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HS-6 and 125 Grain Cast in 38 Special

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DMW1116

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Anyone have any information for this? I don't see any on Hodgdens site and my Lyman cast manual doesn't have any either. I can find data for 148 Hornady HBWC, so I know it will work with cast bullets. I have three other powders that might work, but 2 of them have a limited supply, so I'd rather not use them if HS-6 will work. I'm using 125 grain cast round nose flat points from Gallant.
 
HS-6 does work with cast bullet, but mainly magnum loads. Hornady no longer list HS6 for any of their 38 special loads. Check your Lyman manual they use it for the 170 grain lead and 125 jacketed HP's
 
Yes it’s listed as a preferred powder in 357 Magnum with 158 grain cast bullets. I have some 125 grain XTPs but they are about 3x more expensive and once I have a good load for them at 38+P or 357 Magnum pressures I doubt I’ll get more unless they outshoot my 158 grain XTP load. That isn’t very likely.
 
It is definitely not ideal, but it can work if that's what you have. (Recob presently has Titegroup 4lb and 244 in stock which would be more suitable). I would and have used 125 jacketed data for this powder with rather hard cast 125s BHN 15 advertized. It performs well in a 10" TC and a 20" rifle barrel. Both of those firearms like it when I stomp on them at .38+P loads. Rather dirty but still accurate through shorter revolvers. I prefer HP-38 or Red Dot for this application. HS-6 was an experiment discontinued due to lack of versatility across my various firearms.
 
I have used HS-6 for 38spl with 140-158gr bullets works best with a magnum primer and heavy crimp for me.
 
HS-6 & W540 same powder i think? Winchester data in photo from 1996. full.jpg
Compare 158 gr data. Lead vs jacketed.

May be able to use 125 gr jacketed data for lead? Do so at own risk.
 
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It’s listed for some relatively light 357 Magnum loads and 125 grain cast bullets in my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. The velocity runs up around 1250 to 1300 depending on load. The only load I’ve found for it in 38 Special is for Hornady HBWC.

I originally bought it for lighter jacketed bullets in 357 Magnum but I don’t like how it runs such high pressure for the same velocity as other powders like Enforcer.

That said it does work well and I get accuracy equal to my wadcutter target loads with a near max charge of HS-6 and a Hornady XTP 125 grain bullet. I suppose it’s possible I’m being too picky.
 
The only load I’ve found for it in 38 Special is for Hornady HBWC.

You're not looking very hard.

Speer has it for 135 and 158 grain bullets.

Hodgdon lists it with 13 bullets in their 38 Special ammo. 10 bullets in their +P data.

Nosler has it for standard and +P loads.

Lyman has it for 110, 125, 140, 158 jacketed. 155,, 160, 170 cast.
 
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