9mm and hs6

I have used it in 9mm but not that hot. Are there any pressure signs? It worked ok but I have found loads that worked better so moved on. I use bullseye for my 9mm now and like the results much better. I found the HS6 a bit on the dirty side. As for the 40 can't help you.

As long as you aren't seeing any signs of excessive pressure and not having problems with the plated bullets at that velocity and pressure, you should be just fine. I use a lot of HS6 and also Longshot for both 9mm, and .40 cal with great results.

I have commonly exceeded a particular manufacturers' data with HS6 without any signs of excessive pressures or other undesired performance, but I only do so by using proper load developement procedures. Always work up from the low end of the data to avoid serious issues that could ruin your day or weapon. Also, if you are going to change bullets or seating depths with an already worked up powder charge, start over with your work up even if the bullet is the same weight. This is especially true with cartridges such as the 9mm, being that the 9mm is a high pressure cartridge within it's particular class, and can also be a particularly pressure sensitive cartridge as well.
GS

JO JO said:

...looked like a safe load in hogdons data and lymen data checked in hornadys book it maxed out at 5.8 ? so is 6.2 way to hot for a
plinking load ?

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Yeah, but you're not using a Hornady bullet. Their manual (8th ed) only has data for their bullets.
Get your loads from the plated bullet manufacturer (preferred) or Hodgdon.

I think you're probably ok. My Speer manual shows a max of 5.5gr for a 125gr lead bullet but 6.7gr for a FMJ. If you take the conventional wisdom of using data in the middle of lead and FMJ for plated then you'd be right about at the max for plated there.

Some companies are just more conservative than others with their published data. Plus if you go back to less litigious times Hornady (circa 1980) used to list the max load of HS-6 with a 124gr bullet at 1.04" OAL at a 6.3gr max, not 5.8.

Here is some load data from Ranier and Midway for the 9mm. As you see a 6.2gr load of HS-6 is a maximum load with a 124gr plated bullet.

I've found HS-6 to be a bit "flashy" with visible muzzle flash even in daytime. The best use I've found for it is with 147gr bullets. It does produce good velocity with relatively low pressures but that's to be expected with a slower burn rate pistol powder.

The Hodgdon 9mm data with a 125gr bullet maxes out @ 6.6gr with a lead bullet and 6.8gr with a FMJ bullet and that's with a shorter OAL of 1.090". Your charge of 6.2gr is just fine and not near the max according to the powder manufacturer. As a matter of fact, if you were loading a FMJ bullet your charge of 6.2gr would be below the starting charge weight which is 6.4gr HS-6.

If you aren't getting the accuracy you're looking for switch over to a magnum primer. You can keep the same charge weight and OAL even with a magnum primer according to Hodgdon's load data.

I've been shooting 7.0gr of HS6 under Rainier 115gr FMJ for years.

The on-line Hodgdon manual lists 7.0gr as the max with a mv of around 1200fps.

I've shot these loads out of a Beretta 92FS, S&W 6906 and a Glock 26.

i use magnum primers with hs-6 in the 9mm and have had no problems.

murf

JO JO said:

so would you all recamend magnum primer with hs 6

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HS-6 is a hard to ignite Ball Powder just like HS-7 and W296/H110. While you "can" use a standard primer, especially in warm weather, using a magnum primer increases performance and insures proper ignition, complete powder burn and consistent pressures. Your SD numbers will be much lower too.

AND, while standard small pistol primers are almost impossible to find small pistol magnum primers are still available...

I haven't used 124gr much, but I really like HS-6 in 9mm and .40. Great powder. Fun to use with the little 95gr too.

(From Hodgdon.com) 125 GR. SIE FMJ Hodgdon HS-6 .355" 1.090" 6.4 1131 25,600 CUP 6.8 1169 27,100 CUP


You didn't say what brand of bullet you're using.
But Berry's says to use low-mid jacketed data.
Hodgdon says 6.4-6.8 gr of HS-6 for a jacketed 125gr.

6.2 does not seem to be too hot unless I'm missing something here.

Steve in PA said:

I've been shooting 7.0gr of HS6 under Rainier 115gr FMJ for years.

The on-line Hodgdon manual lists 7.0gr as the max with a mv of around 1200fps.

I've shot these loads out of a Beretta 92FS, S&W 6906 and a Glock 26.

Click to expand...

I've been shooting that same charge (non-magnum primers) for years through various guns with good success.

Same here on rainier 115 gr & 7gr of hs-6 (have gone 7.2 with no ill effects) I used 6.2gr, Fed. Mag primers, with 124 gr Hornady XTP-HP & had better accuracy. I also read about & tried a shorter C.O.L. with HS-6 and it did burn cleaner. But my wife prefers Bullseye in her Shield (shorter barrel)