Herco powder ?

[sniper]

Does anyone have experience with Herco powder and cast boolits ...mid-range loads, 150 and 162 gr. swc, .357 brass?

I've never used it, but have heard good things. Are magnum primers necessary? Thanx.

[felix]

Magnum primers would be a detriment in 357 using Herco. ... felix

[wiljen]

I thought Alliant didn't recommend magnum primers for any of their flake powder lineup.

[Scrounger]

Apparently they don't.

[9.3X62AL]

Herco is a GREAT powder in all the straightwall Special and Magnum revolver calibers, running castings from 850-1100 FPS very efficiently and economically. It has become my go-to powder for loads in this intensity range. It is also very useful in 12 gauge 1-1/4 oz field loads and 28 gauge 3/4 oz field loads. It gets used A LOT here.

[mtgrs737]

I have used Herco powder in 357 midrange loads with success, Herco is a tad slower than Unique which is another favorite powder of mine. I also like Blue Dot for stiffer loads in 357, 41 magnum, and 44 magnum as it reaches magnum velocities with minimum powder charges. Magnum primmers with Herco are uneeded and not recomended.

[Ricochet]

I've seen a number of good recommendations for Herco in 9mm, too. Since I'm a new 9mm loader, that's something I'm considering.

[Bass Ackward]

Yep, gotta love Herco. Specialy for what you want to do. Even throws a little better than Unique in my throwers.

Leave the magnum primers in the drawer for today. :grin:

[Kraschenbirn]

Haven't tried it in .357s, but 9.0 gr. Herco under a hard-cast 245 gr plain-base RN (the old S&W .44 Russian boolit) chronos at 945 fps from my 4 5/8" OM Vaquero. Accurate, too...easy minute of milk jug @ 50 yds.

Bill

[dougader]

I liked Herco fine and tried it after reading in a gun magazine about an old "classic" 9mm loading of 7.0 grains under a 115 grain jhp in 9mm. Well, best I could do was about 6.3 grains without spilling powder all over because Herco is not very dense and loading 7 grains seemed pretty impossible to me... never heard of long drop tubes back then to settle the powder in better so I don't know if that would have got me there or not.

In .357 mag, though, 7.0 grains under a 158 grain swc gave around 1000 fps in a 4 inch GP100. The Lyman manual says 7.9 grains is a max load. Again, I only used standard small pistol primers.

[454PB]

Ricochet, if you have some HS-6, try it in your 9mm. It meters better, is denser, and will provide more velocity than Herco.

[Ricochet]

Thanks for the tip!

[uncowboy]

I love Herco in my 41 Mags with CB's Very accurate. J.Michael

[Phil]

HS6 is good, 4756 is another winner in the 9mm.

Cheers,

Phil

[afish4570]

I have used Win Power Pistol and Bullseye in my 9mm. Recently switched over to 231 Win. 4.4 gr. with FMJ Win or Rem bullets.I've yet to chrono it but will keep you postedafish4570

[JRR]

I don't know about the 357, but Herco is my #1 choice for 40 S&W. 5.6-5.8 with a 170 gr. cast bullet is phenomenal. Use the longest OAL your gun will function perfectly with.

[GP100man]

i`ve burnt 2# of herco 7 grs. at the time in a 6"GP100 WWSP , not a full house load but no bunny poot either!!

GP100man:cbpour:

[Cimarron Red]

Has any one tried Herco in the .32-20 with 115 -- 120 grain bullets? Thanks for any information you can provide.

[big dale]

I have never owned a 357, but I have used up several of the 5 pounders thru the years in my 41's and 44's with cast boolits. Great midrange powder with the old Lee 240 grain semi wadcutter in the 41!

Big Dale

[cuzinbruce]

RE: Herco in 32/20 - Yes, it was one of the loads recommended in Handloader magazine a couple years ago, by Gil Sengel. For 32/20 revolvers. I have been using 4.8 grains with the RCBS 32-098 SWC bullet since then. In an S&W 1905 Hand Ejector. Just picked up another pound at the gun show yesterday. He had a bunch of good loads for that bullet, also the 3118 Lyman. Good article, especially if you are loading for handguns. They work fine in rifle too, by the way. If you are interested, I will see what the issue number was, I don't have it here. Send me a PM so I don't miss the thread.
Herco also seems to work great in my .44 Mag. I'm using it for mid-range loads, not full throttle as I mostly shoot holes in paper around here.

[Cimarron Red]

Cuzinbruce,

Thanks very much for the information. I missed that piece in Handloader, but I've been a subscriber for a long time, so I have the issue somewhere. But I've just moved to Colorado from the east, so I'll need to do some searching.

I'm trying to get a load for the Saeco 322 bullet (nominally 118 grains -- nearly 120grains cast from my WW alloy) in a Model 53 Browning.

I'll send you a request for the issue number via PM. Thanks.

[Rusty Shackleford]

11.5grs. Herco
240gr Lee SWC
This load very accurate in my SBH 44mag brass

[cuzinbruce]

The Handloader magazine with the article on 32/20 pistol loads was No. 220, Dec-Jan, 2003

[Newtire]

Cuzinbruce,

Thanks very much for the information. I missed that piece in Handloader, but I've been a subscriber for a long time, so I have the issue somewhere. But I've just moved to Colorado from the east, so I'll need to do some searching.

I'm trying to get a load for the Saeco 322 bullet (nominally 118 grains -- nearly 120grains cast from my WW alloy) in a Model 53 Browning.

I'll send you a request for the issue number via PM. Thanks.

Hi Red,

That #322 Saeco is a great boolit in the 32-20. I am loading for a Ruger Blackhawk Buckeye so can load em pretty hot. I have been using 7.5 gr. AA#7 and 6.2 grains HS-6 & getting pretty good accuracy. I haven't tried any Herco in it so can't say about that. The only boolit I have that beats it in an all around race is the 120 gr Wilbird Group Buy. I have been shooting that #322 out of a .30-30 with RedDot and great results.

[Cimarron Red]

Thanks a lot, Newtire. I have high hopes for the Saeco bullet. I'll try your powder charges.