HS-6 ???

[LOLBELL]

I'm looking for opinions on HS-6 in straight walled pistol calibers. I've used Unique for light loads and IMR4227 for heavy loads. HS-6 is about middle way between those two on the burn rate chart, close to AA5. I've used 1 pound of AA5 and really liked it but can't find any. I've seen HS-6 in 8lb jugs in a couple of places but would like a little feed back before I bought an 8lb jug.

Thanks

 

[41 Mag]

For me personally, I load it almost exclusively for my Redhawk in 45 Colt, and have started to look into other loads I can use it for as well, like in my 41 and 44 mags.

I just picked up a Sig in 9mm and will be exploring it as well as possibly some heavier weight bullets in the 45 ACP. My standard loads for it are currently using 185 and 200gr SWC's simply to practice with but I also have a bulk box of 230gr JHP's to play with now so we'll see.

As for 8# worth simply to try out on word of mouth, I would probably try it first in everything I had, then make that jump if warranted. I have whats left of a big jug from when I loaded shot shells so I am simply using up old stock.

It does make nice mid to top end loads though if your looking for that.

 

[kcofohio]

I bought 1# of HS-6. And have only used a small amount of it.

It meters good. Data calls for about 50% weight more than say HP-38. But the data between AA #5 and HS-6 are close. Not sure about the VMD difference.

It is fluffy, and it tends to shake a few granulars out of the casing when lowering the ram on the Lee's Turret press.

 

[LOLBELL]

Thanks, 41mag. Pistol powder is still very hard to come by in my neck of the woods. I would really like to find a pound to try, or better yet an 8lb jug of Unique or AA5, powders I have used before. I can get my hands on the HS-6 but have no experience with it. This would be used in 327, 357, 41, 44, 45colt, 9mm, and 45acp. I've got plenty of 4227 for top end loads. Looking for something for light to mid range loads.

kcofohio, Good to hear that it meters well. Unique is hit or miss on the metering.

I think I'll get a jug while I can.

Thanks, Albert

 

[TfflHndn]

HS-6 has become one of my two or three favorite powders since I found a jug a few months ago. It is outstanding in .38, .41 and .44 loads. I got some good results in 9mm also. Very consistent performance, meters fairly well. Not great for bottom-end loads - it shines in the top third of the load range. I took a chance on an 8-pounder without ever having tried it, and am glad I did.

 

[sixguns]

HS-6 is my powder for light 44 Magnum loads, first choice powder for 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 Auto since 2003 or so.

 

[1KPerDay]

I've only tried it in 9mm for 147 subsonic and 124 plated loads so far but in case you're interested.

4.8 HS6 and 3.4 TiteGroup
HS6 load considerable unburned flakes/crud. Titegroup appears much cleaner but brass still quite dirty. Both loads functioned flawlessly in P226 Tac Elite and Osprey 45. (147 plated subsonic )

1.15" COAL or thereabouts. 124 Xtreme plated RN. CCI 500 primers. Mixed brass.

6.1 HS-6 moderate load, similar recoil to 4.6 Unique (not strong). Seems pretty clean... moderate scorching with little debris. Not particularly accurate in initial testing, some missed plates. May be shooter error.

6.5 HS-6 stronger recoil but not sharp, probably the cleanest so far. Moderate scorching with almost no debris. Range seemed smokier than with some other loads. Not super accurate but seemed "okay."

Worth considering, trying out different OAL, formal accuracy testing, etc.

 

[gamestalker]

I use a good deal of it in 9mm, .40, and +P 38 spcl.. I have no complaints, but I prefer Longshot by just a tad.

What are you contemplating using it in?

GS

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The 3 powders I use most are W231/HP-38, W540/HS-6 and W296/H110. I would not want to be without any of those 3. I use a lot of HS-6 in cartridges including the .38 Special +P, .357 Magnum, 9mm, the 45 Colt and a few others too. I think you will like it a lot and it is a lot like AA#5 in application. I found HS-6 behaves better when combined with a magnum strength primer and when used up near the top of the pressure range.

 

[LOLBELL]

What are you contemplating using it in?

I'll be using it in 327 mag, 357, 41, 44, 45colt, 9mm, and 45acp. Light to medium loads in the mag calibers. I really like IMR4227 for the heavy stuff.

 

[gamestalker]

Yep, as Arch stated, it does very well when worked up to the higher end of the table. And H110/296 is definitely another one I do not like to run out of.

GS

 

[PO2Hammer]

Great for 'magnum-lite' .357 loads. Magnum primers seem to help it burn more completely.

 

[Micha2u]

I use HS-6 in my heavier 9mm loads and it works well in the higher load range. It also seems to be a powder that has very low muzzle flash compared to others, such as Power Pistol, that I had been using.

 

[jmorris]

I have used HS-6 for everything from 9mm to 458 socom.

"Straight walled pistol" covers a wide range. For light plinking loads it would work for 357, 41, 44 and 45 magnum/"hot" loads I would pick slower powders closer to 2400 or H110 to start with.

 

[anothernewb]

I use it in 9 and 357. love it.

 

[Toprudder]

I tried it in a few calibers (9, 40, 45acp) and did not see where it was better than other powders I have tried. I did notice that in 40 it works best at the upper end of the charge scale. Most of my loads I prefer low to mid-range, so that is one reason why I don't care for it. I have not tried magnum primers in those calibers yet, might be worth a revisit.

I will have to try it in sometime in 38spl and 357mag.

 

[anothernewb]

I tried it in a few calibers (9, 40, 45acp) and did not see where it was better than other powders I have tried. I did notice that in 40 it works best at the upper end of the charge scale. Most of my loads I prefer low to mid-range, so that is one reason why I don't care for it. I have not tried magnum primers in those calibers yet, might be worth a revisit.

I will have to try it in sometime in 38spl and 357mag.

it makes for a sweet soft load in 9 with 147 grainers. and a equally sweet 1000 fps load in 357. (of course, lots of powders make a sweet 1000fps load in 357.) I use it because somewhere I read that HS-6 is a "lead friendly" powder. Whether that's true or not, I liked how it metered and worked, so I saw no need to change.

Did experiment with N320 and N330 and BE-86 when I couldn't find any earlier, and I found those to be very nice as well. Actually went to 320 for my 124 grain loads in 9.

 

[usnr2003]

I've used HS-6 in 9mm, 38spec, 357Mag and 45ACP. Had good results in all, can't say I've noticed it being dirty. I've had a tough time finding it lately in 1 lbs container. 8 lbs would last me years.

 

[LOLBELL]

I have loads worked up with Unique and IMR4227 in the pistol calibers I shoot that I am happy with. I am contemplating HS-6 strictly because of availability. This morning coming home from work I stopped by a LGS in a neighboring town and found some in 1lb bottles and picked one up. I now can try it without buying an 8 lb jug. They had more pistol powder than I have seen in a while. Nothing, mind you, for plinking loads, other than HS-6 just 110 and Lil'Gun. I have plenty of 4227 for heavy loads just need something for lighter loads. The HS-6 is the only faster pistol powder I've seen in my neck of the woods, and it only in 8 pounders until this am. I'll be glad when all of this shortage mess is over with. I thought I had plenty of Unique to get met through, but when you have 3 shooters and use it for pistol and shot shells it takes a lot of powder.

Thank for all the help guys........Albert

 

[cheygriz]

I use it exclusively in 9MM +P and +P+, .38 spec +p, .40, 10MM and .45 Colt. (Ruger)

In 9mm especially, I get +P+ velocity with 115 bullets at, or even below +P pressures.

IME, it burns very clean in hot loads. I don't load "light" loads, so I dunno how it reacts to them.

My favorite pistol powder by far.

I buy 8 lb jugs. Extremely accurate metering, and bulks up well so a double charge will overflow the case

 

[gamestalker]

I've never used a magnum powder with it, it just burns so clean and delivers very consistent velocities with standard CCI-500's, and I do run it full table.

GS

 

[ATLDave]

With the difficulty finding AA#5 and AA#7, it has become my standard pistol powder for making .40-level loads in 10mm (which I use a lot of). Good metering, burns cleanly, no extraordinary flash or bang.