HS-6: what is it good for?

[rintinglen]

During the recent bad old days, I bought what powders I could find, and have ended up with several pounds of powder that are outside my mainstream. I am trying to down size and use up some of these. One of these is HS-6. I tried it in 45Auto-rim, where it stank. Where’s a good place to use it? (Handgun-wise)

[tazman]

I have used it in 38 special, 9mm, and 40S&W with good results.
Particularly with 9mm. That is where I burn most of mine.
I had excellent 38 special +P tests with it as well.
Not certain what type of performance you are looking for. My standards for good performance may be different than yours

[USSR]

Hands down the best .38 Special 158gr lead SWCHP +P load commonly known as The FBI Load.

Don

[Minerat]

I've use it in 45acp, 44 mag, 357, 38 special, and 9mm with good results. No chrono data and mostly light loads in the magnums.

[osteodoc08]

Great mid level big bore powder. My fav use of HS-6 is in the 45 Colt with 45-270-SAA

[Carrier]

I use a lot of HS-6 in 38/357. Using a magnum primer is a must. When I did load 9mm it worked very well but had to keep it over 6 grains with a 124 grain jacketed bullet and used a Winchester primer or Federal magnum. I think 6.3 grains was the most accurate load.

[USSR]

Using a magnum primer is a must.

Yep!

Don

[Wheelguns 1961]

I like it in 480 ruger. I use 14.0 with a 477-640 cast hollowpoint that weighs 386gns, and a wlp.

[Jniedbalski]

It worked great in my high point carbine in 40 S&w . I used 175 tc cast lee mold and some rainers copper plated. They where the most accurate with hs-6. I did find out they liked to be loaded hot. I started low worked my way up. The higher I went with the charge the group got smaller. I stoped .2 gr lower than max in lee loading manual. I got a ragged one hole at 25 yards in the carbine off the bench. It also worked good for 38 special loads 125 gr Hornady xtp hollow points at max regular load . Got real good groups and I didint use magnum primers.

[Iwsbull]

A healthy dose in my 44 mag under a 265 grain swc is my go to. When the pressure gets up it gives a complete burn and great accuracy. I am getting about 1265 for mv.
As a matter of fact I am about to go load up about 100 or so in the next few minutes.

[RU shooter]

Along with AA5 it was my favorite powder for +p loads in the 45 acp back when I thought that extra bit of velocity was needed

[ddixie884]

Archangel will be along soon. He thinks it is the best thing since sliced bread. He may be right................

[lotech]

I've tried HS-6 with cast bullets in all the popular handgun cartridges. While good, accurate loads can be worked up with HS-6, it seems to work best in a small niche at the higher end of pressure and velocity. It's not a very versatile powder and probably wasn't intended to be. Another powder that shares similar characteristics (though somewhat faster burning) is Power Pistol.

It's often recommended that magnum primers be used with HS-6 loads. I've tried loads with both magnum primers and standard primers. I'd have to review old notes to be sure, but I don't remember any significant difference in accuracy, unburnt powder, or anything else when doing a primer comparison using HS-6.

[Three44s]

357,41 and 44 Mag upper mid range field loads. A moderate load with HS6 beats upping the juice with Unique on those cartridges. The 480 Ruger responds well to HS6 as well.

I run the RCBS 250k at 8.5 gr of Unique with a standard large pistol primer but step up to HS6 and a Mag primer charged with 11.8 gr (12 is fine) and run a 24,000 psi pressure .... just right for WW cast plain base slugs in 44mag brass.

All my metallic loads get treated with an inside flash hole debur, no exceptions.

I have used HS6 in 9 mil but probably burned more Win WSF there.

Three44s

[fa38]

I use it in my Ballard 25-20 with a 100 grain Doc Brewer bullet. 6 grains

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm in the same boat I picked up a few pounds of it too but have not tried it as of yet Would this be a good powder to load
38 special loads IN 357 brass looking for a quiet load the crack of a 357 magnum just sets my Tinnitus off

[DHDeal]

It is my "go to" powder for medium loads in all of my revolvers (357, 44, and 45 Colt). I haven't found it to be hard to find a very accurate load with either. Now with the above being true for me, understand I hardly ever shoot any light loads in my revolvers and HS6 probably would not be a good choice for a light load. For me it likes to be run warm. If too little is used, I noticed unburned granules and sooty cases. I tend to use Magnum primers in revolvers anyway so that isn't a concern for me regardless of whether HS6 likes them or not.

Pick a heavy cast bullet and a book charge of HS6 and I bet you'll like it. I'll never be without HS6 or H110!

I first noted it's use reading a blog/article on Linebaugh's website. He used it for his "light" loads. He mentioned it would work for just about everything a revolver would be used for anyway. I seem to remember it was for 45 Colt and that was what I was shooting mostly then anyway. He was right in that it was a good accurate load from the start. Most would not consider it to be a light load...

[Misery-Whip]

I use it in 38s with good accuracy.

[444ttd]

i use it in 44 spl, 44 mag and 500 linebaugh.

[rintinglen]

So plus P 38s and hot Unique-range loads, sounds like 18000- 23,000 psi area for best results. Thanks, folks. I’ll give it a go in some 357 middle loads, maybe some 44 light mags and see what it does.