Hercules 12 Reloder Smokeless Rifle Powder

[loose noose]

I just found a full unopened pound of the above named powder in my powder keg. Checked all my reloading books dating back to the late '60s to the early 70's and could not find any data. Although I did mark in one of the manuals a few loads for 30-06, and .223 using said powder.

My question is why did they discontinue this powder? I know Hercules was bought out by Alliant back around the early '90's or so. Another question I'm gonna have to answer myself, is why I never opened it and used any of it, as I've owned both rifles since early 70s.

Any answers to my main question is why they discontinued it would be greatly appreciated. I'm aware it is a medium burning powder, but how clean?

 

[Tom1417]

I would say and mind you I don't know this to be fact, that it was probably discontinued for the same reason hodgdons is discontinuing the some of the Sr series powders and pb under the imr label. They say these are low volume niche products and discounting will free them up to producce more of the popular powders. It could have also been discontinued if it was cost prohibitive or difficult to manufacture. Just my opinion though

 

[loose noose]

BTW, has anybody used this powder? I'm interested to know how it worked out.

 

[Potatohead]

I bet RC has.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm not sure I ever heard of it lately, let alone used it back then?

However, I do have a 1992 Hercules powder Guide that says.

Reloader 12 - Medium rifle loads
Can also be used for Silhouette loads.

Still in the 1996 Alliant book with lots of load data.

Who knows why it was dropped from the line?

Only Alliiant/ATK, and The Shadow Knows!

Probably due to low sales.
Or RL-15 does it better just as well with too much over-lap.

rc

 

[Steve C]

Reloader 12 data was still published by Alliant in their 2000 manual. I had picked up a couple pounds of it on sale and loaded up some .308 and 30-30 rounds using it.

Don't know why they quit selling it though it was dropped when they reintroduced 10x which maybe filled the burn rate between Rel 7 and Rel 15 better.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have a couple of pounds of Reloder 12 that I bought in one of those round waxed paper soup "to go" boxes at the LGS a few years ago. Just like the good old days of buying bulk powder in a paper lunchbag. It's supposed to be good in .30-06 service loads; I have the load data but haven't tried it yet. I transferred it to an empty Alliant powder bottle.

If I recall correctly, it looks like Varget.

 

[loose noose]

Thanks folks I just knew you would come thru, still wish I knew why they dropped it though. BTW thanks RC for referring me to the 1996 Alliant reloading manual for additional loads, I'll check that out here shortly. Happy Fourth Of July to all you good folks at the THR.

 

[Chisos]

It used to be my go to powder for my 7mm BR with the 145 Sil. cast bullets.

 

[loose noose]

I just located my 2000 Aliant Reloading manual, although it doesn't mention it in any of the advertisements inside it does list a bunch of loads for just about every caliber I've got. Noted on the can that I have, that I paid $14.95 for it at Turners Sporting Goods Store in San Bernardino, California. Man that must have been ages ago, after all I left there in September of '92, right after I retired from a L.A County PD.