Standard primer and HS-6 in a .38 special?

[Rex]

I've been lead to believe that standard primers don't work well with HS-6. I've only got about 100 Mag primers left and the rest are Winchester small pistol primers. HS-6 isn't my favorite 38 special powder but 7 grains in a 38 special case with a 150 gr 358447 bullet shoots very good from my 686 Smith.
I have looked the country over and when these primers are gone I may have to see if S&W can put a flint lock on my revolver.
At any rate I'm trying to make do with what I have and wondered how much grief standard primers will be with this powder.

[Lefty SRH]

HS-6 likes mag primer in the larger capacity cases. Winchester SPP will be fine in .38 spl.

[Rex]

Thank you sir.
Rex

[gray wolf]

HS-6 likes mag primer in the larger capacity cases. Winchester SPP will be fine in .38 spl.
What is a large capacity case ?? 44 mag ? 308 Win. ? 300 win mag ?

[Lefty SRH]

.44mag, .45 colt, .480 R, .....

[bobthenailer]

I also have had good results with a std primer with HS6 in cases smaller than 357 mag.

[gray wolf]

So if I load some 44 mag with HS 6 I need mag primers ??
never was told this.

[USSR]

Do as I do with my 686 and HS-6: use SRP's.

Don

[gray wolf]

As per phone call to Hodgons, NO mag primer needed for 44 mag. Firm crimp, seat primer well,
and enjoy. Go figure ?

[fecmech]

HS6 was same as win 540 and Winchester load data for .38 spl never called for a mag primer.

[Rex]

Nick,
Winchester 540 is what I have. A leftover from shotshell reloading. I didn't buy it for my revolver but out here in the sticks components are hard to come by and I'll use it up. I actually used the Speer #8 book and settled on 7 grains powder in the 38 special case. Haven't run it over the chronograph but it seems very mild but accurate. I just used their HS-6 data as the powders are the same and I can't find data for Winchester 540. This is a nice shooting load and when the weather warms and the snow melts I'll get the chronograph out and see what I have.
All this being shot in my S&W 686 4".

[Larry Gibson]

The load of HS6 for the 44 magnum will generate a lot more psi and thus burn cleaner and more consistently than any safe load in the 38 SPL. Apples and oranges.

Larry Gibson

[fecmech]

According to the Winchester powder guide (14th ed. 1995) for 158 LSWC the max std pressure load for 540 is 6.8 grs for 880 fps@ 15900 psi. The +P load is 7.1 grs for 915 fps@17300psi. Looks like you're right in the ballpark with a 150 gr bullet.