[James2]

I bought some Berry's 200 gr RS bullets. I loaded 6.4 grains of Unique behind them. When I fired them they would not reliably cycle the gun. (XD) There was unburnt powder all over the bench. I was rather surprised that the Unique wasn't burning.

I guess I will try a different powder with these 200 grainers. I likely won't be buying any more of them.

[rcmodel]

Light load.
Unique won't burn clean at low pressure.

Not the best powder choice for 200 grain lead loads at low velocity.

According to Lyman #49, 6.0 gives 11.400 PSI - 717 FPS with a 200 LSWC.
7.5 gives 17,400 PSI - 913 FPS.

Try a faster powder like Bullseye, or Red Dot, or 700X, or something and you should have better results.

rc

[Josh45]

Follow RCModels advice.
He knows what he is talking about. I have had the same problem with some 230 Gr LRN and some 200 Gr LSWC for the .45 ACP using Unique. They cycle my slide but plenty of unburnt powder.

I usually see a lot of people use Red Dot in lead loads. If you have some of that, Give that a try.

[1KPerDay]

Try Red Dot, as noted.

[littlebob3]

Winchester 231

[gahunter12]

Give W231/HP38 a try or WST. I run 5.2gr of W231 with 230gr RN or 4.2gr of WST under same plated bullet. For 230gr LRN I use 4.2gr of WST. Per Hodgdon's website, start charge for lead SWC 200gr is 4.4gr of WST with a max of 5.1gr. WST is pretty soft and clean for me. I have been extremly happy with WST here lately.

[4895]

James,

According to www.alliantpowder.com the load data lists Unique at Max. load 7.3 grains. I would raise the start charge up to 6.6 grains (10% under Max.) and work up to 7.3 grains of Unique. I would do that BEFORE I bought a new/different powder.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=35

IMO, there is nothing wrong with Unique in .45 auto as long as you find where it likes to run, usually near the top half of the range.

[Walkalong]

I have been trying some WST under an X-Treme 200 Gr RN (Plated), and it is shooting real well. Very clean.

As rcmodel posted, Bullseye, Red Dot, 700x, as well as WST, Competition, American Select, Clays etc will burn fully at that low pressure.

[straight-shooter]

I shoot 200gr RN lead using 5.2gr Unique and experience no unburnt powder. ie: no leading with this load. A tad faster or slower and leading rears it's ugly head.

I'm sure with Berrys or Rainiers you should be able to push harder. Sounds like you need to chrono the load and go from there and adjust. I would be looking for about 900 fps. Nice accurate light load but deviation will tell you.

[GLOOB]

+1, 4895. Unburnt powder indicates low pressure. Slide not cycling indicates low velocity. You're not even at Alliant's recommended start charge. The reloading gods are trying to drop you a hint. Take out the earplugs and listen! :)

[joshf128]

I shoot 200gr RN lead using 5.2gr Unique and experience no unburnt powder. ie: no leading with this load. A tad faster or slower and leading rears it's ugly head.

Same here. 5.2gr Unique but with 200gr LSWC and COAL 1.275. I can make 5 round groups all touching offhand with this load if I do my part.

[Mike 27]

I love Bullseye and 200gr LRN. Very accurate, and clean. I shoot them out of my xd all the time. Sometimes I can go through 300 or more at the range in a day. I use them indoor with minimal smoke as well.

[bds]

Although W231/HP-38 is my favored powder for 45ACP, but I have happily used Promo with Red Dot load data by weight also - accurate, milder recoil loads that are clean burning.

[steve4102]

WST!

[don p]

My vote is Titegroup:cool:

[George44]

I use 5.3 Unique with 200 grain Lead SWC and have not had any leading or unburnt powder problems,also is a very accurate load.

[James2]

I think I will try seating the bullet a little deeper. I have them at 1.23 and Alliant suggests 1.20. I do have 100 or so of these bullets left so can play with loads and different powders too. I have some other powders. Titegroup and 231. I have used lots of Unique over the years and it is my go to powder for 44. Never had problems with it. Of course I tend to load fairly hot for 44 Spl and 44 Mag. No powder puff loads.

Thanks to all for your responses.

[mnhntr]

200gr plated with 8.5gr A#5 or 4.6gr bullseye

[otasan56]

I stopped using Unique the day that I got some Winchester Super Target and Winchester Super Field.

[TonyT]

With a low pressure cartridge such as the 45 ACP the fater burning powders usually burn cleaner. I use either WST or VV N-210 for my 45 ACP loads.

[exbrit49]

Been reloading the 45 ACp for years and my loads of choice are WST for the 200G LSWC , I would try starting at around 4.0G and work up from there, I found my Ruger P89 really likes them at 4.2G, pushing just a little over 800, A nice comfortable load.
For the 230 LRN I have been using Red Dot for well over 20 years, I am pushing them a little hard but all my 45s like that 4.6G pushing that roundnose at about 850 fps. Note! I have shown the loads that have really worked for me but I do not recomend their use until working up and testing the loads your self. As a starter for the Red Dot 230 Rn I would think that around 4.2G would be a good start point
Have fun

[1911Tuner]

Are you sure you're reading your scales right? 6 grains of Unique isn't a "light" load. That's my standard go-to load for nearly all my .45 ACP ammunition. It produces 875 fps with my home cast 200 grain SWCs and 840 with cast round nose. With 230 jacketed RN it pretty well duplicates GI hardball at around 820 fps. Bumping up to 6.5 grains with Hornady 230 XTP hollowpoints gets it into +P territory.

It cycles all my pistols perfectly...I use 16 pound springs in my range beaters...and the velocities are very consistent with a narrow extreme spread only bested by Bullseye, and not by very much.

[buck460XVR]

I bought some Berry's 200 gr RS bullets. I loaded 6.4 grains of Unique behind them. When I fired them they would not reliably cycle the gun. (XD) There was unburnt powder all over the bench. I was rather surprised that the Unique wasn't burning.

I guess I will try a different powder with these 200 grainers. I likely won't be buying any more of them.



I use 6.7 gr of Unique under that same 200 grainer in my 5'' Colt Government. It always cycles the gun and is one of my most accurate loads outta it. It also burns no dirtier than load using 231 in the same gun. What was your COL?

[Damon555]

I load 200 grain Rainiers in front of 6.5 grains of Unique and it functions flawlessly and accurately in my Kimber 1911. Just enough crimp to take the bell out and a COL of 1.260". I suspect there is a relatively simple solution to your problem. The first place I would look is the scale.....

Oh and I should also mention that this load burns quite clean too.