powder and often use it in 45LC and 44 special. I especially like it 45LC. Heavy pistol loads can create quite a major muzzle flash.

As mentioned, HS-6 powder can be used for +P loads but I have also
use this powder as a light target load in my pistols.

You will need to match the OAL with the bullets used in the manuals, for safe pressures.
Most are with a JHP, while 90% of my shooting was with the plated RN style bullets
and a OAL was not posted for a lot of my powders, so I used my chrony a lot
until I got to learn this powder and how it works.

Here are three bullet weights that I use for light target practice, that eject in my lighter spring pistols, using HS-6 powder.

115gr 6.1grs with a oal of 1.12"
124gr 6.0grs .................. 1.14"
147gr 4.8grs .................. 1.13"

There are some manuals that have much lighter charges of HS-6 powder
but they were filthy dirty and did not eject 100% of the time, for me.

Good shooting.

I borrowed some HS-6 from a friend so I could try out a duplication of the "FBI load" that ArchAngelCD developed and posted on here more than a decade ago. Liked it so much I bought an 8 lb jug just for that load.

Very hot 38Spl and 357 are the only cartridges Ive had any luck using hs-6. In my view it requires a mag primer

I burn a lot of it in .475 Linebaugh. Makes a very accurate mid-range load.

IIRC there is a thread somewhere in the reloading section of this forum about trying to duplicate the FBI/Treasury 38 special loads.

If my memory is correct, HS-6 was the powder that came closest to duplicating the performance of those iconic "old school" loads.

But I could be mistaken...

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From experience HS-6 is better in longer barrels since it’s not a fast burning powder. I have some hotter 38 special loads but shoot those in my carbine with a 16” barrel. As I previously mentioned, I experienced quite a bit of flash in heavier loads with a 5” barrel and wound up migrating to CFE Pistol. CFE Pistol is good in some moderately heavy loads and contains a flash retardant that I really like.

Thanks for the help and ideas everyone! The process of moving right now but when I get my bench set back up I’m gonna play with the hs6 a bit. I remember that fbi load thread…gonna look that back up!

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Jim