HS-6 for pistol

B

Ballisticrat

Inactive
Anyone here use HS-6 powder for handgun loads? Just curious, saw it on Hodgon's site and they said it was a good powder for some pistol loads.
 
I've used it in .45 Auto in the past. Dirty, but gave good velocity. Can require a magnum primer for best ignition consistency. Power Pistol works better for me, but HS-6 has been around a long time and is still preferred by some for specific bullets and chamberings.
 
I have used it extensively for years. Still do. I have lots of data.

To describe it overarching: It prefers to be loaded up pretty good in order for it to run clean. It's less of a problem with small cases like 9mm and 40 S&W.

But it's a very pronounced problem with your spacious revolver cases 38/357, 44 Spl/Mag, 45 Colt.

45 ACP is a bit of a wild card (what else is new :p). It's kind of in-between; but runs real well stoked up good n hot.
 
I'll let you know I'll be testing it for the first time with both 45acp 230gr LRN & 9mm 115gr Rainier plated RN on Monday . Stay tuned :)

If I may add a question , How does it handle heat . The temp should be in the mid 90's on monday and I was wondering how much high temperatures effect pistol loads ?

If I test it in the mid 90's and find something I like . Then shoot that load in the mid 70's like it usually is here . Will there be a big difference in performance ?
 
HS-6 in 38 special with cast bullets- to dirty

38 Special- Ash left from firing 5 rounds of HS-6 at 6.3 gr with 158 gr cast lswc. WSPM used. At 50 yards, firing 5 shot groups- 7 1/4" 6 3/4" and 4 3/4" using 2 hands.
HS%206%20%2038%20spec_zpslxq1thst.jpg
May work better with jacketed +P loadings??
 
HS-6 for 38 Special

243winxb's results are typical.

I stopped loading HS-6 with both 38 and 44 Special. There just isn't enough pressure there.

I suppose if you went with a jacketed 158 and pumped it up real hot (maybe beyond +P??), it would eventually clean up. I won't bother.

HS-6 is a low-energy propellant that needs to develop significant pressure in order to run good, clean, and consistent.

On the good side, once you find the sweet spot, it's a very consistent running powder. And that "sweet spot" is easiest to find when it's pushing heavy bullets.
 
I use it for very warm 357 loads. I'm also working up a 9mm load with it, where I understand it does a little better without having to hot-rod it.
 
I use HS-6 for my USPSA loads in 9mm. It gives me a good minor power factor with 135 gr. RN bullets. I don't have any issues with unturned powder.
 
I use it mainly for my revolvers in 357, 41, 44, and 45 Colt with medium to heavy for caliber cast bullets. Years ago I used a ton of it for loading heavy field loads for my 12 guage.

To say it is the cleanest burning powder would be misleading, but even with a touch of residue I have no issues with it at all. This is a pick of the barrel of my 45 Colt after a hundred plus rounds of cast bullets ranging form 250 thru 290grs, it gets the majority of what I load with this powder,
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I gave up on trying to find loads which left everything pristine years ago. I load for performance and accuracy and will clean as necessary if needed.

(if you saw what my revolvers look like after a couple of hours riding with me on the tractor, you wouldn't bother worrying about the powder residue anyway.;))
 
I'm shooting 12 grs of HS6 with a 270 gr WFN bullet in 45 Colt and love it.
It's a very accurate load moving right at 1100 fps from a 5 1/2 inch barrel Ruger Bisley revolver, it cleaned up when I seated the bullets deeper.
 
HS-6 works well in my 40 S&W with 175 grain bullets. I don't notice it being more or less dirty than any of the other powders I use in the 40.
 
I was using Unique for my .45 Colt and switched to HS-6 because that was all I could get my hands on locally. I love it.

It burns cleanly and has a quicker snap to it than when I was using Unique. I'm a fan.
 
I have several great loads for both 44 mag and 45 Colt using HS6 and CCI-350 mag primers. Keep the pressures near the top and use mag primers and you get great accuracy with clean burning, and you use 30-40% less powder than the real slow burners, but still keep about 90% of the top velocity. Good stuff!
 
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