Unique / Titegroup

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kimbernut

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I ran out of Unique 3 years ago and have not bought any since because it seemed very dirty in both revolvers and semi-autos but it was the most accurate powder used in .45 Colt. I've found a 4# jug of the "NEW CLEANER BURNING" Unique@$60. Sounds like a good price but is it really cleaner burning. I'm thinking of using it for .380 Auto through .45 Colt including the magnums along the way. The vast majority of my loads are .357 mag target loads and target and SD loads in .45acp.
Right now I'm halfway through a 4# jug of Titegroup and it has done well in velocity , accuracy , and temperature seems to have no effect on either but I have found it not much cleaner than the old Unique. Thoughts? Experience?
 
Universal Clays.....The clean Unique.

Titegroup burned clean for me and was accurate. It does give the "Titegroup" stain on the cases.
 
I've been loading target rounds in 357 mag and 40 S&W with the new formula Unique. It has worked very well in both and its pretty clean too. This is the only powder I use for loading handgun cartridges, 38 spl, 9mm, 40 S&W, 357 mag, it works well in all of them. If your only gonna have one powder to load handgun cartridges with, I think its tough to beat Unique.
 
Unique (new formula) is essentially all I use for my handgun target (and hunting) rounds. It's very, very clean. I've heard stories about the older, dirty stuff, but have not experienced that myself. I load .357, 45acp and .44mag almost exclusively with Unique and highly recommend it.
 
I agree, the new formula is cleaner, is it the cleanest, no, but better. One word of caution. Most of the data for the "new" Unique is lighter by a small margin. I am still not sure if the publications are being cautious or pressures are slightly higher. I have had to adjust my loads down slightly, example: the old 5.0 grains behind a 158 gr swc in .38 special was the standard full power load, now my new Lyman book calls for 4.5 grains at similar velocities. Seems to perform the same. I have noticed less unburnt powder in the new formula as well. Bill
 
Unique?

Funny you should ask this, as I just got back from the range. Took a new Dan Wesson Pointman in 10mm and a S&W 1006. Actually both functioned very well, until I decided to shoot some of my earlier reloads with Unique (the older powder) both pistols became somewhat prone to jamming. I came home and took every shell loaded with Unique and disassembled. I know many people have great success with this powder, but I am done with it, except for shotgun. My revolvers are more accurate with Red Dot for medium loads, and accuracy has always been elusive in my autos with Unique. I know it is a favorite powder for people that want to use one or two powders, but thank the heavens above, most of us don't have this restriction. Sorry about the complaining, just hit me at a bad moment.
 
The new Unique has a more uniformly cut powder flakes. This promotes a more uniform burn resulting in a cleaner burn. I use the new Unique and it is cleaner burning powder than the old. That is about my favorite powder for pistols.
 
Unique along with W-231 and Bulseye are amongst the most universal pistol powders. For cleaner burning with jacketd bulletsd try WST or American Select. For lead bullets the previous two or Trail Boss.
 
The new Unique is about as clean as Titegroup, which isn't bad. I don't believe there's a universal pistol powder. To me, Unique is king in medium 44mag loads, and very good in medium 357. I don't load 45lc, but it should shine there just as well. The Titegroup you're using is hard to beat in 357 short barrel loads, and good in loadings up to about 1000fps. If you're after SD loads in 45acp, Bullseye simply can't be beat. The caliber was created using Bullseye, and I don't believe anything does better to this day.
 
I never used the older Unique but the newer worked well with higher pressure loads, 357 Magnum, 38 Special +P. It's pretty dirty with standard 38 Special loads and there was often unburned powder left behind.
 
Titegroup has become my favorite powder. Yeah, it takes a bit more time to clean the brass, but sooo accurate.
 
Hmmm, I'm using 4.2 grains of Titegroup and a 115 grain FMJ at 1.135 in 9mm and everything is clean - gun, barrel, and cases. I started with Universal, tried some Power Pistol, but have settled on TG as my favorite for 9mm. I've kept away from Unique because of the problems it has with the Lee Auto Disk.
 
9MM is one caliber that Universal doesn't burn all that clean in for me. AA# 5, WSF and N330 do though. I love Universal in the .40.
 
When I last ran out of Unique, I still had Titegroup, AA#5, AA#7, Clays, Red Dot and Green Dot and Blue Dot for my handgun loads.

I still bought another pound of Unique, though, just so i wouldn't be without it. Can't for the life of me think of what exactly I "absolutely must" use it for but it's comforting to have some (in some weird sort of way).
 
I never used the older Unique but the newer worked well with higher pressure loads, 357 Magnum, 38 Special +P. It's pretty dirty with standard 38 Special loads and there was often unburned powder left behind.
Click to expand...
I have been using Longshot for my .38 Special +P loads. I've found you can achieve the velocity associated with +P loads without excessive pressures.
 
Why would a manufacturer change a formula and leave it under the same name?

Why not just come out with a new name, market it as a new powder with entirely new load data and label the package " cleaner burning than Unique with same burn characteristics"
 
kellyj00, look at how many people in this forum are practically married to Unique powder. Brand equity is very important to a company. Plus, if they renamed it, they'd have to "sell it" to reloaders again.

IMO, some other powders like this are Bullseye, Varget, W231, and W748. They have the name. For another example of this outside of firearms, look at the "new" 2008 Ford Taurus. Ford killed the Taurus a year or two ago and watched the Ford 500 sell dismally. They're bringing back the Taurus because people recognize the name.
 
I've been using Unique for over 40 years. Just recently shot some .44 Mags that I loaded in 1960 and they all shot fine. Just recently bought a 8 lb container of the new Unique. It works fine for me.
 
As regards the new Unique possibly deserving a whole new name:
According to Alliant, the formula actually is pretty much the same; it's the manufacturing process that's different. The flakes are cut much more precisely, they say, and that's where the better burning efficiency comes from.
Having used a few pounds of the new stuff, I'm inclined to accept this explanation.
And I'm going to agree with nitesite, who's simply comforted by having some. I know the feeling. If there's a bullet or caliber I don't really have the right powder for... there's always Unique.
Bill
 
jhansman said:
Titegroup has become my favorite powder. Yeah, it takes a bit more time to clean the brass, but sooo accurate.
Click to expand...

Yup. Me too. Titegroup is like the Swiss Army knife of powders. In the past month, I've loaded .32 ACP, .44 Special, .45 ACP, .500 S&W Mag, .357 Mag, and tonight I loaded 200 .38 Special wadcutters with it.

There is no more consistent powder when loading a big case with a small charge. I find it very clean too - at least on the guns.
 
Hmm,
I have used and like Bullseye in my .40 but Like Eddie says,I hear it works really well in low charge weights.
What is this Stain some speak of?....anything worth mentioning?..
 
Answered my own question..................

Walkalong
Senior Member


Join Date: 11-20-06
Location: Mont. Al.
Posts: 2,504

Quote:
Could it be light loads will not expand the rim enough to prevent the gas from entering the cylinder?
Yes. The case mouth is not expanding enough, or long enough to contain the gases well. Typical of light loads.

Also, Tightgroup is known for this. It's the "Tightgroup Stain".
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