45 Colt HS-6 Loads

[zanders]

Well despite how well it meters the HS-6 still has an issue: so much unburned powder. Soooooo much. The various loads were:

255 Grain MBC Keith SWC Hi-tek over
9,9.5, and 10 grains of HS-6 (Lyman 50:
8.8-10.3 grains)

300 Grain Hornady XTP over 9, 9.5, and 10 grains of HS-6 (Hogdon Website: 9-10 grains)

All loads had Winchester Large Pistol Primers (what both sets of load data called for) . Gun was the 4.2 inch Redhawk 45 Colt/ACP. It was maybe 32 degrees at the range (doubt that helped).

So my best guess is to switch to some explicitly magnum primers and work up the loads again, but I would greatly appreciate any feedback from my gun forum guru's on the issue.

 

[Toprudder]

Possibly a tighter crimp, which will help get a more complete burn going.

FWIW, I tried HS6 in 45acp and had unburned powder, so much that it caused failure to go into battery after a few mags. My opinion is that it performs best in higher pressure cartridges.

 

[Rule3]

Use a different powder, Even though HS6 has data doesn't make it the best choice. Win LPP primers are for mag loads and regular loads

On the Hodgdon website there are loads for RUGER and Freedom arms 45 Colt which do not list HS6


https://www.johnlinebaughcustomsixguns.com/writings

 

[Galil5.56]

I think no matter the changes, you will still continue to have problems with HS-6. I have tried it in many rounds, some with a much higher max allowable pressure, and it still produces plenty of gritty residue... You should see how it performs in 12 gauge shotshells (maybe you have). Even with max pressures using 1 1/4 oz, the bore looks like a tube full of black 'sand'. Never seen worse.

Lastly, being so dense, HS-6 has a very low load density. This, combined with being a rather hard ball propellant to ignite, I only think leads to sub-optimal performance where other propellants would excel. Good luck.

 

[murf]

i have had nothing but problems with hs-6 and the 45 colt. the powder is especially position sensitive and generates very large muzzle velocity spreads (upward of two hundred fps).

suggest you switch powders.

luck,

murf

 

[zanders]

Hmmm. Is there a ball powder that is a better fit for 45 Colt?

 

[Rule3]

Hmmm. Is there a ball powder that is a better fit for 45 Colt?

Depends on what kind of "loads" you are looking for?

You want maximum "magnimized" heavy duty Ruger type loads or normal loads? Hunting with it?

 

[Walkalong]

What powders do you have?

 

[zanders]

Depends on what kind of "loads" you are looking for?

You want maximum "magnimized" heavy duty Ruger type loads or normal loads? Hunting with it?

At the moment I'm trying to work up a target load in the low to medium range. Nothing Ruger only yet.

What powders do you have?

Currently I have 8 lbs of Clay's, 4 lbs of unique and 1 lb of HS-6. I'm willing to buy something if it hits that sweet spot of meters well / burns well that my current powders aren't quite hitting.

 

[Rule3]

Unique will work as will HP 38 or powders around that burn rate. I don't like Unique as far as metering but it is not awful.
Did you read the article I linked?

 

[CaptHank]

I've had very good results with W-231/HP38 (9.0 GR.) and 250 GR. XTP's. Very satisfied with this load.

 

[zanders]

Unique will work as will HP 38 or powders around that burn rate. I don't like Unique as far as metering but it is not awful.
Did you read the article I linked?

I generally like the Unique loads I've tried. Also, yes I've read the article it's very good I just don't really shoot anything that warrants linebaugh level destruction at the moment (maybe some day).

I might have to try out HP-38.

 

[Walkalong]

Unique shoots much better than it meters, don't let the metering part of Unique bother you.

I generally like the Unique loads I've tried

How much Unique have you tried with your coated 255 Gr SWC?

From Alliants PDF

250 gr Speer LSWC Unique CCI 300 Winchester 1.600" 9.5 941

Try 9.0 to 9.5 Grs of Unique if you haven't.

 

[Rule3]

Unique is "the" 45 Colt Powder. Has been for a long time.

This will give you a "few" loads

http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm

Go to the Brian Pierse RCBS 45 Article

Has loads for different "frame strength" guns
https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL 246partial.pdf

 

[25-20 WCF]

I’ve used Unique in .45LC loads for over 45 years, it is a very good powder for factory level to slightly higher pressures. Yes, it doesn’t measure perfectly, if you need that characteristic then switch to Universal or AA-5.

.

 

[murf]

unique is the least position sensitive powder i have tested in the 45 colt. tested hs-6, w231 and unique. w231 isn't bad. stay away from hs-6, imo.

luck,

murf

p.s. this comment is for a 255 grain lead bullet. have not tried this with heavy bullets.

 

[zanders]

Yeah as far as results, I liked Unique at about 7-8 grains and Clays at 5 grains. The HS-6 was okay under the 300 grain bullet but was really bad under the 255 grain.

 

[TfflHndn]

Quick Load shows about an 88% burn with 10 grains of HS-6. Clays gets 100% burn at loads within max. Unique runs a bit over 90%. So for full burn/efficiency Clays may be your powder if it achieves the velocity you are looking for.

 

[murf]

Hmmm. Is there a ball powder that is a better fit for 45 Colt?

h110 is excellent if loading "ruger only". otherwise, not really.

murf

 

[Galil5.56]

Sticking with ball; WW231/HP38 as mentioned, perhaps AA#2, Titegroup, or Ramshot Zip. For flake; Clays and Unique as mentioned, Nitro 100, Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, Power Pistol, Claydot, Solo 1000, American Select, Hodgdon Universal, IMR 700x... Ball propellant with an almost exact pressure curve to HS-6 in my testing, is AA#5.

 

[Toprudder]

I've never loaded 45 colt, but my experience with other low pressure calibers would lead me to try Clays for lower to mid velocity loads. I've found it to be very insensitive to powder position and it burns fairly clean at the low pressure of 45 colt. Since you already have 8 lbs, that is where I would start.

One powder I have found that is very position insensitive for hotter loads is BE86 and I suspect would be good for mid to upper end 45 colt loads.

 

[Walkalong]

One powder I have found that is very position insensitive for hotter loads is BE86

Agreed, one of the best I have tried, better than Unique. I just haven't gotten around to trying it in .45 Colt yet. I have the BE-86 and the coated 255 Gr SWCs from MBC, I just haven't done it. BE-86 beat out everything for midrange .357 Mag loads where so many powders do so poorly powder forward away from the primer.

 

[Toprudder]

BE-86 beat out everything for midrange .357 Mag loads where so many powders do so poorly powder forward away from the primer.

Exactly what I found. Works great for mid-range 44 mag loads as well.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

I've had best accuracy results with WW231, Trail Boss and Bullseye.