Question about HS-6 and 9mm

Use the starting load, 5.9 grs and work up.

Its not only the difference in bullets, brass and primers change pressure also.

Keep what you already have loaded. Load more shells starting with 5.9, then 6.2 then 6.4 grs. 3 each. Test.

5.9 to 6.6 is inline with hodgdons data just go to hodgdons website , BUT why do you start a new load off at max recommend charge you need to start at the low end and work up ,
Never just start at the high end

Do not shoot them right yet!!!

Follow 243winxb's advice and wait until you have started low and fired those and worked up while testing. If you determine that 6.6 will be ok, based on your workup, then you can safely use them.

I know one thing for sure. I will never start a workup with a charge that is near the top of the range given in the data. Not when permanent physical injury is on the line.

I'm not sure why you went right to the top end of the charge range without working up the loads but if you take the advice already give you should be fine.

That said HS-6 usually performs best up near the top of the charge range but you still need to be sure the pressures are good. HS-6 also should be used with a magnum primer.

usmc0811 said:

I loaded up some at 6.5 and 6.6gr. cartridges.

Click to expand...

This is called doing it backwards and inside out. Go back to your reloading manuals and read them again. You are going to get hurt, or worse, hurt someone else.

Take a look for Winchester 540 data, it is a discontinued powder that was later renamed HS-6 and you'll find some 9mm loads. I have an old Winchester pamphlet with data and I'll look up 540 and will let you know what it says tonight.

I agree with Walkalong.
While I would not start at or near book maximum, I would not sneak up from 15% under, either.
I use a chronograph to get to Power Factor or factory equivalent and seldom see "pressure signs." But then I don't try to soup up the performance. Or not often.

I don't normally worry about "clean powder" but HS6 was the only powder I ever used that would coke up the chamber to the point of malfunction in an IDPA match or practice. I think it needs something close to maximum pressure to burn well.

Why go by W540? HS6 is a current powder with data from Hodgdon and Lyman.

Because there may be even more data relevant to the OP's question. They're the same powder.

With HS-6, in 38 spec, there was always residue left over. (Revolvers, muzzle up to extract). The higher pressure of the 9mm may produce a cleaner burn.
.

I think the OP probably hurried himself when deciding on a charge then based on his experience decided to review which caused him to question his approach. I don't understand all the browbeating here, he asked a good question, didn't shoot any of the ammo.

One of his questions had to do with using data for 125g bullets for 124g bullets. The answer is yes it is ok there isn' t much difference between the weights.

For cast bullets prolly the best manual to use is the Lyman.

usmc0811 said:

Thank you, yeah I have been doing this for only a few years now but am still learning compared to a lot of more experienced reloaders here. I actually weighed 10 of my cast bullets and divided by 10 to get an average of 128.

Click to expand...

A lot of commercial bullets are +/- about the same amount in percentage so you are good. Same with dimensions. In some of my 9mm guns I run coated 38 bullets that measure .358 in diameter, they just work better. As you know jacketed bullets generally run about .355 for 9mm. The big well known exception that gets everyone up into high alert here, this particular bullet that measures .3555 I doubt that many on this forum have the ability to measure .005 differences properly. Not doing it with a $20.00 HF digital caliper that I can say for sure.

Have a great weekend!

Tom

I'm using HS6 in my Glock 19 loads with 124 xtps. . 5.6 grains and under book max they shoot a 4 inch fireball out of the barrel in daytime I can see. I see no fouling issues though and like the powder. It's cleaner than the HP38 I was using. More accurate also which is what I'm looking for. I've never had a glitch in the glock but still use factory for carry ammo. I'm matching velocity pretty close between the two. Never shot cast out of mine so not much help other than the powder. I did use HS6 for reduced 30-30 loads as a trial so I wouldn't use all my Unique up and it done ok.

thomas15 said:

As you know jacketed bullets generally run about .355 for 9mm. The big well known exception that gets everyone up into high alert here, this particular bullet that measures .3555 I doubt that many on this forum have the ability to measure .005 differences properly. Not doing it with a $20.00 HF digital caliper that I can say for sure.

Click to expand...

What gets me on high alert is your flippant attitude towards the affect of bullet variation on maximum chamber pressure developed, and the dangerously bad advice that results. Let me remind you of this recent gem:

thomas15 said:

It is true that the number of loads in the Lee book is high. One of the reasons for that is the addition of load information that is basically void of value. For example, they list lead RN bullets and plated RN, both of the same weight as separate loads. They will also give separate loads for bullets that have 1 grain difference, for example 124g and 125g 9mm bullets. So technically there are more listings but many of those listings are repeats with minute differences that will go unnoticed in the field.

Click to expand...

From the thread:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...what-am-i-missing.836237/page-2#post-10831911

Whether you accept it or not, every aspect of a bullet's design and construction can and does affect the maximum chamber pressures developed.

It IS NOT good enough to lump all 124 or 125 grain 9mm bullets into a pile and use the same load data. Lead and plated bullets DO NOT produce the same degree of bore sealing and can require as much as a 10% variance in charge weight to develop the same maximum chamber pressure. This means if you start with load data for one 124gr. 9mm bullet that is right at maximum pressure and then substitute another that only requires 90% of that charge to make max pressure the substitution can and will drive you dangerously overpressure, regardless of notice in the field.

Whether it's a half-thousandth in diameter, the hardness of the jacket material, the profile of the nose and resultant seating depth, the hardness of the lead, whether or not it's plated, details matter. I have excellent Starrett outside micrometers and decades of practice using them, but as annoying as this sort of baseless accusation is it's the quality, or lack thereof, of your reloading advice and the fact that it lowers the high level of assistance that beginners get here that I cannot abide by. And at any point, you can expect I'll counter bad advice.

ray15 said:

And at any point, you can expect I'll counter bad advice.

Click to expand...

Feel free to counter any bad advice I might offer.

BTW, you and I have Starrett micrometers but as I mentioned in my post I was referring to HF $20.00 digitals they cannot reliably measure that kind of precision. I know you know that and your just trying to overall put me in my place but I forgive you my brother.

Jim Watson said:

I agree with Walkalong.
While I would not start at or near book maximum, I would not sneak up from 15% under, either.
I use a chronograph to get to Power Factor or factory equivalent and seldom see "pressure signs." But then I don't try to soup up the performance. Or not often.

I don't normally worry about "clean powder" but HS6 was the only powder I ever used that would coke up the chamber to the point of malfunction in an IDPA match or practice. I think it needs something close to maximum pressure to burn well.

Why go by W540? HS6 is a current powder with data from Hodgdon and Lyman.

Click to expand...

Yep HS-6 definitely likes to be near max pressure to burn properly.

From Winchester 15th Ed.

The OP is a good man!

Jesse Heywood said:

From Winchester 15th Ed.
View attachment 791056

Click to expand...

This is kind of the opposite of "shopping" for the hottest load in print.
These W540 loads are lighter than Hodgdon and Lyman give for HS6; except for 147 gr bullets.