Herter's, Dies and Shell Holders

[RIHP]

Does anyone still use Herter's reloading equipment?
Should I use, retire or pass on these dies and shell-holders?
What type of press uses these large shell-holders?
Thanks

[tdoor4570]

The dies should be ok if clean and in good shape I'm still using 2 sets of dies I got in 1971 from Herter's the shell holders are for Herter's press. There are a lot of loaders on here that would like to have those old shell holders

[LUBEDUDE]

If tell me the numbers on the shell holders I can tell you what they fit

[Pressman]

Herter's dies were made by C-H, they are good quality. They sold them as MkI, MkII, MkIII and MkIV. Basic through micrometer seating die, with lots of variations such as neck sizing, a window seater and differing finishes. It looks like you have a good collection of most models.

All, or nearly all, the Herter's presses used toughs shellholders, and Herter's sold thousands of presses, most of which are still in use. The design came from Lachmiller and their presses will also use Herter's shellholders. There is also a Pacific press that uses the Herter's shellholders, if you are fortunate enough to have one.

If you decide to pass them on eBay is a good market as is Castboolits Swap & Sell section. There are a lot of Herter's users here.
Ken

[RIHP]

The shell holders are stamped #1 and #15.
Looks to be 30-06...and possibly 32acp

[LUBEDUDE]

You are correct.

There are some other uses as well. Most guys know that the 30-06 size will cover many other cartridges, but maybe not all listed:
30-06, 270 Win, 280 Rem, 244 Rem, 6mm, 300 Sav, 257 Rob, 7x57, 8x57, 9x57, 250 Sav, 35 Rem, 45 acp, 44 and 357 Auto Mag, 8mm M.S., T-65 Gvt, 256 Newton, 6.5 x53 M.S., 22-250, 250-3000 Sav, 284 Win, and obviously all Wildcats based off of these cases.

Now I’m not much of a rifle guy and there have been changes and advances in cartridges since Herters posted this list over 30 years ago. I’m sure others can be added to use of #1 shell holder.
For example, wasn’t the name of the 280 Win changed to another name to save confusion with the 270?

Please feel free to add to this list if you know any more.

As far as the #15 shellolder, 32 acp and 30 Carbine is all that shows on the list.

Of course as with any shell holder, sometimes a certain manufacturer’s shell case may fit in the “wrong” size holder where another manufacturer’s may not.

[eric123]

My 7mm Rem Mag dies are Herter's. Still work fine after 50ish years.

[azrednek]

Several years ago I picked up a box load of Herters reloading equipment at an estate sale. I put most of it on EBay and discovered Herters tools are in demand be it collectors or nostalgia. Had a sizing die that used inserts, 243, 270 and 06. Been to many years to recall how much but I was surprised how much I got. Had an ego laced last minute bidding war for the 410 shell holder fetching almost fifty bucks.

[LUBEDUDE]

Several years ago.............................................Ha d an ego laced last minute bidding war for the 410 shell holder fetching almost fifty bucks.

I can see why. I’ve never seen a 410 shell holder available before, it’s not even on the list. Or rather, I didn’t see it. My aging eyes may have looked right past it.

I have the 12, 20, and 16 gauge shell holders as well as Herters dies. Would love to have the 410 set up. But it sounds like it would be out of price range.

[higgins]

Just the other day I used a .38/.357 Herter seater/crimp die to seat bullets larger in diameter than usual. The bullets felt like they might be squeezed in the Lyman seater, but there was a bit more room in the Herter seater. I knew there was a reason I kept those Herter dies for about 30 years after I quit using them regularly, other than the fact that I couldn't sell them.

[New River Gent]

I still have a "C frame" number 3 and a number 3 "Super" which has small additional amount of cast iron where the top of the frame joins the web of the press just in back of the location where the die screws into the press. I still use the number 3 at times when I load a few rifle or pistol cases for experimenting with. For quantity loading I use a Dillon 550B.

Herter's sold excellent equipment.

[Skunk1]

Have a herters 234 turret with primer feed and aquite a few shell holders. No dies anymore as rcbs has replaced them. Good die though, equipment was built like a cat dozer. Heavy!

[starmac]

My herters O super, or super O, whatever it is, is one of my favorite presses.

[Harter66]

I can see why. I’ve never seen a 410 shell holder available before, it’s not even on the list. Or rather, I didn’t see it. My aging eyes may have looked right past it.

I have the 12, 20, and 16 gauge shell holders as well as Herters dies. Would love to have the 410 set up. But it sounds like it would be out of price range.

I think I used a 303 shell holder for a brief dalliance with an 1.75" 410 for a 45 Colts revolver .........hey I might be able to put that 1-32" Rossi to work after all .....

[Wayne Smith]

As per the Herter's list - of course we know the T-65 Govt as ... .308 Win.

[Green Frog]

I was fortunate recently to purchase a Herter's Super U press (thanks, Stratsman!) and am trying to replenish my neglected supply of Herter's shell holders. (Yes, I know I can use an adaptor and RCBS shell holders, but where's the fun in that?) The common ones like #1, 2, and 6 show up fairly frequently, but I'm looking for the oddballs like #11 for 32-20s and #25 for 32 S&W (and 327 Fed Mag.) The thrill of the hunt is to seek out the more unusual ones in junk boxes and miscellaneous stuff drawers at gun shops and shows. Then again, the kindness of strangers works too... somebody just gave me a #23 because he heard I needed it.

[Dale53]

Froggie;
Don't forget, Herters reloading stuff is "better than need be" Many, MANY years ago, I was a Herter's fan. They sold about everything an outdoorsman might want. My shooting buddy and I got a big kick out of the outlandish claims about their products (funny enough, they were not all that "outlandish" but seemed so at the time). I still have their "Chuck Wagon Cook Book" (may be paraphrasing here) that had some really good ideas and recipes. My wife actually found an old Herter's catalog at a garage sale and bought it for me for Christmas so I could relive the past. It's still on my bookshelf, so I KNOW Herter's stuff was "better than need be"

FWIW
Dale53

[Dale53]

Correction:
It was Herter’s “Bull Cook Cookbook”. There was some good stuff in there...

Dale53

[Green Frog]

Correction:
It was Herter’s “Bull Cook Cookbook”. There was some good stuff in there...

Dale53

OK, next time I get up there for a visit, after we sit around shooting the bull, you can get out that book and we'll know how to cook it!!!

Right now I'm just hoping to get my big reloading bench cleaned up enough to bolt down the Super U and maybe do a little loading on it just to prove I still can.

Your Phriendly Phibian

[rmcc]

Ed don in KC is the Herters go to guy for reloading equipment. If he or PRESSMAN don't have it, it was never made!! Ed wrote a book on Herters reloading equipment.