Pick just one load

[Petrol & Powder]

Took several loads out this morning all centered around the 150 grain 358477. By far the best shooting was done with 5 grains Unique in a 38 Special case. The 357 cases may get reserved for 13.5 grains 2400 and a 358156 GC. Unique is position sensitive.
By doing the powder up, powder down thing I got a difference of 80-90 fps but the damn thing just kept putting the bullet on the plate. FPS variation overrated?

Sounds like you've answered your own question.

 

[CZ93X62]

Two loads for most of my magnum revolver calibers--one that sends standard-weight castings at 900-1000 FPS, the other with SWC/GC at 1250-1400 FPS. The 13.5 x 2400 under Lyman #358156 is a close duplicate of my shop's old 357 carry load, the W-W Super-X 158 grain JHP.

 

[Rex]

Thank all of you for your suggestions. Usually an old man knows what needs done but needs a little encouragement to get started.

 

[Joshua]

I have been very happy with that same load, a 358477 over 5gr of Unique in a 38 special case. When I will finish up my pound of Unique, I will convert this load over to Herco (I’ve got a lot a Herco). I’m thinking a 5% increase to 5.3gr of Herco.
Josh

 

[Ian]

Am I the only one that uses the lower-pressure revolver cartridges for garbage disposals? Just about anything in the pistol/shotgun larder will work quite well with them using standard-weight bullets, especially those partial cans of this and that which I won't replace and are taking up space.

 

[Brad]

I have done that but still don’t seem to have gotten rid of everything? I don’t buy 1# containers very often.
I decided to limit the powders on hand in large amounts and settled on RD as a good all around choice.

 

[Ian]

That was a good plan when Promo was cheap and available. Still a good plan if you acted on it when you did.

 

[Brad]

My 8 pounder was $98 when I bought it. Should bought 4 of them

 

[Joshua]

I paid $150 for that twelve pounds of Herco, and $60 for four pounds of WST. They may not be perfect for everything. These two powers are going to get a lot of use. Now I just need to find 8 pounds of 2400 at a garage sale for $20 dollars and I’ll be set.
Josh

 

[Ian]

I inherited a half-keg of Herco from my FIL and have been trying to find something it excels at since he was alive. It's good for a lot of different cartridges but isn't really a favorite.

 

[fiver]

it is outstanding in lever rifles.
I'm not a fan of it in my revolvers [blammy loud] but the lever rifles get good velocity with low recoil and low noise.
it's also a good powder for the 40 short.

 

[CZ93X62]

Herco does fine work in 28 gauge 3/4 oz shotshells and in 12 gauge heavy field loads (3-3/4 dram 1-1/4 oz). It is featured in my 900-1000 FPS magnum revolver loads, 45 Colt loads of that same velocity envelope in Rugers, and seems like a decent replacement for the discontinued IMR SR-4756 in 32/20 WCF revolver loads.

 

[Joshua]

I have now tried Herco in the following!

30-06
(8.3gr / 308241) and (13gr / 311041)

7.7x58mm
(13gr / NOE 325365), (13gr / 323470) and (8.3gr / Lee 324-175-1R plain base)

40 s&w
(5.2gr, 5.4gr, and 5.6gr / Lee 401-175TC)

They mostly all worked. I need to do a lot more work with load ladders, so that I can fine tune for accuracy.
With the rifle loads I basically multipled popular Unique loads by 5% and hoped for decent accuracy.

I have a lot of work to do on the 40 s&w load. It’s jamming once on the second or third round every magazine. But that is going to be a whole thread unto itself, once I try a few things and figure it out.

At the end of the day, the Herco was cheap and I’m gonna learn a whole bunch “making it work”.
Josh

P.s. Do we even have to apologize for thread drift here on this forum?

 

[fiver]

HAHAHA!!!
you should check out the head stamp thread.
I don't think it made 3 posts before heading off to 4-K years ago and outer space.

 

[Joshua]

I saw that one! Who knew that the Sumerians had access to a Tardis? I learn new things on this site all the time!
Watch out for Cybermen , it’s getting pretty crazy out there.

 

[Rex]

Let it drift! I enjoy reading all this.

 

[popper]

For my auto pistols, pretty much set for what I can handle and accuracy - WST for 9 & 231 for 40sw. Same load for all purposes. 308W pretty much set, varget, Autocomp for jacketed and 4895 for cast. 30/30 unique, 4895, 2400 for cast, LeverE for both. BO is tinker tool. Do have some good all purpose loads.
Sizing 308W with Hornady die today (found 3 boxes of 168Amax on my shelf) WTH, partial neck size? When did I do that? Haven't loaded any of those for 4 yrs. Reset the die. Use the RCBS for cast.

 

[Rally]

My problem is I’ve bought so many reloading components at garage/estate sales the last few years. I have a 23 yo grandson I’ve recently gotten into loading shotgun, and he burns up some odd ball components in shotgun. Sometimes I load a run of something and we have a family outing to get rid of it.
I only own one .357 and that is a Marlin 1894. I cast the Noe 180-acne bullet in DP over 9 grs of Blue Dot in .357 case. I’m done experimenting with .357, not a big fan in pistol.
I have an early model Star Machine in .38 Spl., which uses the now no longer available size O charge bar. I’ve altered the brass charge bar to accept brass bushings I make when changing volume, so a quick change in load is not so “quick”. In .38 cases, what I shoot the most of, is 3.7 grs of Bullseye with the Noe 360-160-WFN, and mostly dimple point version.
i recently did a run for my daughters K38 of 3.1 Bullseye behind the Saeco 052 WC 148 Gr. A nice load for her to practice with.

 

[Rex]

I envy you fellows who find reloading stuff at garage sales. About all we get around here are baby cloths and junk.

 

[462]

I envy you fellows who find reloading stuff at garage sales. About all we get around here are baby cloths and junk.

Man, ain't that the truth!
From what I see at the range, and how long it takes the local gun store to sell through a dozen kinds of powder and half that number of primers, I must be one of the only two handloaders in town. Oh, and the only bullet caster.