Herco

[farmerjim]

9mm, 38 special, 357 mag, 45 acp, 20ga, 12ga. My no. 1 pistol powder.

[Budzilla 19]

9 mm,38 Spcl, 12 gauge heavy loads, haven't tried it in anything else. Agree withThink Unique just a tiny bit slower! Just my .02 cents. Be safe.

[Elkins45]

I remember from The ABC's of Reloading that Dean Grinnell called it his favorite 9mm powder.

I have a 4lb jug that I bought during the banic but I have't gotten around to using it yet.

[OS OK]

9 mm,38 Spcl, 12 gauge heavy loads, haven't tried it in anything else. Agree withThink Unique just a tiny bit slower! Just my .02 cents. Be safe.

Unique is faster than Herco.
https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn%20R...02015-2016.pdf

[Hardcast416taylor]

Back in the early`60`s I got a 12 lb. unopened drum of Herco in buying out a shotshell loaders inventory. It took me 20 years to use up that drum by using it in all my handguns as well as my 12 and 20 gauge shotguns. An excellent powder, I`m working on my second 8 lb. drum after that 12 lb. starter.Robert

[Kraschenbirn]

Hard to beat for .44 Mag 'mid-range' loads...just wish I could find some around here.

[OS OK]

We have a little 'hock it/thrift shop' here also…one day last year the owner offered me a big canister (12#-cardboard tube type?) of Herco for $25. I looked at out in the sunlight and sniffed it real well…went back in paid for it.
Lucky Day!

[jonp]

Lot's of Herco at the last gunshow I went to. I've never tried it but just might buy a pound given the recommendations here.

[M1A4ME]

I use it for my .40 S&W 140 grain Missouri Bullet Co. loads. I lucked out and get the same POA/POI as my .40 S&W 135 grain Nosler HP loads (and they are haulin' butt when they come out of the barrel).

[SPRINGFIELDM141972]

Like the majority of those who responded here, I too, use it for most of my 45 Colt loads up to Ruger only loads.

[Uncle R.]

I used it years ago for 10 ga skeet loads.
I don't think I've ever tried it in a handgun - just never felt the need.
After reading here I thinking maybe I should try it in handguns.
Thanks!

Uncle R.

[rsrocket1]

10 gauge skeet??!!
How about 20mm Vulcan gun skeet? Maybe claymore mine skeet? Is the challenge of 10 gauge skeet found in trying to swing such a big gun fast enough? Or is it trying to survive 25 shots with a 10 gauge?

Here I am reading about guys recently loading 5/8 or 1/2 ounce shot in 12 gauge.

[alleyoop]

Been so long since I saw it, I didn't even know they still made it.

[sandman228]

the herco I'm currently using came from a going out of business sale from a local gunshop a few years ago priced at 70% off . I bought 3 1 lbers for about 6$ each and a 4 lber for 13$ I'm down to 3 lb or so of the 4 lb jug I gave my father inlaw enough to load up a couple boxes of ammo for his 40 to try out . I bought it on a gamble never tried it before but I figured for that price I wouldn't get hurt .

[Uncle R.]

10 gauge skeet??!!
How about 20mm Vulcan gun skeet? Maybe claymore mine skeet? Is the challenge of 10 gauge skeet found in trying to swing such a big gun fast enough? Or is it trying to survive 25 shots with a 10 gauge?

Here I am reading about guys recently loading 5/8 or 1/2 ounce shot in 12 gauge.

I guess I'm a hunter at heart.
I've always looked at skeet, trap or sporting clays as practice for hunting.
It seems silly to me that a guy will shoot clays all summer long with a special target gun, and then when duck or pheasant season opens he pulls out the field gun that he hasn't shot since last year and goes hunting.

Back in the early days of steel shot I did extensive pattern testing with the 3" 12 ga steel shot loads available at that time. The results were sobering - a forty yard shot on a duck was more like hope and pray than ethical hunting. Anything beyond 30 yards or so was risky. I bought an SP-10 to use for ducks and geese. It performed with steel about like a 12 ga. with lead, and gave me back the ability to make honest and ethical 50 yard shots. It's big, it's heavy, it swings like a fence post, and I figured I'd better practice with it. I spent a lot of time shooting skeet and sporting clays with it.

I shot light handloads - only 1-7/8 oz of 7-1/2s at around 1300 fps. Anything less and the function became sketchy. Believe it or not, the recoil was not bad at all. That big heavy gun and the gas-operated action made the kick feel about like 3 dram trap loads in a 12 ga 1100.

I got funny looks sometimes, and the usual anal retentive whiners complained "You can't do that, it's against the rules." I also got pretty good with that big gun, and I got a lot of ducks and geese.

Uncle R.

[Outpost75]

11 grains with 240-265 lead bullet in .44 Magnum.

In applications where there is Unique data, but no Herco data, the top pressure tested charge listed for Unique will be a safe and satisfactory, somewhat lower velocity, but "good" Herco load without any further experimentation.

[sargenv]

It is my current powder of choice for 9mm minor loads in my 929.. 3.7 gr of Herco, 147 gr BnB coated bullet gives a nice 130 PF for USPSA and ICORE competition.. Also good for 12 and 20 ga loading... a bit faster than Blue Dot in most things.. (shotshell and pistol).

[RobS]

Herco is a touch slower than Unique. Use Unique load data and you'll have a nice starting point. I use it very successfully in heavy 230 grain 45 ACP loads as well as Ruger only 45 Colt loads. Works well in 40 S&W and 357mag too. I would imagine it to be a good mid/upper range powder for 44 mag. I've not used it in small cases such as 9mm as it is not as consistent metering vs ball powders when using small charges but it would work well enough if needed. A very over looked powder IMO.

[mtgrs737]

I have used it for 28 ga. shotshells with good results. I would think that anywhere Unique is used Herco could be used if it fits ok. I am keeping my eye open for some locally, as I am about out.

[flint45]

Herco works great in my .44 mag. 11grs. under 240-250 gr. boolit. Also .45 colt wish I could find some been out maybe 2 years.