In this work, the structure of the steady-state detonation waves, the critical diameter, detonation parameters and the dependence of detonation velocity on the charge diameter for pressed hydrazine nitrate (HN) charges in the density range of 1.40-1.68g/cm(3) were investigated by VISAR interferometer. It was found that the critical diameter drops with the initial density decrease. Under steady-state detonation conditions at a maximum initial density of 1.68g/cm(3), a high detonation velocity of 8.92km/s is realized in HN charges. The change of the detonation velocity with variation of the initial density is not monotonic, but has a characteristic s-shape. Experiments on the determination of Hugoniot data and initiation of detonation under shock wave action for HN were carried out with samples of maximum density. The results of the conducted experiments show the low shock wave sensitivity, which is much lower than that of TNT. A noticeable reaction rate behind the front of the initiating shock wave in charges of maximum density is observed only at a pressure above 20GPa.