Herco for .40, 9mm, and .45 ACP?

[1KPerDay]

So I've made it through my 3 lb can of Red Dot, liked it a lot in these calibers (though I haven't had much luck with it in .380... or any powder I've tried yet, really). Now I have a 4 lb can of Herco. Alliant used to have recipes for these calibers for Herco about 2005 but now their website lists only one for .45 ACP. My lyman manual lists none and my hornady manual lists only one for 124gr LRN in 9mm (which will help).

Any help? I may have asked this before but I can't find the thread.

My bullets are 125gr LRN "Smallball" from MBC for 9mm, MBC 140 gr IDPA #7 LTCFP in .40, and 230 ball of some sort for .45. Usually Berry's plated.

 

[rcmodel]

http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalogs/2004AlliantPowderSM.pdf

rc

 

[1KPerDay]

Thank you.

 

[zxcvbob]

It's really too bulky for 9mm (compressed loads might be okay), but it should work great in the other two. RC has posted the link already.

 

[tlen]

HERCO works fine for me in .38, .357 Mag, .40 S&W, 10mm, .44 Mag and .45ACP....
http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant.html

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks mucho, fellers. I'm curious what you'd recommend as a starting load for .40 S&W using MB 140 grain LTCFPs. I can't find anything similar in the manuals linked. I can guess based on lower and higher bullet weights, but...

I was thinking of starting with about 5.9 grains or so. What do you think?

 

[1KPerDay]

It's really too bulky for 9mm

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7168861&postcount=23

Herco is less bulky/fluffy than Red Dot, which has been great for me in target loads. 3.8gr red dot under the MBC 125 smallball is very accurate out of my SIG.

If the link above is correct approx. 4.7 gr of herco would take the space of 3.8 gr of red dot, and the 2004 alliant data above has 6.2 gr of Herco as max for 125 gr lead, unless I'm misunderstanding something. Which is entirely possible.

 

[zxcvbob]

I like Red Dot too. It's always very accurate.

A 9mm case filled all the way to the top with Herco will be about 7.5 grains. 6.2 grains will fill it about 80% full and doesn't leave much room for the bullet. Since it's fluffy flakes, maybe you can compress it 10% and it's OK, I don't know. I haven't tried it. WSF and Herco are (IMHO) interchangeable and WSF is much denser and easier to measure.

I do like Herco though when there's enough room in the case for a full charge.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks. I didn't know that about WSF. I don't plan to get near max loads.

Any input on my proposed starting load for the .40 (see above)?

 

[zxcvbob]

I don't shoot a .40 (I need to start; I've got about 20 pounds of brass saved up) but 140 grains seems awfully light. Close to 9 grains of Herco maybe? You're probably a lot better off with Red Dot on this one. Herco works better with heavy bullets.

If you've run out of Red Dot, try buying Promo next time. Use your Red Dot recipes, but you'll have to readjust the powder measure.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the input.