Originally Posted by
BJung
I've read good reports about HS6 but use AA5 for my .38SP loads instead and have decent accuracy using it. I've reloaded an accurate .38 special load with 135gr Gold Dot and shot it through my 6" S&W Mod 66. It expanded well through 2- 1 gallon jugs of water. I cast, so my future bullet test will be cast 125 and 150gr LHP bullets into a drum of water. Reverse 38-148 HBWC test bullets shattered. Maybe a plastic bag with wet newspaper or magazines suspended in the drum of water and shot through would be a good medium to compare bullet performance to a Buffalo Bore, Gold Dot, or whatever you want to compare your load to..
AA-5 is one of the powders that is "as good as or better than HS-6" for full power 38s. There are a few others.
See below for my "picks" with a 133 cast. Note that the slowest 3 listed use a lot more powder for just a few fps gain.
Code:
Cartridge : .38 Special +P (SAAMI)
Bullet : .357, 133, LYM LSWC 358480
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.444 inch = 36.68 mm
Barrel Length : 3.7 inch
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Shooters World Major Pistol 60.8 9.8 0.64 973 67.6 17500 8545 0.547 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate No.7 60.8 9.8 0.64 973 67.6 17500 8545 0.547 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant 2400 77.9 11.1 0.72 971 57.7 17500 8572 0.547 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant POWER PISTOL 60.4 7.2 0.46 967 78.4 17500 8165 0.543 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Auto Pistol 45.7 7.1 0.46 951 82.6 17500 7591 0.541 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate No.5 45.6 7.1 0.46 951 82.6 17500 7590 0.541 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Longshot 47.4 7.1 0.46 948 87.7 17500 7425 0.545 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon HS-6 49.8 7.4 0.48 947 85.4 17500 7442 0.544 ! Near Maximum !