Back in the 60's and seventies Herco was a popular powder for use in the 357 and 44 Magnums as a mid-level to full power powder. However, as time went by and more testing was done, those "full power loads" that had been developed without adequate pressure testing were greatly scaled back. It still saw some use in the 9mm and 38 Super cartridges and was moderately popular in the latter cartridge for making major in IPSC competition. It has been largely eclipsed as a handgun cartridge by other more modern powders. If you have some that you wish to use up, Speer #10 has loads for the 380, 38 Super, 38 S&W(?), 38 Spl, .357, 41 Mag, 44 Spl, 44 mag, 45 AR, 45 Auto and 45 Colt.
In my own experience, it doesn't meter very well and seems to run best at 20,00 to 35,000 psi pressures. I have tried it in 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, and 44 magnum but I don't recommend it for any of those. It never seemed to produce top flight accuracy. Unique, WW231 or Bullseye always seemed to beat it out. I now use it only in reduced power rifle loads where it works very well. In particular, in my 30-30 I like 8.0 grains of Herco with an Ideal 311-245 93 grain rn boolit. It is as accurate as I can shoot iron sights at 50 yards and "minute of squirrel" at closer ranges.
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Originally Posted by onelight
