Herter's Press

Last month I scored a Herter's press at a nearby auction. Pressman helped me ID it and sent an amazing amount of info on it's history and even a catalog showing how it was originally merchandised.
My first plan was to use it as a dedicated depriming station, but investigation showed that to be overkill, due to the sturdy construction and design not being conducive to orderly collection of spent primers.
I am now contemplating using it to make shotgun wads. The sturdy design is a plus for this use. Perhaps another use will come to me as the number of wads I need isn't that great.

Guess I have never heard of doing such a thing. What are your plans to go about it?

Maybe I'm a bit archaic, but I use an arch punch and a hammer to cut out shotgun wads. I don't reload plastic shotshells though, only brass.

I purchased 12 and 20 Ga. dies from a vender in Canada. I can probably crank out a lifetime supply in an afternoon. I have saved cereal boxes and corner packing from pallets to use for donor material. I saw some carton inserts at a Class 6 store recently that might be another good material.

I have an old 2 station Herters press. Very solid heavy duty unit. Shell holders can be a problem. Unless you can find originals, you need a adapter.

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Originally Posted by Loudenboomer

I have an old 2 station Herters press. Very solid heavy duty unit. Shell holders can be a problem. Unless you can find originals, you need a adapter.

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A couple of different companies have made these shell holder adaptors for the proprietary shell holders the Herters presses used. IIRC, Ch4D ca still provide them for you. The bad news is that you lose about a quarter inch of distance between the shell holder and the bottom of the die, but the good news is that for most cases, the Herters presses are tall enough it doesn’t matter. Priming with this type of “adapted” shell holder may be a challenge, but I prime off press by hand, so this isn’t a consideration. Pressman could have told you more about this.

Green Frog

Gn Frog;
Pressman did tell me more. He sent an original Herter's catalog and a current issue of the Antique Reloading group's journal, topic Herter's presses. I found the article to be comprehensive.
I got one of the CH adapters to compliment the No. 1 shell holder that came with the press. It covered the 30-06 family and 45 Auto.
Bill

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Originally Posted by William Yanda

I purchased 12 and 20 Ga. dies from a vender in Canada. I can probably crank out a lifetime supply in an afternoon. I have saved cereal boxes and corner packing from pallets to use for donor material. I saw some carton inserts at a Class 6 store recently that might be another good material.

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Bion my very first reloading press was a mail-ordered Herters... many, many years back. :) I am interested in the Canada vendor you ordered from... Might you post a link &/or name/address? Also, I have a few old Herter catalogues -- I can copy/send their listing, perhaps, of your new press if you give specifics?
Thanks much!
geo

Sounds like Pressman really helped you out………..too bad he isn’t around here anymore!

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Originally Posted by smithnframe

Sounds like Pressman really helped you out………..too bad he isn’t around here anymore!

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Too bad you are not around anymore either…..

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Originally Posted by Loudenboomer

I have an old 2 station Herters press. Very solid heavy duty unit. Shell holders can be a problem. Unless you can find originals, you need a adapter.

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Does Herters us a J type shellholder like the older Lymans?

No, they're bigger diameter that the J's... and the bottoms are shaped differently... not a straight diameter like the J's... search "Herters shell holder" on Flea Bay and you'll see what they look like...

I believe the Herters shell holders interchange with Lachmiller. Rather than snapping in place they are contained by 2 setscrews.

I've been using my single stage Herter's press since I bought it in the mid 60's. Fantastic press!

I’ve been shuffling some of my less-used reloading gear when it dawned on me that my most basic Herters press, a Model 3, has the bushing to allow the larger (shotgun,etc) or standard 7/8 X 14 dies and a special bushing to take 310 dies. I’ve been accumulating some threaded push through sizing dies in standard and 310 sizes in preparation for a foray into tumble lubing and powder coating. This sounds like a perfect pairing. I won’t be putting as much pressure on it as bullet swaging, but the Herters press has plenty of beef for that job.

As I contemplate the next configuration for my loading bench, I’m thinking that if I put all of my sizing, a heated Star, a Lyman 450 and this Herters press across one end, I can quickly choose among or change between lube styles. I knew I would find a good use for that old Model 3 press! 8-)

Froggie

I know this isn’t a swapping and selling page, but does anyone know where I can find a #25 shell holder for the standard (not screw in) Herters presses? I got a small box full of holders with one of my purchases and have picked up a couple more, but that one has eluded me. I have the adaptor, but would rather not use it. Is there a vendor anyone knows of that specializes in these things?

Froggie