Diff between Unique and AA#5?

[buenhec]

I have been loading Unique lately, mostly .45 with 230RN or 200 SWC for IDPA, Steel. I hear lots of people recommend both. What is the difference between them. Unique has been good to me, I dont think its dirty, WWB is way dirtier with out a doubt. I would like to try it out but why do you like it? Also, is it as bulky as Unique, the bulkyness gives me a little bit of piece of mind.

Thanks

 

[Galil5.56]

I like and use both for the applications you mention, and find AA#5 my best choice for max loads. AA#5 is very non-balky taking up very little case volume, is a very fine grain ball powder, and meters beautifully with very consistent drops.

For what ever reason, I like Unique better for mid-range type loads using cast lead bullets, but when going towards max, AA#5 does a fine job with cast in my experience. I find AA#5 to have a slower burning rate in actual applications than Unique, but some charts will have Unique as being slower. It pays to do legwork, and not extrapolate data by burn charts.

Good luck.

 

[Walkalong]

I basically agree with Galil5.56, but I am not a Unique fan as it is dirtier than AA #5. Clays or WST (I prefer WST) for soft lead loads and AA #5 or WSF for higher velocities.

AA #5 is cleaner than Unique and meters better than Unique. That said, Unique is an excellent powder and many folks love it and swear by it. Can't fault them there.

Some folks using Lee measures say AA #5 leaks from them. Probably does. It does not leak at all from my Redding 10X. I would suspect it would not from the similar RCBS or Hornady measures.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I affirm Walkalong, it doesn't leak in my RCBS measure.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

ditto Walkalong I like WST but haven't seen any for awhile and down to my last 1/4 lb. been using PowerPistol w/good results but big flash. I load hot for a Marlin Camp .45 w/21lb recoil spring. good whack on 50 yd. steel.

 

[gggman]

I've done a pile of reloading over the years with Unique, everything from .38 spl to .45 and .44 mag, and I have to say I like AA#5 better. It meters smoother in my RCBS uniflow, and it's clean. And I don't notice any loss of accuracy. #5 is a very versatile powder.

 

[345 DeSoto]

Marlin 45 Carbine,
What do you consider a "Hot Load" for your carbine, and has the 21# spring allowed you to up the load/achieve higher fps? This is just what I have (Marlin/21# spring) and have been trying to find SOME sort of specific load data for this gun (w/16" barrel and 185 grn Berry HBRN). You may PM me with info, rather than hijack this thread...

 

[Slamfire]

I just love Unique in the 44 Spl and 45 LC. I do think it is one of the most flexible pistols powders around.

In the 45ACP I have used at lot of W231, but I am going to transition to Bullseye soon.

However, I have conducted some extensive loads tests with AA#5, in 44 Spl and 45 LC. And it shot well, cannot say it was better or worse than Unique.

At first I thought AA#5 burnt cleaner. The revolvers did not look as dirty. However when I checked my brass box, I had lots of unburnt AA#5 rolling around with the fired cases. So, I am not really sure that claims of "clean" burning mean all that much.

You will not be disappointed if you try AA#5, but I don't think you will see any difference on paper either. Unique is hard to beat.

 

[Linear Thinker]

I use 3 pistol powders with essentially identical burning rate: AA #5, Unique and Universal Clays. For some reason I cannot explain, my 9MMs like #5, my 40SWs like Universal and my mid-range 357MAG loads are better with Unique. I've done quite a bit of accuracy testing and chrono SD checking to verify the above.

Try #5, you will find that it is cleaner and meters better than Unique. But, I will keep on using it, as my revolvers like it.
LT

 

[pinkymingeo]

I use AA5 and AA7 in 45acp. Both work great. FWIW, in 357 I get almost identical results with Unique and AA7.