HS-6 powder

[Reeferman]

Brother in law wants to trade me a pound of it for a pound of 296. I don't know anything about it and load for 38/357, 44 mag. How is it for these calibers? I see on the Hodgdon site there are loads but just want to know how it is. The loads will all be used at range so no sd or hunting loads.

 

[.41Dave]

I've used HS6 for mild to moderate range loads in .38 Special, .45 Colt and .41 Magnum. I like it. I get good accuracy, and it burns pretty clean.

 

[243winxb]

HS-6 in 38 special with 163gr lswc cast bullets.

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[readyeddy]

HS-6 is sort of in the middle between W231 and W296. I've used it for hot 9mm (115gr 1300 fps) and warm 44 Mag (240 gr 1100 fps). It will make pleasant range loads in 357 and 44. I avoid fast burning powders for 357 and 44. The 44 load I shot in my DE 44 was quite accurate out to 100 yards.

 

[gunlaw]

I would trade. HS-6 is more versitile than 296. Keep in mind that HS-6 is at it's best at or near max charge

 

[kcofohio]

Another vote for HS-6. It will make for a potent round without going magnum. And in 38 Spl., it could make for a hot round. And since you're not in the need of all magnum loads, one lb. will last you longer.

 

[USSR]

Works well with heavy-for-caliber bullets and mag primers.

Don

 

[JimKirk]

HS 6 is the old Winchester 540 (same powder) ... and it shoot good in several cartridges including the 357 SIG, 357 Mag, 40 S&W and many others ... works best at near full loads ... it is clean when used in that manner ...

W540 was also the factory powder for 20 gauge AA loads for a long time ....

 

[Reeferman]

Well I have 5 lbs of 296 so I guess I will try the HS-6 out.

 

[bbqreloader]

Reeferman, I load for 9mm, 40 and 45. HS6 is my go to powder. I don't think you will be dissapointed if you are loading for target only.

 

[Toprudder]

I would not give up a pound of W296 for it, but that may just be me.

I tried it in 9mm and 45acp. Dirty, even at listed max loads. In both the 9 and 45, after a few mags I started having problems with the guns going into battery. The chamber and breech had flakes clumped together, and it seemed to leave a sticky residue in the chamber as well.

It seemed to shoot well in 357mag for me, using plated 158gn bullets, but there are other powders that perform as good or better, cleaner, and more versatile, such as BE86. I'm going to use up my HS6 and not get any more. JMHO.

 

[Metal God]

I've done a little testing with HS-6 and I'd agree with others that say near max and heavy bullets for caliber loads . 147gr 9mm , 158gr 357 , 230gr 45 should do well with HS-6 .

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As said above, HS-6 is best up near the top of the pressure range and I also highly recommend you use a magnum primer as you do with W296. HS-6 is one of the 3 powders I use most, the other 2 being W231 and W296. I use it for loading .38 Special +P ammo, in the 9mm, for midrange .357 Magnum loads and full power .357 Magnum loads with a lead bullet. I also load the .45 Colt with HS-6 too. I'm sure there are others but those my uses.

 

[RealGun]

I find a number of uses for HS-6, most prominently .357 Magnum for medium sized guns (10.0 grs with 158 gr lead). I use the recommended mag primers. At that load level, the powder's signature "unburned powder" is minimal. The load is stout for that size gun and not recommended for the short barrels. For small, medium, and large guns, I use SR4756, HS-6, and 2400 respectively. The small guns get 125 grain bullets. Others may have different ideas, but all this is carefully considered and works well for me.

 

[anothernewb]

+1 on the other HS6 references. with 147 bullets in my 9mms it's super accurate and clean. generates a nice 1100fps load out of my 357's plays well with lead bullets.

 

[PO2Hammer]

HS-6 is my favorite 357 powder. It likes a mag primer and a firm crimp.

 

[Reeferman]

Does HS-6 make a big bang and flash like 296 does in a short barell?

 

[RealGun]

Does HS-6 make a big bang and flash like 296 does in a short barell?

No real drama for me, but I don't shoot it in a short barrel.

 

[anothernewb]

It's got some flash, but nothing like 110/296. I used to use mag primers, but for some reason the last few pounds of it have been working fine with std primers. haven't seen much in the way of soot, unburned powder, or significant variations in velocity either.

 

[murf]

hs-6 is also excellent for top-end loads in 9mm.

murf

 

[Toprudder]

That may be why I was having issues with it. I don't like to venture up near max loads, and I was only using 115gn bullets in the 9mm and 200gn in the 45.

I prefer powders that allow me to use the whole charge range without issue. The majority of the 9mm that I load is for my wife's range gun, shooting reduced velocity.

 

[Metal God]

I prefer powders that allow me to use the whole charge range without issue. The majority of the 9mm that I load is for my wife's range gun, shooting reduced velocity.

Yea I'd say HS-6 would not be a powder for that application . Really none of the powders around that burn rate would do well .

700x , titegroup , bullseye and the like would be better for reduced/lighter loads using light for caliber bullets .

 

[Toprudder]

Yea I'd say HS-6 would not be a powder for that application . Really none of the powders around that burn rate would do well .

700x , titegroup , bullseye and the like would be better for reduced/lighter loads using light for caliber bullets .

Actually, in 9mm, I had great results with AA#7. At the low end, I could load it low enough that the cases just barely ejected and still have a low standard deviation. Or, I could load it up for high velocity. Even worked well in 45acp. Power Pistol has also worked well in 9 and 40 for me, but no so much for 45acp. I agree, though, that the faster powders are generally better for reduced loads.

 

[Metal God]

Was that heavy lead bullets or 90gr 115gr FMJ ? That's some very slow stuff according to my chart . Thinking you had sooty scorched cases .

Not saying slow powders won't work just saying not the best choice for light for caliber bullets to load light . I've not been loading hand gun nearly as long as rifle . That said I've gotten all test loads to work . That does not mean they were actually good loads . Just that they went bang . I even used Longshot and 200g platted bullets in 45acp . I have no plans to use that dirty , sooty , scorching load but if I had to have something to shoot . I have a load that will go bang using longshot in 45 .

I know a guy that thinks it's great with 230gr lead RN . OK but not for me

 

[Toprudder]

Was that heavy lead bullets or 90gr 115gr FMJ ?

If that question was directed at me, they were 9mm 115gn plated.