HS-6

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Waketurb007

New member
Hey Guys & Gals,

I have some HS-6 that I was going to try in 9mm with 115 gn LRN and 40 180 gn Berrys Plated FP

I pulled the load data off the Hodgdon website and I am a little concerned about the narrow range from the min to max load with this powder. Have any of you used it with these bullet combinations? If so how did it perform for you?
 
I wasn't impressed with HS-6 when used with 9mm, there are better powders for the job.

I don't load for 40 S&W. But it is my favorite powder to push a 135 gn Nosler blazing fast in 10mm.
 
It'll work for both.

HS-6 is notorious for not burning clean. It actually does burn clean, however. The trick is to load it right. And that "trick" is pressure pressure pressure. Don't be shy with HS-6 - it needs to be loaded up real good. When you do that (do your proper load work ups, of course), it cleans up and runs consistent.

For 9mm, the 115gn bullet is a bit light for HS-6, but you can make it work - gotta load it up though. It prefers the steeper pressure curve of heavier bullets, however. For 9mm, HS-6 runs more consistent with 124gn, and especially, 147gn bullets. (The biggest issue here is the lead slug. By the time you load up that 115 to where the propellant is running good and crisp, you're likely to run into serious leading problems. But I don't mean to turn this into a leading problem post.)

The 180gn is a great choice for the 40 S&W. You're right on track with that one.

Don't expect to set any speed records with HS-6. It's not an energetic propellant. You'll get good velocities - don't get me wrong - but you won't get top velocities. When loaded right, what you will get is good, consistent, burners. It'll make good ammo.
 
The narrow range from the min to max load is fairly normal for all handgun loads. Clays and a jacketed 115 only has a .2 difference(.4 with a .40 cal 180)and higher pressures in 9mm. Not something to worry about.
 
I would use magnum primers, it helps.
Click to expand...

With revolver cartridges (38/357, 44Spl/Mag, 45 Colt), I'd say mag primers are a must.

With semi-auto cartridges, not so much. The tight quarters of the semi-auto cases (9mm, 40S&W, 10mm) seem to alleviate the necessity of a mag primer.
 
I like slower powder for pistols, so hs-6 is one of my favorites. Because it is slow burning, it tends to be sooty for light loads. It is normal. 9mm data from some sources is too conservative for reasons unknown, so much so that some guns even short cycle. Work up the load is how I do it.

-TL
 
hs-6 rocks. I use it for all my 9mm SD ammo. it's tops for velocity and have never seen any unburned powder. I do, however, use magnum primesr for all my 9mm ammo, so maybe that's why I don't share the same "dirty" consensus. since I save whatever HS-6 I can find for SD ammo, it's generally loaded hot. the only thing that beats HS-6 in velocity is CFE pistol. only complaint I have is when loading 90gr projectiles I have some capacity issues.

Overall, I think it's the BEST choice for 9mm. But, as you already know, opinions are like.......... everyone's got one.

if just making "plinking" ammo, maybe you would want another powder, since downloading HS-6 sounds like it can lead to unburned powder.
 
I'm with Skiz...it's #1 in my book for the 9mm. Plus i can use it in the .357/.44 also. I've never experienced the 'burns dirty' even when using 115gr loads that are just potent enough to reliably cycle. I never concerned myself with that though...nor excessive muzzle flash that i hear some people cry about.

That said...you mentioned LRN bullets, which may cause me to explore other powders.
 
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Range Yesterday

Yesterday I went to the range with my Smith 686+ 3" bbl.

Shot (60) 158 LSWC's. 8.2gns HS-6.
Shot (50) 158 PSWC's. 8.6gns HS-6.
Shot (40) 158 JHP's. 9.0gns HS-6.

So yeah, it was an HS-6 day - that's all I shot. And yeah, I like HS-6.
 
Another way to improve burn with HS-6 and any other slower powder for that matter is to inside flash hole debur those cases used with them.

I also run mag. primers in my revolver rounds when loading the powder in question.

I have not used it in my "9" however. I think WSF was the slowest to date for that cartridge.

Best regards

Three 44s
 
...... trying to be more helpful to the OP's original question.... i don't know if i'd use HS-6 in the context you mentioned ,which was with Lead and "Plated" bullets. Like others have mentioned HS6 likes moderate ranges and above otherwise, it's still usable, some say it can start to burn a little sooty.
If your willing to buy a steady diet of jacketed bullets, i'd go with HS-6.


IF not, i think there are better powders for your specific application.. like Accurate AA-5, Bulls eye, WW-231, Red Dot, Power Pistol...and so on.

I'd probably use WW-231 for light/target/lead/plated. ...and HS-6 for moderate to full power loads.
 
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HS-6 is my go to for 147 grainers in 9mm. for the 124's I use VVN320. but HS-6 has been awesome in the heavier bullets. low SD's tight groups, and clean brass.

Haven't tried it in 40 though. Use 231 for that.
 
I have recently tried HS-6 in 40 S&W and 357 Magnum. Was thinking about trying it in 9mm but wasn't sure whether it was the right powder for that... will follow this thread for more input.

My early 357 Magnum results are beyond impressive with this powder. I was literally putting holes in holes at fifteen yards, a feat I have never been able to achieve with 357 magnum factory ammo.

The .40 loads I tried were under Nosler 135 grain HPs. The starting load was a major disappointment but the mid-range load showed some promise. The 135 grain bullets will not be the SD round of choice, so I am putting those experiments on hold.

Just yesterday I made up a range of test rounds for .40 using 155 grain XTP (this will likely be my go to bullet for SD). Using my Lee centerable charge bar prototype, I came up with charges of 7.7, 8.0, 8.3, and 8.5 grains. Unfortunately the range is closed today and tomorrow so I have to wait until Friday to try these out. Looking forward to it.

Those of you who have said you don't like HS-6 for 9mm, can you say why? I will be loading 124 xtp or similar...
 
To Frankly, I like Titegroup for my 9mm because it goes so much further. I load my 124 gr plated bullets with only 4.1 gr Titegroup, so I get a lot more loads per pound of powder than I would with HS-6. Brings my overall cost per round down a bit more. And at the time, powder was pretty hard to come by (though it seems to be getting a lot better recently)
 
Frankly, "anothernewb" got it right:
HS-6 has been awesome in the heavier bullets. low SD's tight groups
Click to expand...

I like it in 124's an 147's. And the only 9mm lead recipe I have (or want) is a 147 LFP over HS-6.

It'll push 115's too, but their velocities tend to fluctuate. HS-6 is least erratic under heavy bullets. And that seems to apply to most all chamberings.
 
Although the op isn't asking about choices of powders, I totally agree with titegroup with hp38 being a close second. I load thousands of cast boolits and it really adds up after awhile. A 125gr cast runs great on 3.5gr of TG, 3.8gr of HP38 and 6gr of HS6. Spread that over 5k rounds and your looking at the difference between using 2.5 pounds of powder, to 2.8 to a staggering 4.2 pounds with hs6. Not to mention that TG seems to always run a couple bucks cheaper for some odd reason.
 
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