Cleaning up after shooting Unique?

Unique is dirty, that's it's only drawback. Hoppe's #9 usually works for me-When I need something stronger, I use Sweet's 7.62 Solvent. I loaded up 3# of Unique I was given in Trap shells, I can sure tell which ones they are when I'm cleaning my 1100 afterward!

Try lead free primers, in particular, Fiocchi.

Not sure what you use but when I’m done shooting and it is usually with Unique and Bullseye I spray them with Ballistol before leaving the range. Clean up at home is very easy then using Ballistol or Hoppes.

I've gone to using a one-two punch of automotive starting fluid and JB-80 (liquid wrench on semi automatic) for all things grungy and or greasy. The ether is cheap and works well to loosen the grease and grime. Light oil wipes it out, lubricating and preventing rust when done. Both are inexpensive and safe on most finishes and plastics. I shoot a lot of commie surplus, and I'm pretty sure some of their powder is made from partially carbonized spruce needles, and this combination works on that fouling.

Put in more Unique to increase "heat" or get a faster powder.

After you've shot many pounds of black powder, you'll rave over how clean Unique is

Unique and cast lead can make for some soot and smoke for sure. I've used the old standby Hoppe's No. 9 since before I could legally drive and still use it today on such chores.

For cowboy shooting switch to trail boss. It’s designed to work at the lower pressure most want in that application. Unique can be a little dirty but it gets better at higher pressures.

The thing I like about Unique is that I wear the evidence of a good range session on my hands, and sometimes halfway up my arms, until I wash them. It's really satisfying.

For cleaning, I wear nitrile gloves because that soot will do everything it can to permanently penetrate your skin. Plain old CLP is what I use for cleaning regardless and it works fine.

Unique is not a good choice for light/moderate loads. That's when it really leaves a lot of crud. I love it for how versatile it is but hate it for the way it meters and the fouling it can leave.

But still, my last purchase was an 8lb. jug. It sure is handy stuff...

J-Bar said:

I appreciate the suggestion to use Trail Boss but too many of my friends have trouble with it metering; bridging seems to be a common problem. If I get tired of cleaning up after Unique, I will probably return to Titegroup.

I compete in blackpowder categories a lot. The experiment with Unique was fun. Next time I use it I will try Ballistol as Reeferman suggests. I have lots of that on hand. Random 8's suggestion is interesting...I might have to experiment with that also.

Thanks to you all for your thoughts.

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For me spraying with Ballistol before leaving the range works. I’m sure there are lots of other maybe better products others use but I’ve always used Ballistol and works for me. If the cylinders get really dirty I have a container that I put a bottle of Hoppes in and put cylinders and cranes for my double actions and leave them over night. Everything wipes off with a tooth brush.

desmobob said:

Unique is not a good choice for light/moderate loads. That's when it really leaves a lot of crud. I love it for how versatile it is but hate it for the way it meters and the fouling it can leave.

But still, my last purchase was an 8lb. jug. It sure is handy stuff...

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Why not use universal? It's essentially the same without the nasty mess.

J-Bar said:

I shot a cowboy action match today using Unique in all guns- revolvers, rifle, and shotgun. It worked fine, but it was a lot dirtier than Titegroup. I might as well have been shooting blackpowder!

Those of you who use Unique, what solvents have made your cleaning easy?

Thanks.

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shot two full rcbs trays of .44s loaded with unique, sprayer my revolver out with clp and cleaned it the next day. stuff came right off with palertowls and patches.

Winchester 231/HP 38, problem solved. hdbiker

Unique is much cleaner with warmer loads. But warmer loads are undesirable for Cowboy Action Shooting.

Hoppe's does fine for me.

Any good solvent from Shooter's Choice, Hoppe's, even WD-40 can be a good solvent, Use a good brush and it should clean up nicely.

Reeferman said:

For me spraying with Ballistol before leaving the range works. I’m sure there are lots of other maybe better products others use but I’ve always used Ballistol and works for me. If the cylinders get really dirty I have a container that I put a bottle of Hoppes in and put cylinders and cranes for my double actions and leave them over night. Everything wipes off with a tooth brush.

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I'm comfortable letting stuff soak with Ballistol. With Hoppes or other cleaning solvents, I always have it in the back of my mind that it isn't safe to soak certain finishes or metals in certain solvents for extended periods. I'm pretty sure Ballistol won't hurt anything. Now, if they could only make it smell more like Hoppes... Ballistol just plain STINKS! =:-0

Been using unique for many years, Yep its a dirty powder but I usually shoot a couple hundred rounds through my Black hawk 45 Colt at my range shoots and its never been an issue, cleans up just fine with a quick wipe with Hoppes # 9 . My loads are on the warm side and that definitively cuts down on the residue. Unique is probably one of the most often used loads for the 45 Colt. Accuracy and consistency are almost without equal. Been using it for years and dont see any reason to change, I Have tried other powders but always came back to Unique.. .

My max load of 6.5grn Unique under a 230grn bullet burns pretty clean in my 1911's, even the 4"ers. My medium load of 9.0grn Unique under a 215'ish grn bullet in the .41 MAG does not... its a little sooty, but it's not a max load, either. I've gone higher (I won't tell you how high... ) and it cleans right up.

#9 and CLP are my two go-getter cleaners... they work well enough.

Charlie98 said:

My max load of 6.5grn Unique under a 230grn bullet burns pretty clean in my 1911's, even the 4"ers.

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Yep, in my testing 6.2 gr seemed to be where sootiness becomes a nonissue. I like 6.3 gr under a 230 gr FMJ, just cuz they seem accurate from my guns.

With Unique i's just soot and cleans off easily. I've been using it for decades.

I use Ed's Red, basically acetone and ATF, (search on line for the recipe) for most of my gun cleaning and it does a good job cleaning Unique.

I cannot think of a gun cleaning solvent that I have used that did not clean Unique.

I shoot lots of Unique in hand guns and shot guns.

The gunk of Unique is really, really easy to clean. Just about any gun cleaner or even gun oil will wipe it off, IMO. It's soft soot.

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cfullgraf said:

I use Ed's Red, basically acetone and ATF, (search on line for the recipe) for most of my gun cleaning and it does a good job cleaning Unique.

I cannot think of a gun cleaning solvent that I have used that did not clean Unique.

I shoot lots of Unique in hand guns and shot guns.

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Eds Red
Equal parts of:
Kerosene
Mineral spirits
Dextron ATF
Acetone
I leave out the acetone that is used to dissolve plastic wad fouling in shotguns, and can be harmful to polymer frames, grips and wood grips. Works great on powder fouling in unique. Might try Hodgdon Universal, about the same loads and burn rate as Unique. Much cleaner burning. Check sources for load data on universal.