HERCO loads in 44 mag?

[TheCracker]

I recently was given some powder from the 1980's. It all smells fine and is not dusty so I plan on using it up.

I noticed Herco was listed for 44 mag in my Lee 2nd edition but it's not listed on the alliant website. Actually the only hero loads they have is for shotguns.

My question is: is there some reason alliant doesn't publish herco for any pistol loads? As in was it seemed unsafe since there used to be published loads.

I'm going to call them monday but thought some of you guys reloading longer than my 2 years might know.

 

[jimbob123]

Yeah i bought some for my 12ga for hunting loads and did not like herco.So i loaded some up for my 41mag and first ones shot better than my unique loads i have been loading.Have not been back to range with more to try yet.Not sure why alliant does not promote it more than they do as a pistol powder.I loaded mine under a lead bullet for a mid range load and so far so good.Yeah you have to get load data from alliant for your bullet type but give it a tryJIMBOB123

 

[tlen]

Alliant is pushing new powders and thus they fail to list HERCO anymore. They also promote Speer [Also ATK] jacketed bullets so lead bullet data isn't published much either. I've been using HERCO for years and it's great for mid range and magnum loads in ..357 & .44 mag, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10MM.
Email Alliant and Ben will look up old load data for you if you send an email. May take a couple days. What bullet weight and type are you going to load ? Old Reloader Guides have HERCO data.

 

[GaryL]

Herco is a good powder. There is an old saying "fill'r up with Herco". I think that is because Herco does pretty much fill the case in many pistol calibers.

My best 45acp load is with Herco. The only bad thing about it is the occasional unburnt flake or two, but maybe that has to do with the powder being 30 yrs old. Hard to say. Can't complain about how well it shoots.

My 2002 Alliant Reloaders Guide has loads for Herco and 44mag.

 

[TheCracker]

What bullet weight and type are you going to load ? Old Reloader Guides have HERCO data.

I shoot a lot 240g LSWC in revolver. So that is what I would be interested in. For deer in my Marlin 1894 use SJSP with 2400 and really have no desire to explore anything else at the moment.

If the Herco works well I will consider buying more but since I have a free pound I'm defiantly not going to let it go to waste.

My lee book has some data in it but I would be curious of what has worked well for others

 

[zxcvbob]

12 grains of Herco with a 255 grain cast bullet is a very good "Ruger" load in .45 Colt, so it should be equally good with a 240 grain bullet in .44 Magnum.

Alliant's 2004 load book (before they gutted it) listed 12.5 grains of Herco as a max load in .44M with cast 240's. HTH

 

[GaryL]

From the Alliant 2002 Manual

44 Rem Mag, Max Load Data

240 JSP, Primer Fed. 150, Min OAL 1.585, Herco 10.5gr, 1245fps, 34.7K psi

240 L, Primer Fed. 150, Min OAL 1.6, Herco 12.5gr, 1330fps, 33.8K psi