Constrictor
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I love unique. i've got 33 pounds of it in my closet.
Anyone use Unique powder very often?
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WrongHanded
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My experience on Unique metering poorly:
I loaded up some .41 mag 210gr XTPs with 9.5gr (started lower btw), on a LCT using an Auto Drum. Checking powder weights I found up to + or - 0.3grs. Over the chrono with 15 rounds I had an Extreme Spread of over 100fps. But the load was still accurate. Or at least accurate for my capabilities. So I'm okay with that.
I loaded up some .41 mag 210gr XTPs with 9.5gr (started lower btw), on a LCT using an Auto Drum. Checking powder weights I found up to + or - 0.3grs. Over the chrono with 15 rounds I had an Extreme Spread of over 100fps. But the load was still accurate. Or at least accurate for my capabilities. So I'm okay with that.
I've been using Unique since the late 50's.I loaded some .38 Spl today using Unique.I used a RCBS Little Dandy measure and the loads I weighted to check did not vary in weight.The powder measure used can make a difference.Most of my handgun reloading is done with Unique and Bullseye.I do use some Accurate powders for the 10mm.
I've loaded a number of different things with it, but my primary use for it is non-magnum rounds in magnum revolver cases. 8 grains of it under a 210 grain bullet makes for a nice .41 magnum round that is definitely more than a wadcutter-ish round, but isn't going to beat me up like a full case of AA#9 or H110.
I recently picked up a used Blackhawk in 45 Colt and started with 250gr. LRN and Unique from 7.5gr. up to 9.0gr. Ended up settling at 8.7gr. Shoots great, very manageable and clean as far as I'm concerned. I like that recipe so much a bought a Uberti '73 and am working on a single load that'll work well in both. I've used a lot of AA#5 and Bullseye and will likely settle in with Unique for all. Next up is a 357 Mag load.
Hooda Thunkit
Member
Well, here I find myself in the position of swimming against the tide. Again.
I've been reloading for 30 years. I load around 15 or so different cartridges.
I have never loaded Unique in anything. Ever.
I have 2 one-pound bottles on the shelf, unopened. I have never felt the need to use Unique.
And, I am contrary by nature.
I've been reloading for 30 years. I load around 15 or so different cartridges.
I have never loaded Unique in anything. Ever.
I have 2 one-pound bottles on the shelf, unopened. I have never felt the need to use Unique.
And, I am contrary by nature.
I've had trouble with Unique as far as metering goes, but really liked it in the .45acp with cast bullets. It did well in lighter .22 Hornet loads and .44spl and .38spl. I never used a great amount of it like I did Bullseye and 2400 but could live with or without it.
Kevin Rohrer
Member
I use Unique for .45ACP, .38Spl, .357mag, .45LC, and probably others. That 11lbs I started w/ at the beginning of the year is fast disappearing.
My standard 45 acp load is 6gr of Unique and a 230gr plated or Hi TEK coated round nose bullet. I also use 7.7gr Unique in 357 with a 130gr coated bullet for a nice reduced recoil load. In 9mm I load 4.2 gr of Unique under a 147gr bullet. I am using a Lee Classic Turret press with auto disc powder measure and I have no problems with inconsistent powder drops. Unique is very useful
ColtPythonElite
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My standard cast bullet .45 ACP load is 5.0 grains regardless of whether it's a 185 gr. , 200 gr. or 230 gr. bullet.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
It works very well for 38 spl, 45 ACP, 44 spl, mid level .357, 41 and 44 mag, 12 gauge and light 45-70 loads with 405 grain cast bullets.
It meters like any flake powder, not great, but the loads are accurate so I don't care.
It meters like any flake powder, not great, but the loads are accurate so I don't care.
Random 8
Member
I'm kind of in the middle with Unique. I like it, but I don't LOVE it. It is outstanding in the primary application for which I keep it, that is medium to slow speed loads in the .41 Magum. It will do the same in .357, but so will HS-6 with better metering, accuracy and cleanliness. If I could get HS-6 to do the same in .41 I would drop Unique from my lineup.
That being said, I still keep it around. If I'm at a loss on what to try in a new pistol load, I reach for unique and try that first. It is a versatile workhorse, but I've gravitated to some more modern "niche" powders for the relatively small amount of handgun powder I consume, but if I could have only one, Unique would get my vote. I am in the bad metering crowd as well. I've gone so far as to test the difference of weighed charges vs thrown, and I could notice the difference in a scoped .41 lever I foolishly sold several years ago. I could also notice the difference on the longer targets in IHMSA big bore in my .41, so I switched to weighed charges for that pursuit.
That being said, I still keep it around. If I'm at a loss on what to try in a new pistol load, I reach for unique and try that first. It is a versatile workhorse, but I've gravitated to some more modern "niche" powders for the relatively small amount of handgun powder I consume, but if I could have only one, Unique would get my vote. I am in the bad metering crowd as well. I've gone so far as to test the difference of weighed charges vs thrown, and I could notice the difference in a scoped .41 lever I foolishly sold several years ago. I could also notice the difference on the longer targets in IHMSA big bore in my .41, so I switched to weighed charges for that pursuit.
entropy
Member
Those that claim metering means something are seeing patterns where not exist. In this case, the illusion of precision reinforces the delusion of control.
My data and my 45 ACP loads are all dropped charges, I set the powder horn of my Dillion 550B based on the average of ten throws, and then I load my ammunition. Accurate Arms #5 is a ball powder, Accurate says it was specifically made for the 45 ACP and it is a good powder. AA#5 is a very fine ball powder and the difference in weight between thrown charges is very small. But it does not make the slightest difference in accuracy, or in velocity extreme spreads and standard deviations. And I am using 1989 vintage Unique, which was before Alliant went on a program to make Unique "better!"
Out of the powders I have tested, Bullseye provides the tightest ES's and Std Dev's in the 45 ACP in thrown charges. I do not weigh pistol charges as I think it is a waste of time.
What matters is what you see on target, all other considerations are philosophical. If it shoots good, it is good.
The primary concern I have about metering is related to long stick rifle powders which will bridge in the powder funnel and do create large differences in thrown weight. All of my 4350 powders, that AA4350 and H4350 throw poorly, in my Dillion 550B the difference in thrown charges is plus or minus 1.5 grains with these stick powders. Had I known that twenty years later the manufacturer's would finally get around to making these powders short cut I might have held off buying so much. Luckily, I shot up all my IMR 3031, which was long grained, and now what is on the market is a very short cut version of IMR 3031, which is all to the good.
My data and my 45 ACP loads are all dropped charges, I set the powder horn of my Dillion 550B based on the average of ten throws, and then I load my ammunition. Accurate Arms #5 is a ball powder, Accurate says it was specifically made for the 45 ACP and it is a good powder. AA#5 is a very fine ball powder and the difference in weight between thrown charges is very small. But it does not make the slightest difference in accuracy, or in velocity extreme spreads and standard deviations. And I am using 1989 vintage Unique, which was before Alliant went on a program to make Unique "better!"
Out of the powders I have tested, Bullseye provides the tightest ES's and Std Dev's in the 45 ACP in thrown charges. I do not weigh pistol charges as I think it is a waste of time.
Code:
Kimber Custom Classic
230 LRN 5.5 grs Unique lot UN331 1989 Mixed brass WLP (brass)
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
16-May-09 high 83 °F
Ave Vel = 827.4
Std Dev = 17.63
ES = 85.68
High =871.6
Low = 785.9
Number rds =31
230 LRN 6.0 grs Unique lot 6/21/1998 Mixed brass WLP (nickle)
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
16-May-09 high 83 °F
Ave Vel = 885
Std Dev = 16.79
ES = 67.26
High = 917.8
Low = 850.5
N = 30
230 LRN 6.5 grs Unique lot UN387 6/21/93 Mixed brass WLP
OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469
18-Mar-07 T = 62 °F
Ave Vel = 926.4
Std dev = 16.64
ES= 71.16
High = 963.4
Low= 892.3
N = 32
230 LRN 7.0 grs AA#5 lot 12599 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =788fps
Std Dev =17
ES =76.3
High =827.5
Low =751.2
N =13
230 LRN 7.5 grs AA#5 lot 12599 WLP Mixed Military OAL 1.245" taper crimp 0.469"
27 Feb 2010 T = 48 ° F
Ave Vel =829fps
Std Dev =20
ES =63
High = 863
Low =800
N=15
230 LRN 7.8 grs AA#5 lot 12599 Mixed brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09 high 83 °F OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
Ave Vel =874.7
Std Dev =16.3
ES =78.33
High = 916.4
Low =838
N =30
230 LRN 8.0 grs AA#5 lot 12599 Mixed brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09 high 83 °F OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469"
Ave Vel =890.2
Std Dev =11.48
ES =40.44
High = 911.8
Low =871.4
N =16What matters is what you see on target, all other considerations are philosophical. If it shoots good, it is good.
The primary concern I have about metering is related to long stick rifle powders which will bridge in the powder funnel and do create large differences in thrown weight. All of my 4350 powders, that AA4350 and H4350 throw poorly, in my Dillion 550B the difference in thrown charges is plus or minus 1.5 grains with these stick powders. Had I known that twenty years later the manufacturer's would finally get around to making these powders short cut I might have held off buying so much. Luckily, I shot up all my IMR 3031, which was long grained, and now what is on the market is a very short cut version of IMR 3031, which is all to the good.
Last edited:
Mowgli Terry
Member
Unique runs great in 44 Special. My current "go to" load is one from Skeeter Skelton using Unique. Runs great in my 624 and Model 29. Unique has so many successful applications I prefer to have some on hand all the time. There is Unique in my 550 currently running some 44 Specials.
Bbear
Member
Unique was the first powder I loaded shotguns with way back when. Then I used it for my .357 loads. Now it's my go-to shotgun and .357 and .41 Mag powder (cast bullets on this one). Shoots relatively clean. Easy to clean when I have to. Working on an 8 lb-er Now. Should last me a while.
Zaydok Allen
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I've loaded a bunch of 45 acp with Unique. It shoots fine, but meters like crap. I'll probably always have a pound or two of it around, but I am going to try some other loads.
I thoroughly enjoy using Accurate powders for their clean and consistent metering. Accurate #9 also makes some dandy nuclear loads in some cartridges.
I thoroughly enjoy using Accurate powders for their clean and consistent metering. Accurate #9 also makes some dandy nuclear loads in some cartridges.
Mowgli Terry
Member
For me I wonder if this meter problem may have to do with the measure. Unique runs in my 550 and Uniflow. My sample is way too small but it looks this way on this end. Aside from this possible problem with Unique the stuff makes great Skeeter loads in the 44 Special. This is not to mean the exclusion of any other powder.
lightman
Member
Yeah, Me too! I have other powders on my shelves but Unique suits my needs on most of the pistol calibers that I load.
Unique does have a greater charge throw variability than a fine grain ball powder but it does not seem to affect performance of the ammunition.
In large volume cartridges such as 45 Colt where the Unique charge fills about half of the case, the muzzle velocity will be position sensitive a bit depending on whether the powder is against the primer or the bullet. In normal shooting, it really does not make a difference either.
In large volume cartridges such as 45 Colt where the Unique charge fills about half of the case, the muzzle velocity will be position sensitive a bit depending on whether the powder is against the primer or the bullet. In normal shooting, it really does not make a difference either.
Ironicaintit
Member
Unique is great stuff. I use it in fairly hot 9mm Luger and 45acp, and a bit milder in 357mag, 44 mag, and 50S&W.
I did not care for it in 380acp, as I had some cci primers that started getting pinholes and sending slivers into the firing pin channel of my 238 before I was even close to max. But juju so I wont use it there (I stayed with bullseye).
I liked it in 40S&W too, but found I liked Herco even better!
It'll always have a home at my place
I did not care for it in 380acp, as I had some cci primers that started getting pinholes and sending slivers into the firing pin channel of my 238 before I was even close to max. But juju so I wont use it there (I stayed with bullseye).
I liked it in 40S&W too, but found I liked Herco even better!
It'll always have a home at my place
George P
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I have found that 20/28 works cleaner, as does some Green Dot loads
20/28 became available after I stopped shooting skeet competitively and loading lots of 20 and 28 guage ammunition. I'd probably try it if/when I need to load 20 and 28 gauge again. (Right now, I'm lazy and shooting factory loads when I do venture out to the skeet fields. Of course, I'm building a supply of hulls for the future.)
I did buy a pound of 20/28 several years ago and consumed it in some handgun cartridges. It worked well and I'd use it for a back up powder where I have developed loads with it.
Since I used lots of Unique in metallic cartridges at the time I was also loading and shooting lots of 20 and 20 gauge shot shells, I never tried Green Dot. I was trying to minimize the number of powders I kept on hand at the time which never seemed to work anyway.
I guess a dirty powder is a relative thing for most folks. I never considered if one powder was "cleaner" than another. I never planned to use my guns as eating utensils. Ed's Red does a fine job of cleaning my firearms.
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