.357 with HS-6, Mag or Reg Primer?

[CBP]

Question on those familiar with HS-6 for .357 magnum. Should I use the standard pistol or magnum primers? I just opened up a can and loaded up 3 rounds using 158 gr. lead SWC. Checking Hodgon's online site and my Lee reloading manual, there was no reference to the type of primer. So I made the three rounds using standard primers and the minimum powder charge of 6.0 grains of the HS-6.

I have no chrony, so I test fired them at a paper target, close range. The recoil felt like my standard .38 special loads. Accuracy was good, slight smoke. I was expecting more oomph and figured I better check on the primer before I started upping the powder.

 

[Walkalong]

I could never confuse HS-6 with W-231, but that is still a good idea. I have one can of powder on the bench near the measure.

ALL OTHERS are put away, no exceptions. What can is out, is what is in the measure, NO EXCEPTIONS, NO TIME, NOWHERE!!

6.0 Grs of HS-6 and a 158 lead bullet is a VERY light load. HS-6 likes pressure to burn well. A mag primer and 6.0 Grs of HS-6 won't fare much better. Speer #13 shows mag primers with HS-6 and jacketed 158 Gr bullets. They do not show light loads of HS-6 and lead 158 Gr bullets. I bet it is because it is not suited for it.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

I only have one can on the bench at any point in time, ever.

I don't go to bed with powder left in the powder measure, hardly ever!

If I do, I hang a string & card tag on the measure with the powder & charge it is throwing.

Then I double-check it again the next day with a scale before using it.

rc

 

[Cougfan2]

I worked for Hodgon Powder Co. years ago. The reason HS-6 looks so much like Win 231 is that all of the Hodgdon ball powders were repackaged Olin powders. I used to use Hodgon Trap 100 for 12 ga. trap loads and .38sp wadcutter target loads because it was the cheapest powder that I could buy that worked for both. Cheaper than buying Win 452AA which was the same thing. I am not sure if Hodgdon powders are still repackaged Olin as it has been a number of years since I worked for them, but I would guess that they are.

HOWEVER, even if they ARE the same powder in a different package, don't interchange reloading data from one for another. It's just not a habit you should get into.

 

[CBP]

Okay, I've edited my first post to keep the discussion on my main question. I am currently using CCI primers. I have mostly small pistol primers and a few magnum small pistol primers. Do I need to use Magnum primers with HS-6 powder when loading .357 or can I stick with the regular small pistol primers.

This is the first time I've used HS-6. The data off of Hodgdon's site doesn't mention which type of primer to use, nor does my Lee reloading book. I understand some powders definitely require magnum primers, I just don't know about this particular powder when combined with a 158 gr. Lead SWC.

 

[Hoxviii]

Using HS-6, i use standard primers.

Pay attention to that light of a load of HS-6- you're probably getting a lot of unburned powder left behind.

I run 9.0 of HS-6 with a standard primer as my midrange load.

 

[solvability]

No you do not need magnum primers with HS6 - do I use them sometimes - yes, but it makes no difference. H110 and 4227 are two powders that I use magnum primers for.

 

[CBP]

Okay, thanks for the answer on using the regular primers. I appreciate it.

Sorry if I sounded a little cranky in the second post. I understand that things can go off topic on forums. Now that the question was answered, I'll veer off myself.

I keep all of the powder in a drawer in my reloading desk. So when I fill up the hopper, I put the bottle back in the drawer. I do have the habit, probably not the best, of leaving powder in the dispenser. Sometimes several days may go past before I can get back to reloading. Often times I will sit down at night and crank out just a few rounds. I'm using the Lee Classic Turret press, so it's easy to complete a few and not have to worry that that I left anything unfinished. Reloading is my relaxing "Work" that I do in the evenings. I love fooling around with my press and the scales. I'm an engineer by trade, so reloading falls into the scientific category for me.

Anyway, since I keep the powder in the hopper, I've learned to write the name on a piece of paper and hold it to the hopper with a rubber band. Then when I do switch powders, I will switch the labels also. The label is just a nice reminder to keep me from grabbing the wrong powder when I'm refilling the hopper or pouring the powder back into the bottle.

Thanks again for your replies.

 

[Walkalong]

Do I need to use Magnum primers with HS-6 powder when loading .357 or can I stick with the regular small pistol primers.

I would say yes, but it looks like Thingster is having good luck with standard primers as long as the charge is not too light.

Sorry to ruffle your feathers.We can get off topic in a heartbeat.

 

[CBP]

Walkalong,

Sorry to ruffle your feathers.We can get off topic in a heartbeat.

No problem, I know you provide a lot of information to many posters on this site and I appreciate your dedication. Someday I will have the experience to help others out as well as you, RC, and so many others do. But that will take time and dedication on my part. I don't post replies often unless it is something that I do have actual experience with.

I was just hoping to get a quick reply so I could load out a few more rounds and test them out before dark. It's great living out in the country where I can walk out the door and put a few shots into a target, and go right back in the house and work up another load. I had a turkey hunter parked beside my driveway this evening, so I might have ruined his evening hunt with my test.

I just wanted to bring the discussion back to my main question before it went too far off topic. Don't worry about offending me, you didn't.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use a lot of HS-6 and the more I use it the more I like it. I have quite a few older reloading manuals and they all recommend MAGNUM primers when loading HS-5, HS-6 and HS-7. Of course HS-6 is the only one of the three still being produced although you can still find HS-7 on the shelves.

HS-6 is fairly hard to ignite so I've found it works much better with a Magnum primer. When loading hot .38 Special +P rounds I get good SD numbers with standard primers but when I use a Magnum primer the SD numbers shrink to single digits. Also, HS-6 is very clean when you charge up near the top end of the charge range. HS-6 is a good powder for mid-range to fairly hot Magnum rounds and produces very accurate rounds especially when using a lead bullet. It's one of my favorite powders hands down.