Herco Powder Jacketed Bullet Load Data

L

Lonestar41

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Hello to All,
I have been lurking around this forum for years, and never registered; well I am NOW a registered member!
I have a question for you Herco users. I am looking for load data for 9mm and 45acp using jacketed bullets, 124gr 9mm, and 230gr 45acp. My experience with Herco in the past has been with lead bullets in 1911’s. Today I am looking for jacketed loads to try in my Glock G19 and G30S. I would appreciate any data you can send my way.
 
Welcome to the forum. If you haven't already, please do take time to read through the forum rules, and also look at the top of this forum for the stickies regarding posting warm loads and selling in the forum. But if you've been lurking, you've probably seen all that stuff.

I've never found Herco particularly useful in 45 Auto. It just seemed to take more charge weight to get to the same pressure as Unique, then doesn't give me any additional velocity for the extra expense; just more muzzle flash. That's with 230 grain RN FMJ's seated to 1.275" and fired in a 5" 1911. Alliant's load data says 6.4 grains of Herco is maximum with that bullet, but with a 5" tube that is only producing 845 fps. Unique will give you about that same number. For that reason I used up my first can of Herco back in the 1980's and never bought another. For improved 230 grain jacketed performance over Unique in the 45 Auto, Power Pistol, 800X and Winchester 572 are more useful choices today and will all go into 930 fps range.

In 9mm Luger with a 124 grain RN FMJ seated to 1.169", the problem is bulk. If you fill the space under the bullet 100% with Herco (5.0 grains with the default case water capacity), QuickLOAD gives a result of just under 24,000 psi and just under 1100 fps. Again, it's just slow for the cartridge and bullet combination, and I think that's why your aren't finding loads for it published.
 
I agree with Unclenick
I use a lot of it in lead loads for 44 specials, 44 mags and 45 LC.
But those are light/target loads and I find them very accurate.
I have never tried them in any auto case manly because I use W231 for anything that uses a magazine and in my experience you cant beat it.
 
The 2003/05 data confirms my experience in 45 Auto, but indicates Herco to be more useful with the 125 grain FMJ in 9mm. For that it gives a max load of 6.5 grains, which QuickLOAD thinks is significantly compressed. I note that Alliant doesn't currently give any data for Herco with this round. That may be a caution, as they have also eliminated some Blue Dot loads in some chamberings because of pressure problems. A lot of manufacturers have upgraded pressure measuring gear to equipment that provides graphical pressure curves rather than just a peak reading. This has apparently revealed anomalies in some loads previously believed safe. A highly compressed one may be subject to sensitivity to small seating depth variations. I am not sanguine about the use of old load data for this reason.
 
Well guys, it looks like I am going down the wrong rabbit hole, so I will put my Herco at the back of the shelf.
I have W231, Red Dot, Unique, Bullseye, Clays and Universal, so I suspect one of these will produce a winner for a .45acp 230gr jacketed load.
I have excellent results from 5.0grs of Unique with a 9mm 124gr jacketed bullet, so I will have to see if I can find a .45acp Unique load.
Up to this point all, my .45acp reloading has been with cast bullets such as the Lyman #452374, 225gr RN.
 
I note that Alliant doesn't currently give any data for Herco with this round. That may be a caution, as they have also eliminated some Blue Dot loads in some chamberings because of pressure problems.
Click to expand...

While I agree that one should be vigilant when using older data (always start low and work up slowly), sometimes companies will drop long used data due to space constraints, and wanting to push the latest and greatest powders/components...

The only loads Alliant has ever back-peddled on are Blue Dot with light bullets in .357 Mag, and all bullet weights in .41 Mag:

"Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 357 Magnum load using the 125 grain projectile (Blue Dot® recipes with heavier bullet weights as specified in Alliant Powders Reloading Guide are acceptable for use).
Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 41 Magnum cartridge (all bullet weights)."

http://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/safety_notices.aspx

One can always call (or eMail) Alliant CS, and ask about specific powders in specific loads to confirm what they are finding in the old paper manuals...

They have always been very receptive to those of us that have asked about older data...In fact, until recently ATK (Alliant) had the 2004 free paper manual available on their site in PDF format...

In any event, UncleNick is absolutely correct in his cautions!

My suggestion to other loaders is, never do anything outside your comfort zone...

If you think you shouldn't do something, then you probably shouldn't...
 
LS 41,
The only two loads I have used for twenty years in 9mm - the 124gr. is all I use - are 7.7 grs. of HS-7
(very accurate, but Hodgdon has dropped the powder from the line)

and 6.3 grs. of Herco.
The load is from the No. 7 & 8 Speer manual.
Yes, the charge almost fills the case, but no problems with powder spills on a 550
or with the seating or crimping dies.
I think you will like the load, but do not tell too many others, I've been able to round up a pile of it due
to other folks attitude of 'Herco?, that's for shotguns'.

I also load Herco exclusively in both .32acp and .380acp for full power performance and
also use Herco with both medium and heavy weight lead bullets in .44 Magnum for 'a step up from mid-range'.

Never considered trying Herco in a .45acp.
I do use 6.2 grs. of Universal with 230 FMJs though. Speer No. 12.
Again, I believe you'll like it.

JT
 
I am happy that I finally registered on this forum. Those of you who have responded to my questions have done so in a civil and informative way, which is not the case with many of the forums. Thank you for your replies.
 
HERCO aka Flaming Dirt's (Unique) slower cousin.

Some things to consider: how you see it perform with lead is an indicator in how it will perform with jacketed. It likes to be pushed or it burns like dirt. In the 45 ACP you need top loads for it to behave correctly. Soft loads need not apply unless you want less than stellar consistency.

In 9mm with 124 / 125 gr loads it will usually give better performance and consistency due to being slightly compressed with full loads. This is where its bulk works in your favor.

Follow the link provided by Salmoneye and use that data without fear. When ATK bought Alliant and then Speer, they shot their new data for 2008 with Gold Dot or Unicore bullets exclusively (surprise surprise) and only used Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, and 2400. They did not use American Select, Red and Green Dot, and Herco. They went the cheap route.
 
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