Going to try HS-6 with my .357

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gonoles_1980

gonoles_1980

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It's a Bisley Valquero 5.5" barrel 357 mag, it's the one in my picture.

I currently use 7.8gr of Power Pistol 158gr LSWC, so I'm not looking for a full magnum load, I've seen were HS-6 can be used for moderate loads.

It's interesting that the Hodgdon site shows 6.0 to 7.0gr for a 158gr LSWC, while my Layman book shows 8.5-9.7gr for a 160gr Linotype, I realize that's 12 Brinell hardness, but I would have expected it to be less than a plated bullet. Just seemed strange to me.

I had to work up a load based on some research for the Power Pistol since the Alliant site doesn't have a load for the 158gr LSWC and Alliant responded to me they haven't tested with that bullet when I asked them about it. This was about a year back, so I'm not sure what kind of velocity and pressure the 7.8gr of Power Pistol with the 158gr LWSC is giving me.

So I am going to build a ladder from 6.0 to 6.5 to play with to see what I like, also will be using Winchester small magnum pistol primers.

Two questions, am I starting too low? I suspect I don't want to go to the 7.0gr.

Do I really need magnum primers?
 
Absolutely you want magnum primers with HS-6 and a firm roll crimp. HS-6 is the only powder that has ever choked my revolver from un-burned powder.
Don't have load data in front of me.
 
Thanks, maybe I should start at 6.3 and work up from there. I'm looking for a moderate load.
 
A very accurate load out of my 28 with a six inch barrel is 8.5 grains of HS-6 with a plated158 campro bullet. Magnum primer with a fairly heavy crimp
 
gonoles_1980 said:
It's a Bisley Valquero 5.5" barrel 357 mag, it's the one in my picture.

I currently use 7.8gr of Power Pistol 158gr LSWC, so I'm not looking for a full magnum load, I've seen were HS-6 can be used for moderate loads.

It's interesting that the Hodgdon site shows 6.0 to 7.0gr for a 158gr LSWC, while my Layman book shows 8.5-9.7gr for a 160gr Linotype, I realize that's 12 Brinell hardness, but I would have expected it to be less than a plated bullet. Just seemed strange to me.

I had to work up a load based on some research for the Power Pistol since the Alliant site doesn't have a load for the 158gr LSWC and Alliant responded to me they haven't tested with that bullet when I asked them about it. This was about a year back, so I'm not sure what kind of velocity and pressure the 7.8gr of Power Pistol with the 158gr LWSC is giving me.

So I am going to build a ladder from 6.0 to 6.5 to play with to see what I like, also will be using Winchester small magnum pistol primers.

Two questions, am I starting too low? I suspect I don't want to go to the 7.0gr.

Do I really need magnum primers?
Click to expand...
Hodgdon's pressure is 12.9-15.5k while Lyman's is 35.7-42.7k. I am using Lyman and cut back from 10.0 to cool off to 9.4. I use magnum primers to help clean up unburned powder. My 158 LSWC or TPFP is Br 12, which has performed better for me in .357 than Br 15, high or mild pressure. May be just me.
 
HS-6 related - not 357. I am taking some 45 ACP out tomorrow morning.

230gr FMJ Hornady with 7.7gr HS-6. Lower than the starting Hodgdon charge - but according to Hornady should get me 800 fps iirc, close to their max. Not a high pressure load. Will check dirtiness tomorrow - shooting it thru a HK 45. I have loaded shot this before, but did not notice it being any dirtier than others. Maybe the others were dirty too (Unique, 231 etc - load those too) :)
 
I played with HS-6 for a while for +P .38 and mid .357 loads but I tried Universal and I am hooked. It replaces Unique and meters much better through my Dillon Press. Burns much cleaner and just as accurate. My pet load is 5.0 grains. I use it with 130gr coated lead as well as 158gr coated Lead. It is top end +P .38 with the 158 gr and a little lighter with the 130gr. Both shoot extremely accurate and do very well out to 75 yards. Mild recoil and if I remember before my chronograph got stolen, I was getting around 950-1000fps with the 158gr and 1050-1100 with the 130gr. I use Federal Magnum primers with all of my loads.
 
HS-6 is a poor choice for any loads that are not near high pressure. I can't count with all my fingers and toes (19) powders that are better suited for moderate loads. Checking my records I have tried 15. And 4 more have been named, which makes 19.
 
Eddietruett said:
I played with HS-6 for a while for +P .38 and mid .357 loads but I tried Universal and I am hooked. It replaces Unique and meters much better through my Dillon Press. Burns much cleaner and just as accurate. My pet load is 5.0 grains. I use it with 130gr coated lead as well as 158gr coated Lead. It is top end +P .38 with the 158 gr and a little lighter with the 130gr. Both shoot extremely accurate and do very well out to 75 yards. Mild recoil and if I remember before my chronograph got stolen, I was getting around 950-1000fps with the 158gr and 1050-1100 with the 130gr. I use Federal Magnum primers with all of my loads.
Click to expand...

What did you use for the moderate .357 loads? I've got other powders I can use, but I did want to try HS-6 and I do have magnum primers, I just bought 200 magnum primers, so if I don't like it, I can try the HS-6 in my 44 mag.
 
I have tried HS 6 and see no reason to use it for anything. To many other powders out there.
 
w231 is better for moderate loads, for me anyway. I use bluedot for medium-high loads. I don't like h110 in the 357 magnum as it does funny things at the top of the load range. this advise is for 158 grain bullets only. no fair using bluedot and light bullets.

luck,

murf
 
HS-6 is the most accurate powder I've tried in 44mag and 45Colt tier 2 loads. Get that pressure up above 20,000 and it can be fantastic.
 
I shoot hs-6 in. 357 158 hardcast and jacketed. I'm loading near the high end of data. This puts pressure in the powders sweet spot with velocity and recoil well below top loads of H110. Makes for fine, accurate. 357 mid loads.
 
I don’t know about the 357 mag but it is my favorite in a 44 mag and is about all I load anymore. Like others said it was dirty until you get the pressure up on it then it cleans up right nicely. I have landed it on it for my hunting load as it is the most accurate combination I have found. From my experience the more it cleans up the more accuracy you get and it will let you know its sweet spot.
 
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I like HS-6 for my 9mm Major (over book max) loads - pretty dang high pressure. Even in that use, though, it's kinda dirty. As others have said, while it can be downloaded better than, say, H110, it's not particularly well-suited to that.
 
Friend got me a can of HS-6 back during shortage. He said it was great in 38/357
Then things opened back up.
Haven’t broken seal yet!
Sorry, no help from me!
 
I know you are getting yanked back and forth on this, but I'm going to toss my hat in too.

HS-6 is wonderful for not-quite full on loads. I use it extensively in 44 Mag (along with AA#7) and also 357 Mag. It burns cleanly once the pressure gets over about 20k psi.
I use Mag primers in 357, and Winchester LPP in 44 Mag.

It's a ball powder, which flows very well in almost any powder measure. It can be downloaded, but there are better powders for that.
HS-6 is a slower burn than Unique/Universal/BE86, which usually translates to recoil that is not as sharp as the latter powders.

I would encourage you to experiment with it. In my experience, Hodgden tends to stay on the very low end of powder weights for all cast bullet loads. Using such low charges in 357 will discourage any further experiments.
 
Update:
I did a test load (six rounds) of HS-6 with a 158gr xtreme copper plated bullet using 6.5gr and a magnum small pistol primer. Compared it against my current 7.8gr 158gr LSWC with Power Pistol and I really liked the load. I may bump it up a little. But it was a really fun shoot with minimal recoil, I like it better than the Power Pistol load. I didn't notice any unburned powder in the cases, and I was pretty accurate with this load.
 
I like HS-6 in the .38 Special +P, midrange .357 Magnums and in the 45 Colt. Since I still have 4 lbs left I won't be buying any of those new powders any time soon. I'm looking at W572 as a possible replacement but BE-86 like awfully good too.
 
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