Win 540 powder

Greetings-
A friend of mine has around 1.5 lbs of Win 540, left over from when he reloaded shotshells, that he gave me to use up, (I reload all of his .38 SPL for him). I seem to remember reading somewhere that Win 540 and HS-6 were one in the same. Is this true? I am unable to find any 540 data in my manual, but there are tons of data for HS-6. I am looking for .44 MAG/SPL and .357 Mag/.38 SPL in particular. The powder is about 15 years old or so, but hasn't detiorated that I can tell; still it's time to use it up. I just need some data! Thanks much in advance.

-SSG Klaus

Hi Klaus,

I have some Freedom Arms data for the 454 which show the Win540 to be a frog hair from the HS-6 in all bullet weights....
Also got a print-out of Winchester's 7 years old web manual with data for 38sp/38Super/9/40/10/45auto ... logically the file is on one of my misplaced back-up CDs :) ; I think I could make it available for download ...

38Sp gives (4in bbl):
148grHBWC: 4.6-5.1gr/720-800fps/12,100-15,300psi
148grBBWC: 4.7-5.2gr/700-785fps/13,100-15,300psi
158grLSWC: 6.2-6.8gr/805-880fps/13,200-15,900psi

158grJHP+P: 6.1-6.6gr/750/800fps/15,300-17400psi
158grLSWC+P: 7.1gr/915fps/17,300psi
They are other JHP's weights in 38+P if you need.

kg

KG- thanks much for the quick response. I'll be loading low pressure plinkers w/cast bullets in the .44 so I think if I go with the starting loads for HS-6 and move carefully I'll be okay. I've got duty tonight so I won't be able to load any of your .38 data until tomorrow night but I'll be sure to give it a try. Again thanks for the reply; take care.

-SSG Klaus

I have a one pound can of #540, and it is vertually the same reloading specs as HS-6 powder...which I favor very much.

When you put a pinch of both side by side for comparison it seems like the #540 is finer mix in some parts of body of grains.

To be on the safe side you can load it 10 % lower than the HS-6, but I intend to go whole hog on it...same measurements across the board.

Jim

kg- I loaded a mess of .38 SPL w/ 4.5 gr; 148gr DEWC, shot great, no problems

Bigbore- If I have any left after all the .38's I'll probably load some for the .44. I've drawn the unenviable task of teaching my buddy's wife how to shoot a handgun. She's not bad, just needs lots of practice.

Thanks for the input.

-SSG Klaus

Better you than him. Experienced instructors will tell you that "significant others" generally take weapons instruction much better from someone outside their home. Some, not all, spouses have a way of "filtering" input and/or ignoring much that they hear from their loved ones in the interests of domestic tranquility. This can have its drawbacks where shooting is concerned. I refused to teach my (now ex) wife to shoot because she simply would not hear most of what I tried to tell her, and neither would my friends as she doesn't listen to anything anyone else says to her, either. :mrgreen: All the kids listened well and learned the basics safely and without problems, so I guess they got the good genes.

That's good news Klaus. Hopefully you'll be able to put enough of it in these 44 cases and get the lady's attention :mrgreen:

All- my buddy truly owes me one, not only am I teaching his wife to shoot; but she REALLY likes my S&W 586 as opposed to his J-frame. How many times does your wife WANT you to buy another gun?[smilie=w: