Herco and 357 Magnum

[Jlr2267]

Anyone using Herco for 357 magnum? It is the only thing I can find locally but I'm not finding any newer load data. I'd like to use it with a Hornady 158gr JHP bullet and CCI 500 primer. From what I can find, this powder is similar to Unique, but slower burning.

Any insight as to where to find a min-max charge, or anyone with experience have a good starting point for this combination?

 

[zxcvbob]

Herco works great with 158 grain cast bullets (8.0 grains, which is max or close to it.) I've never tried it with jacketed, but cannot think of a reason it wouldn't work.

 

[maclords]

I use Herco in 357 mag shooting lead. 6.3-8.0gr all seem accurate with 158gr lead. While looking through old data I recall seeing Herco giving higher recorded pressures than Unique with equal charge weights meaning under certain conditions Herco might behave as "fast" or "faster" than Unique, but I would be comfortable working up a load starting with Unique's start charge or plus 0.1 or 0.2 grains. I like the following link for Alliant data. P.16 and P.13 for 357.

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Alliant01.pdf

 

[PapaG]

I used to use it in 20 gauge field and 12 gauge heavy field loads. Been playing with it recently in 357, 44mag and 45 acp. I like it. I go a little lighter than the Alliant data suggests. Generally, for me, the Unique charge weight works well for a starting Herco load. For some reason, it seems pretty snappy.
(and some will complain that it is "dirty" just like Unique. So what. Each shot cleans out the crap from the one before. I shoot dirty Red Dot in my trap gun and have done so for about 300,000 rounds and the bore is as nice as it was when I started in '72, just the choke is .001" larger.)

 

[Jlr2267]

Thanks for the info. I will start with a 158gr XTP over 7 grains of Herco and go from there.

 

[gamestalker]

I've used a good bit of it for 12 ga. field loads, but I don't think I ever loaded metallic with it. But as long as you can put a published load to it for what your loading, I'm sure it will suffice.

GS

 

[Crashbox]

Herco is my standard powder for .357 cast, I use 7.5 to 7.7 grains pushing a MBC 140-grain TCFP bullet at about 1140-ish FPS. Never tried it with jacketed, either, but I also do not see any reason it couldn't be used. The only caution is that jacketed bullets do tend to create higher pressures than cast because of higher friction, all other parameters being the same.

I shoot a LOT of Herco with cast.

I have found it to be very accurate and it also doesn't burn too hot. Unfortunately, it does NOT burn very clean, either.

But I LOVE the stuff.

 

[GP100man]

I stopped at 7.7 under NOEs 170 gr Keith style SWC, averaged 1223fps for 20 shots.

Excellent powder ,will burn clean at upper loads , flakes at lower end loads.

Down side is it`s large flakes does`nt play well with some measures.
I remedy that by adding 1/2 teaspoon of powdered graphite . no change in performance that I can tell & it`ll go thru my Lee auto disc purty good with deliberate strokes of the ram.

IMR 800X is very similar in burn & performance & size .

 

[Jlr2267]

7.1 grains of Herco under the 158gr XTP seemed to be a pretty good combo. Modest recoil from my 3" GP100, pretty darn accurate. I did see some residual flakes in the spent cases though...not much but enough to notice.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks for these great posts. I just bought 8 lbs of Herco for under a hundred and thought I could use it for 357 Mag or 38 special. Sounds like the mag is a good place to play with.

 

[Jlr2267]

Thanks for these great posts. I just bought 8 lbs of Herco for under a hundred and thought I could use it for 357 Mag or 38 special. Sounds like the mag is a good place to play with.

Works great in 357. I am trying to find a Herco 38sp load now to go under a 158gr swc.

 

[Jlr2267]

Just tried some 38's I made up with Herco...they were awful. I used 4 grains under a 158gr xtp. I could actually see the bullet going downrange, lol. Lots of unburned powder in the cases...it was really ugly. I think I'll use Herco for the magnums only.

 

[maclords]

I use 4.8 herco with 158 grain lead for what I believe to be a "standard" 38 special load. And 5.6 for a hot load. The 5.6 may be slightly over +p pressure. I load much more Red Dot (currently using promo) than anything else in 38 special.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Herco is great powder. I run 6 gr in 357 cases and 5 gr in 38 special for 125 rnfp cast laods.
These shoot very well in my pistols, but they shine in my Rossi M92 lever action.

 

[GaryL]

I like Herco in 45acp, so the thought of using it in 357 mag intrigues me.