Unique sure unique; .45acp question

[beefyz]

Just fired whole bunch of first reloads in Springfield RO. No problems whatsoever , all went bang & chambered/ ejected perfectly. Using Zero 230FMJs & ready to box up some w/Bullseye @ 4.7, HP38 @ 5.2, & especially Titegroup @ 4.7. Unique beat me again. I've tried it variously in 30-'06 @ 30-30 light loads. Also 32-20 @ .38 Sp. While they all go bang they all are mediocre when its comes to grouping.
I'm reloading with the same press, scale, components, technique etc each time. Research here showed some of you using Unique @ 6 as it was the "standard GI hardball load". I've found its range to be 5.5-6.6. I've tested it @ 5.6, 6, @ 6.5 w/o any fantastic results; at least not as half good as the above. I'm using the oal I found for my barrel which was 1.250-1.255.
Is Unigue that finicky (at least for me) or am I missing something here?

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Its never been that finicky for me. My biggest problem with it is not being able to find it.

 

[Rule3]

The standard GI load used Bullseye not Unique.

I use 6.0 gr Unique with a 230 gr FMJ RN for general shooting . I am using it now as I have a bunch of it, but I prefer BE or HP 38.

Unique may be "finicky" in that it does not meter the best for some powder measures,

 

[Cump]

I'm a relatively new reloader, and Unique has not seemed finicky to me, actually pretty tolerant. I've developed loads in 357 and 45, with better accuracy than factory. But they are mild.

Since you mentioned a scale, I assume you've double-checked your charge weight? Metering is not always as expected.

How does the accuracy compare with other powders you have used?

I suspect that there may be different reasons for the mediocre performance across calibers.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Unique works really well for me in 45acp. 6.5 grains pushes a 230 JHP to about 850fps with very decent groups. Thats my preferred recipe for a SD load.
However, when Im sitting down on a rest and trying to find the tightest groups possible...5 grains of Bullseye has my Unique load beat. Its about the same FPS, but they sure hit consistently at the target. it snaps a bit harder on its way out the door though.
You may want to give that a try?

The only other caliber ive loaded that really likes Unique IMO, is 9mm.
With magnums I lean towards either 4227, or H110 loads...
I havent attempted (and wont) try loading unique up in rifle calibers.
Just my $.02 on that

 

[moxie]

I love Unique. Hard to beat in calibers it's suited for.

Where did you ever find published load data for those rifle rounds using Unique? Burn rate is way too fast I would think.

 

[LiveLife]

Try the "modern" Unique, the BE-86. It meters like Bullseye/PowerPistol and so far has produced more accurate loads than my other reference powders - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9924922#post9924922

 

[LiveLife]

Where did you ever find published load data for those rifle rounds using Unique?

I am getting ready to do some single shot experiment with Red Dot/Promo/BE-86 in my .300 BLK with 230 gr PC bullets from blarby.

Folks at Castboolits do it with all different rifle calibers with good results - http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...lit-Rifle-Load&p=442326&viewfull=1#post442326

 

[moxie]

Thanks. Interesting. Wonder what some of the Unique rifle loads' pressures would be?

Also wonder why none of the major sources of load data, including Alliant, don't list Unique for rifles. RE-7 is about the slowest Alliant recommends for any rifles.

What's the draw? Is it because you can use quite a bit less powder and get the same velocity?

 

[Sunray]

4.7 of Bullseye is a 230 grain cast bullet load. 6.4 of Bullseye is the starting load for a jacketed bullet.

 

[LiveLife]

Moxie, looks like most are using around 10 gr of Unique for around 1050 fps loads and "lobbing/rainbowing" the bullet to the 50/100 yard target.

 

[moxie]

I read that. Perplexing that while many of us will always be on the hunt for the flattest shooting, hardest hitting round we can find, others go backwards and turn perfectly good modern hunting rifles into muskets, performance-wise. On the other hand, it might be fun!

 

[beefyz]

Sunray... check your manual, & see below which I found here after rechecking, by RC Model. I also used Sierra 5.

"At one time many moons ago, military National Match ball ammo was loaded with 4.7 grains Bullseye powder, giving 816 FPS.Older Lyman manuals said 6.5 grains Unique was a factory duplication load.
MIL-SPEC LOADS FROM NRA - 1-1-87 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
.45 ACP 230 gr. FMJ
Bullseye 4.6
Win. 231 5.6
Unique 6.5 "

I'm loading possibly light. My bad... I though I tested the 6.5 load, DID NOT test Unigue yet above 6 with the 230 fmj. But my earlier comments still stand, I've always had better results with other powders in any caliber I've tried unique in. Juts wanted to see what you guys are using.
Ironicaintit... thanks... that's what I was trying to say, I seem shoot better with other powders. . ....
Moxie.... Oh, its out there. I'm big into "reduced loads" shooting . Naturally , can't get into it here , if you're into it PM me and i'll give you the sources.

 

[moxie]

Thanks beefyz. Not into that; not yet anyway.

I have tested Unique up to 7.1 grs. Starts getting hot at 6.3 (905fps), and 7.1 is downright nasty, even out of a 625.

I've always thought 6.0 was a GI ball equivalent ~820fps or so. 6.5 is a bit too hot for GI ball, I think.

Down around 5.5 the 230FMJ is much more agreeable at the range.

 

[ljnowell]

4.7 of Bullseye is a 230 grain cast bullet load. 6.4 of Bullseye is the starting load for a jacketed bullet.

6.4 grains if bullseye is the starting jacketed load for what? Not 45 acp 230 grain.

 

[Ironicaintit]

A bit of a hijack and i apologize:
Ive read that 4.6 grains of bullseye is the mil-spec load, but i was only getting barely 700 fps out of them in any of my 45s. It wasnt until 5 grains that I was over 800fps.
I had a ton of the 4.6 BE loads that I pulled and rebuilt, because they wouldnt even cycle the action on my FNP45.
Another time I read that 5 grains of BE was the mil-spec load.

 

[srtolly]

I like Unique in my .45 loads. I also use Unique in my .41 magnum too.

 

[Conservidave]

Finding accuracy and consistency with Unique has never been a problem for me in .45ACP. I've been using 5.4g for quite a while with 230g bullets and im happy!

 

[Constrictor]

i have used 5.7g unique over a 230 lead round nose forever and love it.

 

[rcmodel]

Same here.

I've used Unique for about 55 years in .45 ACP.

6.0 with a 230 FMJ-RN puts the brass in the same pile with GI issue National Match ammo from two different guns.

rc

 

[ColtPythonElite]

About all I use in a .45 is Unique. I use 5.0 gr with 185, 200, and 230 cast bullets.

 

[klausman]

Unique was originally marketed as a gallery rifle powder. Finding loads of this type today may be difficult. Typically, the bullets used were lead, not jacketed.

 

[Urban_Redneck]

I don't know what you're shooting for, but 5.8gr of Unique drives a 200gr LSWC with great accuracy in my 1911.

 

[beefyz]

OK, thanks guys, its got to be me then. Can't figure it though. 3 other powders, worked up loads for all of them, and found 3 sweet spots, cycling & accuracy. Unique, nada, and it just so happens, as stated, that seems to be my experience with Unique in anything I shoot. I'll try again with it, especially with the encouraging results you all have had with it.

 

[Rule3]

i have used 5.7g unique over a 230 lead round nose forever and love it.

The powder would all fall out that way.