HS-6 with 125 Gr bullet in .38 Special bad combo

[soloban]

Just thought I would share a bad load so others can learn from my mistake. Thankfully I only loaded up 25 rounds to test out.

Don't use HS-6 in .38 Special under a 125 Gr bullet. I used the data in the Sierra manual and didn't realize that it would leave so much empty space in the case. I chrono'd the 25 rounds and had velocities jumping from 500 up to 1000 FPS. I'm guessing its very position sensitive and had some that the powder wasn't up against the primer (CCI 550).

After further research, I quickly came to the conclusion that HS-6 would be more suited to heavier bullets in .38 Special or .38 Sp +P.

Thankfully, I load for 9mm and from what I can tell its a good powder for 9mm so no loss there.

I'm going to switch to Unique since it will take up alot more space in the case.

 

[soloban]

Also... anyone have any experience with Unique and the Lee Auto Disc? If bad, can you recommend a possible alternative powder in the 38 Special with 125 Gr Bullets (I have 475 bullets so another weight is not an option at this moment).

 

[NCsmitty]

Are the 125gr jacketed or lead? I use Unique in many of my small calibers, (32 ACP) and have used it for medium power 357 Mag and 44 Mag loads.

I have no experience with HS-6.

www.alliantpowder.com shows a maximum of 6gr of Unique with a jacketed 125gr Speer, so a start load of 5.5gr should be good. These are under the 38 Special +P loads.
I don't use an Auto Disc.



NCsmitty

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, HS-6 is better suited to more pressure than the .38 operates at. Unique will work better, but still won't fill the case. Clays and Competition are some of the least position sensitive powders I have tried in .38 Spl with 125s at around 875 to 900 FPS.

I shot some Solo 1000 in that app today for the first time and the "powder forward" avg velocity was actually more than the "powder back" velocity. It was also too light (Too slow at around 600 FPS for a 148, but I was stating low as we should) I am going to bump it up a couple of tenths and try again.

 

[soloban]

They are JHPs. (J102, part way down the page)

http://magnusbullets.com/store/page13.html

 

[joneb]

Don't try Blue Dot either for such loads.
I have used HS-6 with good results with 158gr jacketed bullets loaded at or near max.
Another forum member says mag. primers will help, I have not tried this yet but it seems like a good solution, I would consider a 3% load reduction would be safe for making the switch?

 

[thodge]

Try using AA #5, very fine ball power that should meter well in any powder dispenser.

 

[soloban]

Don't try Blue Dot either for such loads.
I have used HS-6 with good results with 158gr jacketed bullets loaded at or near max.
Another forum member says mag. primers will help, I have not tried this yet but it seems like a good solution, I would consider a 3% load reduction would be safe for making the switch?

Sierra manual recommends Magnum primers for HS-6 for 125 and 158Gr bullets. That's what I was using in my loads.

 

[rg1]

Best powder I've used in .38 Special with 125gr. bullets has been using Accurate Arms # 2. It gives good velocity and small velocity variations. Does not show any problems with powder position in the case. Accurate Arms shows charges starting at 4.8 grains with 125 gr. bullets. Just watch closely as with any powder to avoid a double charge. You'd be pleased with the results with AA#2. My load with either Rem 125 sjhp's or Hornady 125 XTP's is 5.2 grains of AA#2 with a CCI 500 primer and it gets 900-930 fps in a 6" 357 Mag pistol and shoots very well in a couple of snub nose pistols as well but I haven't chrono'd them in the snubs. Unique is ok for the 125 grain bullets but isn't as consistent as AA#2. Also the AA#2 is the best powder I've found to load .380 Auto.