HS-5?

[Odin]

I was out this morning and stopped by ol' Cleve's to see what kinda wheelguns he might have in the case. Not surprisingly, nothing really caught my eye... nothing at those prices anyway...

Couldn't help but wander around a bit and started to stare at the powder stores. Lotsa old stuff tucked in here and there with the new stock. A few caught my eye: HS-5, HS-7, Win 500-HS and some weird ones I can't find a lick of data on - Norma P-1 and P-3.

I'm really wondering about the HS-5. There's 10lbs. on the shelf and the little data I could find suggests it would make up a good number of rounds in the 357mag. Might be able to use it for midrange loads in the 475L too (similar to HS-6???). There was at least one mention in my searching that it seemed difficult to ignite, leaving unburned powder in the case, so maybe the stuff is junk, dunno.

Can anyone give me some guidance here? As mentioned, 357mag and 475L are the cartridges I'd be looking to try it in.

[benny123]

Crazy coincidence, just had a guy asking me about "HS-5" . Hadn't heard of it since 30 minutes ago. A word of caution, not that there's an analogy between manufacturers numbers increasing and powder burn rate but, you shouldn't use AA5 in your magnum, but you could use AA9. If your opting for a slower powder to HS6, you can use HS7 (if you can find it). IMO, and it's just that, the 357 and 475 aren't that similar of cartridges esp if HS5 happens to be rel. fast. Pressure could get nasty fast under a heavy bullet. Not trying to be boo-hoo just approach the discussion safely

[Odin]

Sept 10, 2014 0:27:32 GMT -5 benny123 said:

... Not trying to be boo-hoo just approach the discussion safely

Understood.

The more I look around at what little data about the powder I can find, the more I'm realizing that it's probably not going to work for me in the 475L (sure wish I could find some HS-6 or Win231). Might have to settle for some Unique in the 475 (I've no need to push it any harder, they're just whitetails).

In the 357, however, it might be a worthwhile investment (it was pretty cheap). I don't really want to wring heavy loads out of it. I've got H110 for that. Just thought it might make for some nice mid-range loads. Probably pushing some 158gr SWC's.

[mark]

Lyman Cast Bullet handbook 3rd edition lists HS-5. It does not list any loads for bullets over 115 grains in 357 mag (115 grain #358345 OAL 1.465 start @ 8.0 of HS5 for 1086 fps @17.9K CUP to 11.7 of HS5 for 1548fps @41.7K CUP).
You asked for guidence so don't be mad at the messenger: I don't want to throw a wet blanket on your find but how cheap is cheap? You talking about 10 pounds of a powder that pre-dates the UPC code. It would be different if you knew its history but how do you know how it has been stored? Is the can metal and showing any signs of rust? Is it sealed? Did this gun store "just happen to find it" in their storage? If it turns out to be bad powder, do you really think he will give you a refund? I know powder is hard to find these days and expensive, too. There is limited and old data on this no longer produced powder. Leave it on the shelf. If the powder was that great, Hodgdon would not have replaced it.
Mark

[Odin]

All signs say that the powder is completely fine. It was pretty well tucked away behind some other stuff (that shop is a hoarder's wet dream). The cans look like they were shipped yesterday. That's why I decided to ask around.

I figured someone might have used it way back when, and had good results, but as it turns out all I've discovered is that it will work, but it's not a fantastic powder by any stretch of the imagination.

Which is fine, I'm not out anything by leaving it on the shelf. Plus I learned a little bit.

Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it.

[dougader]

There's data in the older manuals fir HS5, and it's just a but faster than HS6. A powder being discontinued doesn't necessarily mean it's bad... Look at 452aa and WAP, both were great powders.

[Odin]

One thing that seemed to plague HS-5, at least in pistol cartridges, was difficult ignition. Even with loads at the upper end, shooters consistently report unburned powder in the cases. Accuracy reports seem to be ho-hum too. Maybe this winter I'll pick up a pound to play with, just for S&G. But right now I'm on the 60-plus-hour-workweek-warpath and it won't slow down until deer season.