Unique and metering

[gonoles_1980]

I've created a cardboard baffle with two hole on each side for my powder dispenser because of issue's I've had in the past with Unique. Just doesn't seem to measure very accurately. The good news is I'd know if I had a double charge. I only use it for my lead loads in my 44 mag at 8.3grains, 240 LSWC. At the range yesterday, I fired a round and it sounded like the light 44spl rounds I load for my wife. I'm guessing there were around 6 grains. in that case. Fire once normal, next round was boom. I'm guessing this round was loaded after the light round, probably over 10 grains, sounded like the heavier copper plated loads I shoot. I've had this happen before, but I caught it with the flashlight check. This time I missed it.

Any ideas on how to make unique meter better? I have two and a half lbs left.

Dumb move on my part, even though I was confident the bullet came out on the lighter load, I should have unloaded the gun and pushed my brass rod down it to double check.

 

[wally]

What powder measure are you using?

I've no issues using Unique to load 147gr hard cast lead with 3.7 grains on my Dillion 650. I shoot ~1200 of these every month.
It does produce some "dust" from the shearing action of the charge bar that I wipe up with a "baby wipe" every four or five thousand rounds. My issue is it fills the case so much that sometimes when the shell plate snaps into the detent it'll shake out a few flakes. Other than another thing needing to be cleaned up periodically, it doesn't bother me.

I also use the Lee Auto Disk measure on my Lee Classic Turret, it has the same "dust producing" action as the Dillon measure but the loads are very consistent when shooting, I made some .357 mag loads using 8.2 and a 158 gr hard cast gas check bullet that would put 6 shots into 4" at 50 yards off sandbags out of my 686 revolver.

I'd remove any home made baffles, and maybe try giving the measure a "tap" when you put in the next empty or remove the loaded round. Progressive presses have a bit of shake when the shell holder rotates, the LCT rotates the turret head giving the measure a good shake each time.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I have the Lee Perfect Powder Measure, works great on my other powders (BE-86, Bullseye, AA#5, HP38, Power Pistol, Titegroup). I added the baffle when one time using the flashlight check I found 4 cases that were abnormal, two were too light, two were too heavy. I do tap the measure all the time. One thing I like about Unique is it would be obvious I have a double load. I'll have to look into how to clean the inside, of the dispenser, I could try running graphite through it, but they would leave some residue powder too.

 

[wally]

First thing I'd try would be to hit all the surfaces with an anti-static wipe (something like a dryer sheet). Graphite is conductive and helps dissipate it, as well, so as it comes off the powder and coats the measure its not a bad thing. I don't use anything but Unique so I've never "cleaned" my measures.

Around here many a high school science teacher has embarrassed themselves trying to make the "classic" static electricity demos work in front of a science class, so static charges are rarely an issue for me.

 

[Delmar]

"Unique and metering"....two words which don't often collide in the same sentence!

 

[Ironicaintit]

I run a uniflow, and it always did do "pretty good" with unique... (+/- .2). Decent, but not close enough that it kept me from weighing each one, OCD style.

But in my quest to make it better, I've added the baffle, semi-polished the cast funnel portion, and set it up "backwards" so that it fills on the upstroke, dumps on the downstroke.
All that, along with getting good at the "double tap" technique, and it now even drops Unique consistently. Usually right on the nose, and always within +/- .1 grain.

After the "tune up" I've only used H110, herco, IMR4227 and unique, and was pretty impressed. I'm eager to see what it'll now do with long cut extruded powders.

 

[Blue68f100]

The fix is to use WSF instead of Unique.

 

[USSR]

Taught the NRA Metallic Cartridge Reloading class yesterday. We loaded .45 ACP and .357 Magnum cartridges running Unique thru a Uniflow powder measure without a problem. At home I use Redding powder measures and never have problems with Unique. I am not a fan of Lee products (there is a reason they are inexpensive), and I am upfront in telling my students this. Buy quality and cry once, buy cheap and .....

Don

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have no trouble metering Unique with either my Hornady LnL powder measure or RCBS Uniflow. Mine is also usually right on the set charge, with an occasional +/- .1 of a grain throw every now and then...no big deal...I could do all of my pistol reloading with Unique if I had to and would live happily ever after.

 

[AZAndy]

I guess my main question is: where the heck did you find Unique?

 

[JimKirk]

I run a Uniflow, and it always did do "pretty good" with Unique

Same here ... never had any major problem with any powder except 800X .... that is one great powder to be so hard to meter

 

[Ironicaintit]

I guess my main question is: where the heck did you find Unique?

buy early, and buy often! I found some at a bass pro, and then some more at Cabelas.

I'm still working out of the cardboard cans of Hercules unique, and am looking forward to trying out this newfangled "clean" unique I keep hearing about.

 

[AZAndy]

buy early, and buy often! I found some at a bass pro, and then some more at Cabelas.

I'm still working out of the cardboard cans of Hercules unique, and am looking forward to trying out this newfangled "clean" unique I keep hearing about.

I haven't seen any in years. Lucky for me, it was mentioned in another thread that Reloading Unlimited has some... so I just ordered eight pounds. Not gonna run out again!

 

[gonoles_1980]

Thanks for the comments, Bass Pro Shop had plenty of Unique on the shelves so I bought 4 lbs. I know the Lee Equipment is cheap, I have done some mod's to the Perfect Powder dispenser, fixed the leaking problems running graphic through it. If I see a different brand at a gun show, or garage sell I may get one. I use a number of different powders because that's what was on the shelf, and the why not try that. Of the half dozen or so different powders unique is the only powder I have this issue with. Buying a new dispenser isn't an option for now. I do keep a used anti-static dryer sheet in the dispenser. Probably will be paying much more attention to the flashlight check. I tried the baffle because it was suppose to help with the powder bridging issue, I do, do the double tap.

I am not really in love with any powder, not a good enough shot that any powder would make a difference, my favorite powder is whatever is on the shelf. That said, I prefer BE-86 for my heavier load 44 mag (I don't load full mag rounds). Though I am much more accurate with my 44 mag, which these loads come from. I do have the Lee dippers I could try, but that seems slow. I think the question for the current equipment I have is to probably make a better baffle.

If anyone else has a Lee Perfect Powder dispenser and has "tricks", that would help. Or should I just switch to the dippers (what a pain).

 

[Airman Basic]

Been using RCBS Little Dandy for years with Unique. Works fine. Maybe issues with 800x, as already mentioned. But happy with it.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Dump into a pan and trickle up to weight?
I did that with Unique for a few years until I decided to live with the variations. Trickling can be pretty quick when you get good at it.

Putting the baffle very low and leaving the handle in the dump position between throws helps with Unique in my rotary Redding measure. That seems to eliminate the wild throws.

Recently I found a bottle of Universal I hoarded back in 2008 and put the Unique back in storage.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I do keep a used anti-static dryer sheet in the dispenser.

Wait, you keep the dryer sheet IN the dispenser....with the powder?
I don't think that's right (unless I've misunderstood the point of the dryer sheet)

I've wiped mine down with a used dryer sheet to aid against static, but never kept it in there during use.
Maybe you wanna pull that out.

 

[Bayou52]

I use a Uniflow powder dispenser that I purchased in 1978 or so. I originally installed the large volume cylinder and simply used it for decades. I, too, had very inconsistent throws of flake powders like Unique and 700-X.

I read on a forum somewhere that smaller flake powder throws were much more consistent with the small volume cylinder than the large volume cylinder in the Uniflow. So, I cut open a nearly 40 year old plastic bag that held the small volume cylinder and installed it in the Uniflow.

The result is much more consistent throws of flake powders. The consistency is very close throw to throw. So close that I no longer weigh each charge but do a charge check every 5th-8th throw or so.

Just FYI...

Bayou

 

[Robert101]

I just loaded about 150 38 Special rounds with Unique yesterday. The charge stayed very consistent on my Dillon 550B and the factory powder measurer. My RCBS powder dropper does a good job with constantly dropping Unique as well. Are you pulling the handle the same every time. Maybe give it a little tug with the up or down stroke to settle in the powder in the chamber and tube.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Putting the baffle very low and leaving the handle in the dump position between throws helps with Unique in my rotary Redding measure. That seems to eliminate the wild throws.

I will try that. Thanks.

Wait, you keep the dryer sheet IN the dispenser....with the powder?
I don't think that's right (unless I've misunderstood the point of the dryer sheet)

LOL, no, I keep it in the dispenser when it's empty. I remove it before I pour the powder in. I can see how you read it that way.

Are you pulling the handle the same every time.

As much as humanly possible, there are times the pull feels hard. I stop and weight all those throws.

Part of the reason I tried making the cardboard baffle to stop the bridging. If just may be the Lee Perfect Powder dispenser and Unique are incompatible. But there has to be a way .

 

[X-Rap]

I've found unique to meter satisfactorily in my Redding and Dillon measures.
It is about all I use in 38, 9mm, 40.
Always been consistent.

 

[Reeferman]

I tried using a baffle in both uniflow and Hornady on my LNL and get better throws without a baffle using unique

 

[RikSors]

Same problem here until I started using Milty Zerostat 3 anti static gun. Works great. I primarily use it when listening to vinyl records. Used it on my clothes, car upholstery and finally reloading.

Be it on my dillon 650 or rcbs chargemaster, I get static all the time. Throws off the dispenser as some stick on the down tube. A slow pull of the trigger on the Milty blue gun eliminates the static charge.

I find this the safest way to eliminate static electricity. There are many ways to eliminate these charges; you can ground your powder measure - can be labor intensive, use spray, bounce sheet (not recommended as it offsets or adds unwanted chems). Powders such as Unique, RL15, Varget, etc (small particles) when shaken creates static electricity. Even the act of pouring it in the dispenser creates static.

No affiliation with Milty. It's just a product that works for me.

More on static electricity: http://www.livescience.com/51656-static-electricity.html

 

[Middletown]

I also have and use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure with loading blocks and single stage press. When using Unique or 800X (the only flake powders I use much of) I fill the hopper to a little more than 3/4 full and refill when it gets to a little less than 3/4 full. For all powders I leave the charging handle in the down position, then raise the handle give the measure 2 thumps with the ends of my fingers and discharge. Usually weigh every 5 for these powders. Consistency with your action is the key.

I have had the problem you are describing with my technique with bridging in the powder funnel. I haven't loaded Unique for a couple years but remember for sure having that problem with 800X. Solved by pouring into the funnel instead of dumping.

The Lee Perfect Powder Measure is a great value. I am new here but been reloading for a while and flake powders and powder measures has been discussed many times on the other sites I have frequented.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Same problem here until I started using Milty Zerostat 3 anti static gun. Works great. I primarily use it when listening to vinyl records. Used it on my clothes, car upholstery and finally reloading....
There are many ways to eliminate these charges; you can ground your powder measure - can be labor intensive, use spray, bounce sheet (not recommended as it offsets or adds unwanted chems).,,

Never thought of the chemicals in the bounce sheet, but the one I use has been used once, my wife sticks them in a bin for me when she's done, I primarily use them when tumbling. I'll look at that anti-static gun, and start making sure I keep the handle down.

Middletown - What do you mean by pouring into the funnel instead of dumping?