[Southpaw]

I noticed in the thread about AA#5 and Unique that 800X was mentioned as a step up, but that it didn't meter well.  In FA's load data, loads are shown for HS6 & W540.  I read somewhere that HS6 doesn't always perform consistently, specifically if loads are not near full case.  In the Powder Burn Rate Chart, HS6 & W540 are right next to each other, and a few below 800X.  Near full loads, they provide a small velocity bump over, but with similar pressures to, Unique.  What's the forum's experience?  Do they meter well?  What about consistency when using starting loads?  Are they clean burning?  Is there another choice in the Unique - 800X range?  I'm not looking for anything faster burning than 800X.  I'll take the jump to H110 for that.  Thanks for your help.

God bless,

 

[Jack Monteith]

Hi, Southpaw:
  HS6 & W540 are ball powders, so they should meter well. I have no idea how well they'll perform in your .454.

Bye
Jack

 

[Dave Saye]

Southpaw
HS-7 and W571 are a step above HS-6/W540 and a step below H110/W296.
Dave

 

[Southpaw]

Jack, Dave, thanks.  I've also read that HS6 (I don't know about the others) has a rapid increase in pressure as you get near top loads?  Is anyone aware of that situation with HS6 or one of the other powders mentioned?  I'm looking for a powder for mid range loads, one between Unique and H110.  I'm kind of leaning, right now, toward HS7 or maybe W571 (thanks to Dave). Thanks again.  I make up my mind soooo very sloooowly!!!

Just found out... 575 has been discontinued.

God bless,

(Edited by Southpaw at 2:54 pm on July 6, 2001)

 

[Dave Saye]

Southpaw
I've used HS6 for hot +P .45 ACP loads with no problems at all. In the bigger cases (.41, .44, .454, etc) HS7 has given me more uniform results for reduced loads. I don't know what bullets you are using so I can't give you data but I've used 21grs of HS7 with a 300gr XTP for 1290fps with no excessive pressure signs.
Dave

 

[MikeG]

Thought about Blue Dot?  In my experience it meters OK and has created some superb loads for me.

 

[Southpaw]

Dave, MikeG thanks.  I will take a look at Blue Dot.  Dave, I'll be loading 335's and 360's for a 454, if you or anyone has some special pet loads, Id' appreciate it.  I've picked up a few off the forum, but reloaders are like chefs... always looking for a new recipe.  Thanks again.

God bless,

 

[Dave Saye]

Southpaw
I've never used bullets heavier than 300grs in my .454 but that will change as soon as my Beartooth bullets arrive. As a result I don't have any pet loads for the heavyweights. You might give the Hodgdon technical line a call. They might be able to recommend a good load for 355-360gr bullets using HS6 or HS7. Their number is 913-631-3851. Good luck.
Dave

 

[Southpaw]

Dave, thanks again. That's a good idea. Go to the horse's mouth, right?

God bless,

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Blue Dot might indeed be a good choice for your application!   Paco Kelley has some good information on Blue Dot in one of his articles on the Sixgunner.com archives.   Might be worth a read!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[Southpaw]

Marshall, thanks for responding.  I'll see if I can locate the article on sixgunner.  You're in my prayers.

God bless,

 

[jdt634]

southpaw

The following data is from freedom arms based on their guns 7.5 in pressure barrels rem# 7 1/2 primer

FA260jfp HS-6 16.0g 1181 vel 33,8k cup start
                    20.5g 1562 vel 44.2k cup max

FA300jfp HS-6 15.0g 1084 vel 31.1k cup start
                   19.0g 1450 vel 46.2k cup max

FA260jfp HS-7 17.0g 1228 vel 36.0k cup start
                   24.0g 1701 vel 51.7k cup max

FA300jfp HS-7 16.0g 1111 vel 33.4k cup start
                    22.0g 1501 vel 50.2k cup max

again this is Freedom Arms data and applicable to their guns and test procedures.  my own experience with HS-6 is that it meters well being a ball powder I use 20.0 g with a 260g speer jhp and cci350 small rifle
primer  Out of my FA454 7 1/2 in this makes a great medium power load that works and recoils similar to a 44 mag  full power.  I find it seems to kill whitetail 100-150 lb class as well as my heaver 300g/h110 powered full house load and is much nicer to shoot.
In my opinion it burns cleaner than unique  but does not preform that much different

again Freedom Data

FA260jfp unique 12.0g 1220 vel 33.6k cup start
                      15.0g 1452 vel 46.6k cup max

last note to my hand the HS-6 load seems to shoot softer than a similar Unique loading

hope this helps some

jon t

 

[DOK]

Southpaw,

Young man, very good to hear from you, been toooooo long.

To save time in developing a "best" load for my Ruger 45LC 4 5/8", like you, I checked to see what others had experienced and compiled the data. I found HS6 to be a commonly recommended powder, with 13.0 and 13.5-grains most commonly listed. I found 13.0 to be both very accurate and consistent and have used it successfully for the last year as my main load. I'm using a 262 grain SWCGC, so my 1050 fps would be obviously faster than your heavier .454 bullets.

You may remember from prior conversations that I tested 9 different powders for use in a .44mag and found 15.7 grains of Blue Dot to be the most accurate and consistent---even better than H110 and W296.

Sure hope you get a little time to keep us up to speed on your experience with the Bowen .454s.

Dan

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I probably use more hs6 then any other powder. For midrange loads in the .500 .475 45colt and 44 mag you just cant beat it. clean and very accurate.

 

[Gunnut45]

jdt634

Tried your data in my SRH454 7 1/2  with slit modification.
 255 gr swc, starting load 16.0 gr WW540
                  Moderate recoil
                  16.5 gr  WW540
                   Recoil at heavy .44 level
                  17.0 gr WW540
                   Recoil heavy
                  17.5 Gr WW540
                   Cases stuck, heavy recoil -
                   stopped here
Accuracy: marginal at best so I dropped down to 15 gr and started again
                   15 Gr WW540
                    Moderate recoil-accuracy
                    Good- 2" at 25 yds
                    15.5 Gr WW540
                    .75" to 1.5" group 25 yds  
I don't have a crono so I don't know where velocity is on this load- it feels like a heavy 45 LC
so I'm guessing around 1200 FPS. Next I will work up  in tenths to see if i can get alittle more punch with out sacificing accuracy.