I came across a bunch of Herters' .38 special brass at the range. They were in the box where people throw their brass for others to reload. All the primers are cratered. I realize that they could be reloads, but I'm sure they're not. My question is, does anybody have any experience with Herters? My impression is that it's cheap, generic blasting ammo. But they appear to be loaded really hot. Just curious.

Don't know anything about the Herter's brand, but if they use standard boxer primers, there shouldn't be any reloading problems.

I've shot quite a bit of the 158 gr FMJ. It is pretty accurate and a bit peppy. I believe it is made by S&B.

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Accuracy supercedes Speed

I do not have a clue about the Herter's brass made today, however, I purchased a box of 357 magnum from Herter's in the 60's and it was balloon head.

Herters is an exclusive brand name for Cabelas. Presently it's made by Sellier & Bellot, but that can always change.

as mentioned Herters is currently made by Sellier & Bellot in Czech Republic. Never had a problem with it in the calibers I used. it is reloadable but the primer pockets are real tight - if you treat as mil brass & chambfer or swage pocket then it is good

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Steve

shot a couple boxes worth of 9mm last year, was recommended by someone at a Cabelas for good inexpensive range ammo and it ran just fine in my compact. Cant say if i'd go out of my way to buy it over my usual range ammo (Blazer, UMC) but if the price was right i'd have no trouble using it again.

I've reloaded the brass and there's nothing wrong with it. My point in the original post was that I was surprised to see cratered primers in factory ammo, especially .38 special. Just wondering if anyone else had seen this.

The only time I've seen cratered primers in the .38 spl is with very light loads. I see cratered primers in my Taurus 9mm PT92 as the firing pin hole is overly relieved (see the picture below of a factory load). It does this with all factory ammo but is reliable in ignition and has no failures to feed or fire.

The only chrono number I've seen on Herters .38sp 158gr lead me to wonder if it is a little peppy. They were from a Taurus View, which has 1.41" of barrel, and it averaged around 750fps....which likely about what a +P FBI load would do with a slicker lead bullet.that should put it around 900fps in a 4" gun.

I've shot a decent amount of 158gr FMJ(or at least I did before I started reloading), and it's on the hot side compared to American 38 special standard pressure but is not at all bad ammo. The brass reloads fine.

I've only been reloading a couple of years, but quit reading primers in revolver calibers a long time ago. I have 357 magnum revolvers that will flatten primers on 38 special hollow base wadcutters(2.7gr Bullseye), and others that I can load to the max(enough that everyone on the firing line looks at you with the "what the heck was that" look) and still have no signs of primer distress.