HS-6: .45ACP, 10mm Auto, .41 Mag, .44 Special, .44 Mag

[MarkCO]

I think we should use the actual names as published in current data.

First, not handing out load data. Second, I still have WAP, and I've seen it for sale periodically at gunshows. Silhouette is available in stock, on the Hodgdon website.

Assumption is dangerous. He asked about WAP, as a comparison, I answered about WAP. Sorry that is not what you "think" but it is 100% accurate.

 

[rc]

While it worked fine in auto pistol cases like 9mm, 38 super and 40, I never found WAP (Winchester Action Pistol) to be very versatile for revolver calibers.

 

[redhawk41]

Here are the HS-6 loads I’m looking at. NOTE: these are max loads straight from Hodgdon reloading web site.

10mm Auto

200 gr lead - 8.5 gr - 1,131 fps - 36,400 CUP
200 gr FMJ - 8.6 gr - 1,089 fps - 35,900 CUP


.41 Mag

220 gr JSP - 11.3 gr - 1,271 fps - 36,700 CUP


.44 Spec

200 gr lead - 9.5 gr - 1,035 fps - 12,400 CUP


.44 Mag

240 gr JHP - 15.1 gr - 1,417 fps - 38,200 CUP
325 gr lead - 14.0 gr - 1,218 fps - 38,000 CUP


.45 ACP

230 gr FMJ - 8.2 gr - 825 fps - 15,400 CUP

 

[redhawk41]

Here are the corresponding W231 loads. NOTE: these are max loads straight from Hodgdon reloading web site.

10mm Auto

200 gr lead - 5.6 gr - 1,026 fps - 35,400 CUP
200 gr FMJ - 5.6 gr - 1,011 fps - 35,700 CUP


.41 Mag

210 gr XTP - 8.6 gr - 1,200 fps - 39,800 CUP

NOTE: load data for HP-38 which is the same powder as W231 and load data is interchangeable


.44 Spec

200 gr lead - 5.8 gr - 845 fps - 13,000 CUP


.44 Mag

240 gr JHP - 11.0 gr - 1,272 fps - 37,800 CUP
325 gr lead - 10.3 gr - 1,125 fps - 38,700 CUP


.45 ACP

230 gr FMJ - 5.3 gr - 832 fps - 16,80” CUP

 

[redhawk41]

Here are the corresponding BE-86 loads. NOTE: these are max loads straight from Alliant reloading web site.

10mm Auto

190 gr JHP - 7.6 gr - 1,182 fps


.41 Mag

210 gr JHP - 10.8 gr - 1,229 fps


.44 Spec

200 gr lead - 7.7 gr - 989 fps


.44 Mag

240 gr JHP - 11.6 gr - 1,252 fps


.45 ACP

230 gr FMJ - 7.1 gr - 943 fps

 

[44 AMP]

I think Unique runs well pushing 230's full-throttle in 45 ACP; and 125's in 357 Magnum - and that's it. Otherwise, Unique has not impressed me - and I've used it for decades.

I don't use HS-6, never have, probably never will, unless someone gives me a pound to try out. Not that I have anything against it, or any other Hodgdon powder, just never had any reason to try them, other than H-110.

Been loading since the early 70s, and thinking on it, (now) I realize that everything I do, or want to do in handguns has always been done with Winchester, DuPont, or Hercules powders (which is how I think of them, despite label changes over time).

For light loads, and in small cases, I run Bullseye or W231. For standard loads and larger cases, Unique or one of the "dots" powders. For full house magnums, 2400 or W296.

Unique impresses me, so much so its been my only powder for the .45 Colt since the 80s. I load for .32ACP up through .45-70 in handguns, the only ones I've deliberately skipped are the 10mms and .41Mag.

IF HS-6 is what you have, or all you can get, use it. IF something else does what you want, better, use that.

 

[rc]

The velocity differences only tells you part of the story. You will find 231 burns cleaner down to much lower pressures because it's a much faster powder and therefore will give a lower extreme spread than HS6. 231 is near optimal in 45acp and 44 special but can serve well in mild magnums too. But 231 reaches peak pressures faster so you can't get to the same top speeds safely as with something like Blue Dot or Unique. HS6 for comparison will probably give you erratic performance on the low pressure end of the spectrum in 44 special and 45 acp, but will allow you to push bullets faster in your magnum cases like blue dot. 231 is light bullet friendly, HS6 will not be as forgiving. 231 will fill much less of a case than HS6. If I remember correctly HS6 was a bit course and crunchy where 231 is smooth flowing from a powder measure. Other slow powders are better in magnum pistol in my experience than HS6. Another caveat to consider is that in pistol length barrels of 4 and 6 inches 231 will produce speeds much closer to HS6 than in rifles due to combustion time in the barrel. If you shoot 231 out of a rifle you'll get a small a bump in velocity, but not more than maybe 150fps. If you fire a slower powder like HS6 out of a rifle it will give you maybe 300 to 400 fps more than out of a handgun length tube. If plinking with cast bullets is your thing, the more economical 231 will generally produce good accuracy with lead and jacketed bullets in something like 44 mag if 1200fps max in your magnum is acceptable. HS6 is the better choice in 44 mag however if you want to make jacketed hunting loads for a carbine where you want a much bigger performance boost. It's hard to load everything with 1 powder if you can't accept some of these trade offs of speed, consistency and long barrel performance. If you tell us what kind of performance you want to achieve out of each caliber and the powders you can find, we can probably help steer you to 2 powders that will take care of all your needs efficiently. I love mild 158 LSWC magnums with 231 out of my 357 that surpass any 38 special loads. Sometimes however I want to step it up and that's when I'll use other slower powder like 296 in 357 mag to boost performance with jacketed bullets from a rifle. The 2 powders you settle on can vary a lot as long as one works well in low pressure loads and the other in higher pressure applications.

 

[redhawk41]

I can do everything with a handgun I want to do using two powders I have on hand: W231 and AA #9.

The same can be said for several powder pairs ie Unique and 2400, Trail Boss and Ramshot Enforcer, etc...

This is a good thing especially in the current environment where a favorite powder just isn't available. It's good to have options.

I agree that trying to knock the fast / slow powder pair down to a single medium rate powder is going to be an exercise in compromises, but it may be one worth considering.

And, as with anything, the only way to really know for sure is to try it!

 

[rc]

#9 is really closer to 296 than Unique so relatively slow. You certainly could use a true "medium" powder like #7 or Unique. Universal clays is also a great powder that is very versatile. It's just a tad slower than 231 and burns very clean in 9mm and 40 but doesn't work as well as 231 in lower pressure cartridges.