I've been wondering what to do with this can of HERCO that's been hangin around for a while. Don't use it for shotgun anymore.
Just wondering if it can produce any exceptional handgun loads of any kind?
I tried a load in my 686 with some 158gr LSWC, but they didn't group very well.

Any one have any luck with this stuff?
Thanks

don't give up try a diffrent primer to change the group you might be surprised.

Load it u and shoot it I have shot thousands of rounds of 357 herco loads.

Well Ok, I'll keep workin at it..

That load in my 686 was 7.5grs HERCO, Win LSWC W-W cases and WSP primers.
Velocity averaged 975 and velocity spread was over 200 fps. And it shot all over the paper.
I can throw 7.0grs UNIQUE in that load and it will shoot very nicely.. Tight pattern and low vel spread and another 100 fps velocity. UNIQUE is very 'unique' in that it shoots well in just about anything you put it in. In fact all the ol' standbys we've been using for decades, BULLSEYE, UNIQUE, 2400, work well. So I was just wondering why HERCO gave such a poor perfomance the first time out.. and does it require some special handling..?

So I'll try some different bullets, primers etc.. and see what happens.

Thanks

best powder I found for the ruger in 45 colt, also great in the SRH 454 as a target load.

You may need to bump that charge up a bit to get more uniform combustion. Work upto 1100fps & see if things get better.

You may need to bump that charge up a bit to get more uniform combustion. Work upto 1100fps & see if things get better.

I tend to agree. Let me ask this..
The Alliant book says 7.9grs of HERCO with the LSWC is max. Is this realistic or have you experienced maybe something a bit higher?
7.5grs seemed light to me, as compared to an 1100 fps load with UNIQUE or 2400.
I'm actually after a 1100+fps load with the LSWC with HERCO.
If 7.5grs only gives me 975fps, then another .4grs isn't going to increase this by very much.
Thanks

I second the primer suggestion. Each primer brand has unique properties. Don't overlook magnum primers as well. They are cheap enough to buy one of 100 of each brand/type.

As far as increasing the powder charge, use Federal primers as they are the softest and most reliable for pressure assessment, then use them and case sticking as a reference. FC primers will melt into the casehead before you reach unsafe pressures in the 357.

I had ok luck with it under 158 grn jacketed bullets in my 586, but never tried it with lead. I could not get the accuracy or speed as that of Blue Dot and Lil' Gun, but it gave descent accuracy and would have been just fine for plinking.


Good Luck

Reloader