HS6 Powder Fact or Fiction

[TurboDieselTorque]

I have done some research on HS6 loads for my 357 and have see a few comments on HS6 being too hard on the frames of revolvers and cutting the barrel or forcing cone. Has anyone had any experience with this?

HS6 is the only powder available to me, and I am shooting out of a 586 6" barrel.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[blujax01]

Fiction...

 

[gaijin]

Ditto. Fiction.

 

[mikld]

I think all revolvers have the tendency to "flame cut" the frame and forcing cone, but in nearly 30 years of revolver shooting it hasn't been a problem with any of the powders I've used (nearly every popular powder for 38/357, .44 Spec/Mag.). I have read that some powders' "flame temperature" is higher and more damaging to guns, and certain combinations (125 gr. bullets pushed fast in .357 Mag. revolvers) but I don't reload an hyper velocity varmint ammo and most my reloading is low end stuff...

 

[Collo Rosso]

I used to load 40S&W with HS-6 with good results. Clean burning powder! I stopped loading 40S&W and have played with it for hotter 9mm and 45acp loads with the same clean burn and soft recoil. Looking at the load data it looks to get pretty good velocity with low pressures. If it was all I had I'd be loading 357 mag in a heart beat!

 

[Waywatcher]

Sounds like fiction.

I've never had a load yet where HS-6 was best, though. I tried it in .38 +P and .40 and always found it had high extreme spreads and was very position sensitive--with both standard and magnum primers. I still have most of a pound left. In its burn rate, I found Power Pistol superior in every respect in my loads.

 

[Rule3]

Fact, it's fiction

Were is ARCH? He sprinkles the stuff on his breakfast cereal

I like Power Pistol also in 9 and 40 but the OP was asking about 357 Mag

Flame cutting will occur with most mag powders for a little bit then stop, The ones that folks complain about are the alloy frames with the stainless steel flame guard. I have not even "dented" mine. If it does SW can replace it.

 

[Harrison]

Sounds like fiction.

I've never had a load yet where HS-6 was best, though. I tried it in .38 +P and .40 and always found it had high extreme spreads and was very position sensitive--with both standard and magnum primers. I still have most of a pound left. In its burn rate, I found Power Pistol superior in every respect in my loads.

How could almost any powder be position sensitive in a 40 S&W???

 

[TurboDieselTorque]

Thanks for the info guys I don't push it with my loads and HS6 is the only powder I have available for pistols in Albuquerque, NM. I will load some with Hornady XTP 125 and 158 grain and see what happens, I'll work it up ffrom7.5 gr of HS6 for 158 and maybe 8.5 for the 125. Anyway thanks again.

 

[rwsmith]

IF

IF it cuts at all the frame at all it will only be cut superficially and stop. The hotter powders like H110 and W291 are said to do this, but it doesn't seem to bother my 686 any. I decided not to shoot the hottest loads anyway. Hurts too much.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

HS-6 is no worse than most powders and better than many when it comes to how "hot" the flame is. I use mostly HS-6 for lead bullets in the .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum because I feel it's not hot and won't damage the bullet base as much as some of the other powders available like Longshot.

IMO HS-6 is a good choice for the .357 Magnum for anything other than the highest velocities and it's very accurate for me. I highly suggest you use a Magnum primer when loading HS-6. If you don't please don't make your next thread badmouthing HS-6 for being dirty and leaving a lot of unburnt powder in the barrel. Using a Magnum primer will fix that and probably drop your SD numbers to single digits.

Which bullet are you going to load and what weight?

 

[Reddog]

I've never used HS-6 in the .38 Special but I have used HS-5 and it's one of the most accurate powders I've ever used! 700X is another powder that's been very accurate for me in the .38. I don't load a lot of .357 Mag. Usually jump to .41 Mag when I want more than the .38 Special can give!
Dick

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've never used HS-6 in the .38 Special but I have used HS-5 and it's one of the most accurate powders I've ever used! 700X is another powder that's been very accurate for me in the .38. I don't load a lot of .357 Mag. Usually jump to .41 Mag when I want more than the .38 Special can give!
Dick

You are right, HS-5 was a very accurate powder for the .38 Special. I don't use HS-6 for standard pressure .38 special rounds, only at +P pressures.

 

[TurboDieselTorque]

HS-6 is no worse than most powders and better than many when it comes to how "hot" the flame is. I use mostly HS-6 for lead bullets in the .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum because I feel it's not hot and won't damage the bullet base as much as some of the other powders available like Longshot.

IMO HS-6 is a good choice for the .357 Magnum for anything other than the highest velocities and it's very accurate for me. I highly suggest you use a Magnum primer when loading HS-6. If you don't please don't make your next thread badmouthing HS-6 for being dirty and leaving a lot of unburnt powder in the barrel. Using a Magnum primer will fix that and probably drop your SD numbers to single digits.

Which bullet are you going to load and what weight?

I am loading Hornady XTP 158gr AND 125gr, I learned about HS6 being "dirty" and I use WSPM primers on all my loads for 357 and 38 loads with good results. I have been using cast plated bullets under 1000 fps so I was not worried about "cutting" the barrel, now that I finally got my hands on some good bullets I just wanted to make sure I don't damage anything. Thanks for the info

 

[harley46580]

I use HS6 for about everything I shoot handgun wise any more so that's 10MM 45ACP 44 Magnum and 357 I like that it fills the cases nicely and burns clean for me at medium to full loads. I have never had any gun damage form it.

 

[OldGoat]

I have a few pounds of Winchester 540 which is supposed to be HS6 in the Winchester label. The powder is at least 20 years old, stored in a Winchester can. Any thoughts if is safe to use with magnum pistol primers for moderate target loads in .357? Thanks, Ed

 

[BCDWYO]

Sounds like fiction.

I've never had a load yet where HS-6 was best, though. I tried it in .38 +P and .40 and always found it had high extreme spreads and was very position sensitive--with both standard and magnum primers. I still have most of a pound left. In its burn rate, I found Power Pistol superior in every respect in my loads.

Sorry for my ignorance, but can you explain what you mean by position sensitive?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a few pounds of Winchester 540 which is supposed to be HS6 in the Winchester label. The powder is at least 20 years old, stored in a Winchester can. Any thoughts if is safe to use with magnum pistol primers for moderate target loads in .357? Thanks, Ed

Why would it not be safe? The worst that could happen is, it doesn't go bang. lol

Yes, W540 is/was HS-6 and is a great choice for middle to middle hot .357 Magnum loads. I use nothing else for that job and I always use a Magnum primer because it makes HS-6 really shine.

 

[OldGoat]

Why would it not be safe? The worst that could happen is, it doesn't go bang. lol

Yes, W540 is/was HS-6 and is a great choice for middle to middle hot .357 Magnum loads. I use nothing else for that job and I always use a Magnum primer because it makes HS-6 really shine.

Thank you very much....oh, yes, I will listen for the "bang". . Best Regards. Ed

 

[TurboDieselTorque]

Just an update at least a thousand rounds later and no flame cut in my model 10, 19, 586, 29, or any others I use it in (rugers). Happy shooting