Unique powder thread

[Ty 357]

Please share your favorite recipes with Unique powder. The more details provided besides just bullet weight (OAL, bullet maufacture, primer, etc.) the better. All calibers AND gauges welcomed. Thanks.

 

[oneounceload]

What about shotgun gauges? Unique is an excellent powder for THAT as well.......

 

[rcmodel]

I have too many to list.

I use, or have used it in .380 ACP, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, .38 Spl., .357 Mag, 44 Spl, .44 Mag, .45 Auto Rim, .45 Colt, 25-20 WCF, 32-20 WCF, 38-40 WCF, 44-40 WCF, 20 ga, 12 ga, and a few others I probably forgot right now.

rc

 

[REL1203]

i just boguht a 1lb canister of Unique cause of its versatility... Cant wait to try it...

 

[Palehorseman]

Where to start? Unique powder is indeed unique, if can be used in almost all firearms. ("NOT" for black powder cap&ball or muzzleloaders) Shotguns, handguns and for me, especially light cast boolit loads for rifles.

 

[qajaq59]

Jusr read the Lyman's shotgun manual, cast bullet manual and the regular manual. They'll will list them all for you. Unique has so many uses it'd take me a week to type them all out. In fact, at the speed I type, it'd likely take a month.

 

[GW Staar]

Okay, by now you know that's a long question. (with long answers)

But I'll limit my post to just one. I've been loading 6 grains of Unique in 230g hard ball, and hollow points in my .45ACP's for 40 years. A safe load with any gun I've ever used, and more accurate than I am.

Unique was always dirty and smoky, but it never bothered me. I'm just now starting to try the new cleaner version they sell these days...today. Yawn...not too worried, one way or the other. Didn't think I'd ever run out of the old stuff I hoarded.(I shoulda bought way more than I did.)

 

[Hammerdown77]

45 Auto: 6.0 grains under a 230 grain LRN
45 Colt: Anywhere from 8 to 10 grains under a 250-255 grain lead bullet in my Ruger Blackhawk
.44 Special: 7.5 grains under a 250 grain Keith LSWC. No need to try anything else

 

[RugerBob]

I use it mostly for 45 Colt loads. 8 grains under a 255gr cast bullet that I cast from wheel wieghts from my Lee mold. Like to stay with winchester primers. But, any Large Pistol primers work for me, as I am runnin low and can't always find winchester.
Also use it in 45acp. 6.5grs under a 200 grain cast bullet.

 

[Asherdan]

Two of my favourites:

44 Mag
Cast 240g .431 RNFP
10.0g Unique
W-W Brass, WLP Primer, 1.61 OAL and a firm crimp.
1395 fps avg. from a Marlin 1894 with consistent 2" or less accuracy.

45-70 Gov't
Cast 350g .459 RNFP
12.0 g Unique
R-P brass, WLR Primer, 2.525" OAL and a firm crimp.
1125fps with no recoil and one hole 50 yard accuracy. Just a fun load.

 

[James2]

44 Spl 250 grain LSWC
Unique 5.7 grains
CCI 300 primer
C.O.L. 1.59

I have used Unique for many years. I never thought it to be dirty. Then I got a computer and got on some forums and learned that Unique is dirty. Huh?

 

[rcmodel]

Who cares if its dirty or not.

If you are shooting lead bullets, the bullet lube is far more dirty then any powder except black powder anyway.

rc

 

[Ateam-3]

But I'll limit my post to just one. I've been loading 6 grains of Unique in 230g hard ball, and hollow points in my .45ACP's for 40 years. A safe load with any gun I've ever used, and more accurate than I am.

+1 for this load also

Here are two additional loads that shoot well in my pistols:

44 Mag
240gr LSWC sized to .430
10.0gr Unique

38 special
158gr LSWC sized to .358
5.4gr Unique (this is a +P load)

Both of these loads shoot extremely well

 

[oneounceload]

Who cares if its dirty or not

Those of us who hate cleaning?

Or how about those of us who want ALL of the powder to burn down the barrel?

Unique DOES do a pretty decent job over a wide range of cartridges and bores - it's like a pump gun - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none - but it will do "good enough" in many instances where you might not care about that extra degree of accuracy

 

[Jeff H]

Those of us who hate cleaning?

Then you must not shoot the much cheaper lead bullets. After 200+ rounds, I have way more soot on the outside of the gun from the bullet lube then I would ever get either inside or outside from a dirty powder. The soot wipes off with some Hoppe's #9 and never considered it a problem, only takes a few minutes.

I don't use Unique because Bullseye, 231 and 2400 do everything I need and meter well. That is a trait that I have repeatedly heard that Unique doesn't excel in.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

165 grain 40 cal Ranier bullet
6 grains Unique
Wolf SP primer

A very accurate load out of my XD with light recoil.

 

[zxcvbob]

.380 ACP: 4.2 grains Unique with 95 grain LRN hard cast bullets and any SP primer, .980" overall length.

 

[918v]

Those of us who hate cleaning?

Or how about those of us who want ALL of the powder to burn down the barrel?

Unique DOES do a pretty decent job over a wide range of cartridges and bores - it's like a pump gun - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none - but it will do "good enough" in many instances where you might not care about that extra degree of accuracy

So show us one pistol powder that is a master of one specific application? Unique delivers incredible accuracy in 45 Colt standard loads. It combusts more completely than other powders in the same burning rate range. You should buy Quick Load and start playing with it. It will make you see a whole different side of internal ballistics.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Anyone who likes the results they get using Unique but wants a powder that is cleaner and meters better can use Universal and obtain similar results, not that a dirty gun ever stopped me from using a powder I like. I do not like how Unique meters so I use Universal instead for the applications where Unique really shines. (like the .45 Colt)

 

[Eb1]

My Unique loads in my 44 Magnum burn complete and clean. I my 9mm they are a little dirty, but super accurate.

I am experimenting with Trail Boss instead of Unique in the .44 Mag. I find it so far to be more accurate, but a little more dirty. Way less recoil, and report than Unique. Well the charge isn't a much, but I still get over 900 fps from Trail Boss estimated.

I haven't had any luck with Unique in a rifle cartridge. I have tried with the 30-30 several times without any luck. Again Trail Boss takes the cake here.

Unique is awesome powder, and can be shot in most anything. I find it much more relevant in revolver/pistol, and I guess shotgun (never loaded shotgun) than in rifle cartridges.

My findings are if you like Unique for loading down boomers. You will love Trail Boss.

 

[oneounceload]

918V - I'm a fan of Unique - been reloading it for many years, but I recently switched over to Universal Clays (maybe 5 years ago or so), and prefer it over Unique for MY uses. Both gave me acceptable accuracy from a wide variety of cartridges and calibers, but nothing that was going to win me a Bullseye match - but still good enough to smoke clay targets and shoot my plinking and HD guns with COM consistency.

 

[GW Staar]

Anyone who likes the results they get using Unique but wants a powder that is cleaner and meters better can use Universal and obtain similar results, not that a dirty gun ever stopped me from using a powder I like. I do not like how Unique meters so I use Universal instead for the applications where Unique really shines. (like the .45 Colt)

A Colt 45 barrel that doesn't have black soot around the front sight is sissy! Same for the Colt 1911.

About metering: I guess I think it meters plenty well enough out of my Uniflow. 40 years worth. I wouldn't know what to do with a clean powder that meters better!! Old farts don't take to new ways too good, you know.. I finally turned 60 last December...so I'm an official old fart now.

 

[Five of Clubs]

This is a little weird, but I use 5.0 grains of Unique with 3 different cast loads: 230gr .45ACP LRN, 180gr .40S&W LTC, and 125gr 9mm LRN. I'm about to try 5.0 grains under a 158gr cast .38 Special (mild +P). It's kinda handy.

 

[youngda9]

.40 cal, 165gr plated FP, 6.2gr unique sized to 1.125"
Same load with a 155gr cast LSWC

.357 mag, 125gr LRN, 9.0gr (HOT load, check for leading)

Use it with 9mm 125gr and .38 as well, don't recall the loads off the top of my head right now. Great all around powder.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I just finished up an 8lb keg of Unique, loading 40 S&W. I do like its performance overall, but since I picked up a pound of Universal and started playing with it, I like it. Its cleaner and gives similair results. My next 8 lb keg of pistol powder will be Universal.