Herter's - horrible

[mikemc53]

OK, I am not one to complain but this kind of got to me today.

Have put over 600 rounds through the BG 380 with not one failure of any kind. No FTE, FTF, slide lockback issues...nothing. In that 600 rounds I have shot; PMC Bronze, Sellier & Bellott, Remington, Winchester White Box, Hornady Critical Defense and PPI to name a few - never, as I said, any issues.

I recently bought a few boxes of Herter's from Cabela's and I did this without asking around. Of course after I ordered I checked some reviews and saw quite a bit of feedback regarding FTF (failure to fire). Today was my first chance to try it out.

First round does not fire on first strike...eject and check to see a rather large dimple, yet no bang.

Second thru 6th round...OK.

Next mag...3 consecutive no fires so I start to worry about my firing pin. Changed out mag and went to WWB...40 flawless rounds. Tried a second box of Herter's...3 consecutive no bangs.

Small sample testing says: garbage ammo and shame on me for buying.

By the way, the gun still shoots and feels GREAT!

 

[SMSgt]

But what a good deal you got, huh?

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

What color was the box?

As far as I know, black box(brass case) is currently made by S&B, grey box(alumium) by Blazer, and yellow box(steel) by Tula.

I've had good luck with all the Herters ammo I've shot.

 

[duppie]

While I've shot only brass cased Herter's,I've never had an issue with anything other than not buying enough.
Even with a more than temperamental Sig 9mm and a friend's rather choosy H&K.

 

[Arndog123]

Went through the same thing with my BG380 a couple months back. I bought 2 boxes from Cabela's too because they were on sale. Tried different ammo with no problems.

 

[mmracing]

Knock on wood. No problems with Herters 9mm ammo.

 

[ma deuce]

The only Herter's I've used has been steel .223. I've put several hundred rounds through my Mini-14 and AR with no problems other than it's dirty, same as other Russian steel-cased.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Did you try striking them a second time? Usually Russian primers are actually pretty good. Some benchrest guys use them with great success, I've chrono'd some more consistent than American match primers. You just have to hit them with AUTHORITY or it's a no go.

 

[SgtLumpy]

I've had absolutely no problems with black box Herter's in 9mm and 38 spec. I bought 12 boxes of each at Cab's and had zero failures. The collected, empty brass is thicker wall and heavier than most other brands of brass. Should anyone be reloading them, W-P seems thinnest and lightest of the brands on my bench.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

I've had absolutely no problems with black box Herter's in 9mm and 38 spec. I bought 12 boxes of each at Cab's and had zero failures. The collected, empty brass is thicker wall and heavier than most other brands of brass. Should anyone be reloading them, W-P seems thinnest and lightest of the brands on my bench.

I've reloaded Herters 38 special, 357 magnum, and 44 magnum brass, and can feel a lot of resistance when going through the resizing die. It's not as bad as Fiocchi 44 magnum, but the difference is definitely noticeable.

For what it's worth, though, I find that the primer pockets are consistently very clean when I decap the Herters brass.

 

[Engineer1911]

I thought the last Herter's store went out of business in Eau Claire, WI about 1980. I bought a bunch of stuff during their "Final Days" sale.

 

[MichiganScott]

I thought the last Herter's store went out of business in Eau Claire, WI about 1980. I bought a bunch of stuff during their "Final Days" sale.

Cabela's owns the rights to the name and puts it on Russian rifle ammo, Italian shotshells, and S&B pistol ammo.

 

[SgtLumpy]

...I've reloaded Herters 38 special, 357 magnum, and 44 magnum brass, and can feel a lot of resistance when going through the resizing die. It's not as bad as Fiocchi 44 magnum, but the difference is definitely noticeable...

True that. And I think that's a GOOD thing, not bad. The case walls are thicker so they require a little more pressure to resize.

I think that's the same reason the primer pockets, as you suggest, are consistantly cleaner than other brand brass.

In 38spec the Herter's cases tend to weigh 4 to 6 gr more than other cases. I just finished loading several hundred rounds. I think next time I'll separate the brass by brand before loading.


Sgt Lumpy