357 Mag & Unique vs H110

I have used a lot of unique in 357 as well as many other cartridges. It’s been around for over 100 years for a reason. Thanks for sharing your chrono results.

I could do all of my handgun loading with Unique and live happily ever after.

Your data demonstrates the value in matching the powder to the goals for your load. The H-110 worked in your initial load, but it wasn't ideal as indicated by the velocity variation. For a low to mid range load, Unique is a better fit and your data reflects that well. And you get 2x as many loaded rounds from the same pound of powder!

The only time I used H110 in my 357 mag loads was for carbine rounds, or full-house loads in a N frame. Unique served the purpose for less powerul charges.

What length barrel? If it is a shorter barrel gun then there is no need to use H110 or similar. Unique at max loads will almost duplicate those loads using less powder na less flash and Boom,

I save the H110 for 450 Bushmaster, 410 Shotshell. Too slow for most revolvers resulting in lots of muzzle blast and flash.

Unique and 2400 for 357. Dont own a single tray of mag primers and dont need them. Both work well in all pistols and tons of military surplus rifles as well.

I'm shooting 6.4gr unique under 158gr cast in everything from my snub to my carbine.

For 99% of the handgun cartridges I load, Unique works marvelously, including when I loaded for .38/.357. I agree with mcb... I gave up on using H110/W296 in actual handgun loads, I don't need the 'inth degree of velocity, but I do use it in carbine loads with certain bullets (250grn .41MAG, for example.) I've found Unique is about as slow as I go in handgun cartridges anymore, favoring it over even IMR4227 and 2400. Just my .02 worth.

I have used Unique in .357 loads for over 40 years--- 158gr Cast semi wadcutter with 6.0 of Unique is my every day load.

I did some testing with H110 and a cast 160gr a few years ago.
I got some wide spreads until the load got closer to Max. Then, the accuracy improved along with the ES numbers.

IIRC, I stopped at 15.5gr (please double check that charge, I'm working off memory). The blast increased above that, but the velocity and accuracy stayed about the same.

I've read that H110 prefers max load. data.hodgdon.com says 15 to 16.7 grains.
I got this with 16.7
Average 1341
Min 1313
Max 1378
And a really good grouping

I like H110 when I have the need to push a 158 HP or SP as fast as possible with hopefully a whitetail on the other end. I like it in the same application in my single shot Henry. It groups well at maximum and knocks things over. Beyond that, I hate the stuff unless I'm trying to impress some he-man buddies and hand them my wife's Snubby .357 literally loaded for bear with the Hornady 180XTP. It's a fun game at the cabin. After they flash boom 5 rounds and some creative english, I take the pistol back, discretely shove 5 rounds loaded with a mid range charge of H-6 or Unique, nonchalantly put them into a target, shrug my shoulders and give them a funny look.

In all seriousness, H110 is great in a very small niche. Unique is good across a wide spectrum. A pound of H110 lasts me several years, a pound of HP-38, HS-6 or Unique (use them all for similar but slightly different applications in light-medium cast loads for .38/.357) might last me several hours on a really good day of shootin'.

H110 is really only good for full power loads, and is happiest right around MAX charge, it does those type of loads very well.
For anything less than that (which tends to be most of my .357 ;loads) another powder is a better choice.

I haven't used H110 or W296 in anything smaller than 41 Magnum and jacketed bullets. I like Unique in 357 but not beyond 6.5 with a 158 bullet. Slower burning powders beyond that recoil less sharply than more Unique. I don't have a large 357 Magnum like an N-frame or Redhawk, so .357 Magnum tends to stay in the midrange.

It all boils down to what one desires from a given load. Using 158 gr. JHP bullets in .357 mag cases Unique is a marvelous propellant for mid range loads but will not get you close to top velocities safely. Alliant says 7.7 grs of Unique nets 1040 FPS, 10 " test bbl. Sierra shows similar data using 158 gr JHC and Unique, 6" barrel.

For a mid .357 mag load we like 7.0 grs of Unique under a 158 gr.bulk JHP. It runs on average 950 FPS from 4" barrels. Standard primer.

Try Hodgdon Universal. It's a Unique clone. Meters better and cleaner burning.

6.0gr Unique is light. My starting load was always 7.0 and I went up to 8.0 for the 146gr, which might be a bit stout.

Old Stumpy said:

Try Hodgdon Universal. It's a Unique clone. Meters better and cleaner burning.

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Careful there. I find Universal a bit faster than Unique.

Using Unique data for Universal powder will get you in trouble at the top end.
In mid range loads, I've had no problems.

Prowler53 said:

Thanks for that info enine! May I ask what bullet you were using?

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That was a Hornady XTP 158grain

Hooda Thunkit said:

Careful there. I find Universal a bit faster than Unique.

Using Unique data for Universal powder will get you in trouble at the top end.
In mid range loads, I've had no problems.

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True. That's why you always work with published data.
But, not quite a clone at the top, to be sure.