Author Topic: 8lbs of HS-6, now what to do with it. (Read 535 times)

abhound · « **on:** April 18, 2005, 06:06:27 PM »

A friend of mine had given to him a bunch of reloading stuff from a woman who lost her husband last year and being that he don't reload he gave all the stuff to me. Most of the powders were opened, so I won't use them, but there is an unopened 8lb container of HS-6 powder. I load 45acp, 9mm, 44mag-spl, 357mag and 38spl. For 45acp and 9mm I've always used 231 or Bullseye and either Unique or H110 for the rest. Has anyone loaded HS-6 for any of these rounds? And if so, what is your opinion. I figured I might as well use the stuff up.

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2005, 07:41:18 PM »

abhound,
I've used HS-6 in .38, .357, 45ACP and 45 Auto-Rim with good results. These were all medium velocity loads. It seems to fit somewhere between W-231 and H-110.
The charge weight seems to be a little less forgiving than other powders I've used, but when you find the sweet spot it really shines. My experience has shown that 1/2g. one way or the other makes a big difference.
Also, pretty good shotgun powder.
Best,
TnNuc

Flash · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2005, 12:57:55 AM »

If the guy had pretty good organizational skills and took care of his supplies, the opened containers probably don't have anything wrong with them. I aquired a supply of stuff in the same manner and it all turned out to be usable, even the pickle jar of primers.

ajj · « **Reply #3 on:** April 19, 2005, 06:16:15 AM »

This is WW 540 labeled by Hodgdon. That should help you find data, perhaps in one of the Winchester giveaway pamphlets. It works well as a "medium" powder in most of the straight walled pistol cartridges.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #4 on:** April 19, 2005, 07:50:30 AM »

Well, I found HS-6 to be my powder of choice in 8 different loads:

.32 H&R Magnum with 71 grain bullet
.38 Super with 130 grain bullet
.357 Magnum with 90 grain bullet
.38 Special with 90 grain bullet
.38 Special with 130 grain bullet
10mm Auto with 180 grain bullet
.41 AE with 200 grain bullet
.45 Super with a 230 grain bullet

That being said, I found that HS-6 is useful in around 250 different loadings, from the .22 Remington Jet to the .454 Casull.

If you really don't know what to do with it, I'll send you my shipping address.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** April 19, 2005, 10:42:54 AM »

I hope you like 38 special or 45ACP. It is a good target powder for those calibers. It is very similar to Win 231.

abhound · « **Reply #6 on:** April 19, 2005, 02:07:24 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. I'll defiantly use the HS-6, I'll start working up some loads for the 45acp and 38 spl. All said and done there's about 18 lbs of unopened powders, 3000 assorted primers and a bunch of bullets. It kind of felt like Christmas when I opened up the box. Some of the opened powder canisters had price tags on them from a store that closed 20 years ago, so I wouldn't feel safe using them, but all the unopened stuff is fine I think. I mean, there is an unopened old red 3lb can of Bullseye that's from that store that closed 20 years ago. I can't quite make out the price, but the store name is legible so I know that it's at least 20 years old. I assume the powder is still fine after 20 years as long as it's still got the original seal? I gave that powder to somebody else anyway being that I've already got close to 3 lbs left out of the last 4 pounder I bought. I just don't want it to blow up their gun or anything.

vinconco · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2005, 05:20:12 PM »

I used to shoot a lot of bowling pins and used HS-6 in my 45 acp w/ 255 gr FP cast lead. I don't have the data at hand but it was certainly the best pin load we came up with.
For anyone who hasen't shot bowling pin competition.... the object is to knock 5 bowling pins 36" rearward and off the table..... fast. The time doesn't stop till all the pins are on the ground. kinetic energy at work... do the math.

I'll post the data if anyone is interested.