who uses herco

[mebe007]

So it has been peaking my interest as of late to try to get to know some different powders. shortages in supply lead me to believe it would be nice to have a back up my sleeve from my standbys. One im interested in is herco. What do you guys load cartridge wise with it? most data i see if for cast boolits which is fine with me as i cast for both 44mag and .357 mag.

 

[gamestalker]

I've used tons of it, but only in shot shells.
GS

 

[jstein650]

It's a great 16ga powder. I've used it for .45 acp, .38 spcl., too. You may have to find some older published data, as it seems to not show up in the most recent Alliant data as much as it used to. Makes for good upper end .38 loads, as it's on the slow end for that caliber. I'm thinking in the .44 and .357 it will be good for more moderate level loads, esp. the in .44

 

[mebe007]

since its slower it may excell in the longer barrel of my marlin 1894c .357mag or my marlin 1894p 44 mag. or am i wrong on this thinking?

 

[jstein650]

It is slower, but chamber pressure just builds so dang fast, you're not likely to gain much. Still gotta keep within safe published max loads. You're never going to get what you would with something like 2400 or H110.

 

[SHR970]

Since I said this very recently on another forum I might as well say it again:

Unique's ugly unwanted freckled redheaded step brother; aka Flaming Dirt's cousin. In my experience it works better with lead than Unique when you are pushing it harder especially with heavier bullets. When there is no current data (like after they decided it's BE, Un. BD or 2400 for handguns) you use Unique data and add a couple tenths of a grain in most cases and you are well in the margins.

 

[zxcvbob]

I luvs me some Herco with cast bullets in .357 Magnum and .45 Colt +P. So it ought to be good in cast .44 Mag loads too. I haven't tried it in 9mm or .38 Special +P yet (9mm is probably a compressed load)

There is plenty of load data if you go back about 8 or 10 years.

 

[mebe007]

with 10lbs of unique, 7lbs of h110 and 8 lbs of 700x would there be a need for herco on the shelf? im going to start loading 180gr wfn gas checked boolits for my marlin .357 rifle here soon. the rest will be 158gr rfn

 

[jstein650]

h100?

 

[mebe007]

oops h110 made a typo

 

[jstein650]

Then I say no need at all for Herco. Would work fine IMO if that's all you could get of moderate loads, but with Unique & 700x you have that covered. H110, by far, will get you all the bang you're gonna get (and that's quite a bit) from a 180gr .357

 

[zxcvbob]

with 10lbs of unique, 7lbs of h110 and 8 lbs of 700x would there be a need for herco on the shelf? im going to start loading 180gr wfn gas checked boolits for my marlin .357 rifle here soon. the rest will be 158gr rfn

I would get a pound of it to see how you like it, but with 10# of Unique you're covered already.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

I use 125gr rnfp's ahead of 5 gr of herco in my Rossi 357 mag carbine. In 38 special or 357 cases.

Can shoot out the bull at 100 yards again and again and again.

Here is where Herco comes in. Lets say you work up a accurate load using Unique.
Lets say 4 gr of Unique gives you the accuracy you want in 38 special cases. But maybe not quite the velocity your after.

Load that same load using 5 gr Herco. You get the same pressure as the 4 gr of Unique load and 100 fps more velocity.
So you've kept the accuracy and got more fps.
Good stuff!!!

 

[mebe007]

i need to find it local otherwise i have to buy enough online to balance out hazmat

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

No need to hurry. Work up your loads with Unique.
When you find what you like with Unique now just add 1 gr more of Herco. now you have two loads.



Its not quite as simple as that, but almost.

The most accurate Unique load for 150gr cast in my 30-30 is 9 gr of Unique. 10 gr of herco mimics that load but with 100 fps more zip.

( stay with in published norms, Best to always be safe. I started by matching the Unique load and worked up until the accuracy matched.)
Almost all the real work I have done with it is for Carbine use.

I would doubt a 4 inch barrel cares. 16 inch barrel now we are talkin.

 

[mebe007]

ill have to find some local otherwise its wait. would hate to have 4lbs and not use it

 

[MW3840]

I have used Herco with 158 SWC in my Ruger Security Six .357 for over thirty years. I love it because of the great accuracy.

 

[Nevmavrick]

I use Herco for loads in my .41Mag (M57 w/6") with cast SWCs. It's just a bit faster than my Unique loads, but not as fast as Blue Dot, or 2400.
It's an excellent mid-range and up powder. I always keep some around.
Have fun,
Gene

 

[JLDickmon]

it's really strange how some of these powders that were used for decades, all of a sudden aren't "cool" anymore..

 

[Krogen]

It's because the name Herco is weird. Not cool like Longshot or Titegroup etc.



A buddy used to sing its praise with heavy bullets in his 9mm. Haven't talked with said buddy in a few years - he may still be singing.

 

[Elkins45]

It's because the name Herco is weird. Not cool like Longshot or Titegroup etc.



A buddy used to sing its praise with heavy bullets in his 9mm. Haven't talked with said buddy in a few years - he may still be singing.

And since it's being made by Alliant now rather than Hercules (from whence the name likely originated) the name doesn't really have any meaning.

I have four pounds of the stuff that I bought during the height of the panic when it was about the only thing left on the dealer's shelf. I expect I'll get around to trying it just as soon as I use up my last jug of Unique. Dean Grinnell liked it, so that's pretty high praise.

 

[Crashbox]

I love Herco for cast .357 Magnum medium-strength target practice rounds- not at all clean-burning but it does NOT burn hot and it is very accurate IMO.