HS-6 or 800-x ?

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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.