1KPerDay
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I found a couple pounds this morning... I usually use HP-38 for .380 and .38 special but it's unobtanium for many months. Is unique uniquely suited to anything in particular or is it unique in that it's suitable for everything?
What's Unique the best at?
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SFreed
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I think you're about to find out that a lot of people swear by Unique in just about everything, and others swear at it. I'm in the latter group. I've tried it in 38 spl and 45 acp and I'm not real impressed. Works, just not for me. However, with most pistol powder hard to come by, I'm not rushing to get rid of what I have.... never know when I might need it.
Blue68f100
Member
Not Metering accurately.....
It's a very versatile powder but meters like crap in my book. Loading on a AP the best I can get is ±0.2gr (0.4gr spread). Where my ball powders give me ±0.02gr accuracy. Big difference. If I do the tap dance I can get ±0.1gr but that is still a 0.2gr spread. Depending on the load this can work but you have to be careful when working with small cases like the 380acp.
It's a very versatile powder but meters like crap in my book. Loading on a AP the best I can get is ±0.2gr (0.4gr spread). Where my ball powders give me ±0.02gr accuracy. Big difference. If I do the tap dance I can get ±0.1gr but that is still a 0.2gr spread. Depending on the load this can work but you have to be careful when working with small cases like the 380acp.
Beanie-Bean
Member
1K,
I like Unique in 9x19, .357SIG, .40S&W, 10mm, .45ACP. It is a fluffy powder, so the cases fill up quite nicely, and it's a lot easier to check charges on the progressive presses. Additionally, all of the loading manuals list it for all the calibers I like
It is not as fast as others (AA #2, W231) but burns very cleanly in my experience.
My pet .45ACP load is 230 gr. over 6.0 gr. of Unique.
I like Unique in 9x19, .357SIG, .40S&W, 10mm, .45ACP. It is a fluffy powder, so the cases fill up quite nicely, and it's a lot easier to check charges on the progressive presses. Additionally, all of the loading manuals list it for all the calibers I like
It is not as fast as others (AA #2, W231) but burns very cleanly in my experience.
My pet .45ACP load is 230 gr. over 6.0 gr. of Unique.
Jurist
Member
Unique
I dribble all my Unique loads for all my pistol loadings..380,9MM,357 MAG and 40 S&W. Old men have the patience to do so.
I dribble all my Unique loads for all my pistol loadings..380,9MM,357 MAG and 40 S&W. Old men have the patience to do so.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
IMO Unique will work in many cartridges but it is not the best powder in all loads. Years ago when there was only Bullseye, Unique and then 2400 you had no choice. Now that there are SO MANY powders available you can have anything you want. (when there is no shortage)
Since you can't find HP-38/W231 I see no reason not to use Unique but for me, I don't like how difficult it is to meter. I would have chosen at least 6 or more powders before unique if they were on the shelf like Zip, AA#2, True Blue, Red Dot, Green Dot, WST, Universal and a few others...
Since you can't find HP-38/W231 I see no reason not to use Unique but for me, I don't like how difficult it is to meter. I would have chosen at least 6 or more powders before unique if they were on the shelf like Zip, AA#2, True Blue, Red Dot, Green Dot, WST, Universal and a few others...
The Druids development Unique during the construction period of Stonehenge. Unique is a powder that has been around a long time and most reload manuals have data to support its application to many many pistol rounds. I always keep both Unique and Bullseye on hand.
Vodoun da Vinci
Member
I'm a Unique user and militant about it. Introduced by my Father in Law over 30 years ago and it's now all I use. I load .38 Special/.357 mag, 9mm, .380, and .32 acp and have tried specialty powders to get enhanced performance but ended up back with Unique.
It meters badly for some who are very picky about charge weights and I'm one of those as well.....1 gr. is simply not close for me so I weigh every charge.
I was told there are better powders....that Unique does everything "OK" but nothing really all that good and I completely disagree. It does like higher pressures better and in hot .38 Special or .357 Mag I have not been able to get better than I get with plain old Unique. 9mm? Same...tried others that were as good but nothing was all that much better except that they all meter and thus are faster to charge than Unique.
Only one powder sits on my bench and that is Unique. I have no plans to use anything else unless I can't find Unique but I have enough for almost 2 years currently and will worry about that when I get to my last pound. 158 gr. Classic lead semi wad cutters in .38 Special and a stiff charge of Unique is pretty awesome for me as is around 5 gr. of Unique and 9mm flat points. The last round of 124 gr. 9mm flat points and Unique was so accurate and so clean that after a range session I could have just wiped the gun with a clean cloth. I love the stuff.
VooDoo
It meters badly for some who are very picky about charge weights and I'm one of those as well.....1 gr. is simply not close for me so I weigh every charge.
I was told there are better powders....that Unique does everything "OK" but nothing really all that good and I completely disagree. It does like higher pressures better and in hot .38 Special or .357 Mag I have not been able to get better than I get with plain old Unique. 9mm? Same...tried others that were as good but nothing was all that much better except that they all meter and thus are faster to charge than Unique.
Only one powder sits on my bench and that is Unique. I have no plans to use anything else unless I can't find Unique but I have enough for almost 2 years currently and will worry about that when I get to my last pound. 158 gr. Classic lead semi wad cutters in .38 Special and a stiff charge of Unique is pretty awesome for me as is around 5 gr. of Unique and 9mm flat points. The last round of 124 gr. 9mm flat points and Unique was so accurate and so clean that after a range session I could have just wiped the gun with a clean cloth. I love the stuff.
VooDoo
loose noose
Member
I use it mostly in my 20ga. loads. In my Mec reloaders it seems to meter ok, using the 7/8 oz. loads. Also used it in my .44 mag light loads. Seems to burn fairly clean.
blarby
Member
Being awesome.
Wish I could find 2 #'s of it- I'm down to two pounds on the shelf, and won't crack them until the bombs fall.
I load from smallbore shotgun up to large bore handgun, and I've used it in every single one at one time or another.
You don't get that in a lot of powders.
What I like it best in is 10grs behind a .430, or 6 grs behind a .452, or about 28 grains behind an ounce and some change. IT certainly likes higher loads in "gauges" , and I've found it burns better and cleaner with mag primers.
If you need more than .1 grain accuracy, and it matters that much, you should be using a scale anyway. Thats not a valid excuse in my book to dislike a powder of this nature. If you're loading so close to max that .1 gr is going to blow your gun up, you darn well better be measuring every single case, because .1gr variation of any powder in any loading manual that exists is not going to pop a gun.
buck460XVR
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Unique is unique in that it is one of a few powders that are listed in recipes for virtually any handgun caliber and many shotgun loads. That said, it's best usage in handguns for me, is medium/standard for caliber bullets at moderate for caliber velocities. Unique, altho it meters poorly by weight, is a powder that shoots well by volume. This is why many folks that use dippers for reloading like it. Small variances in weight are not as crucial as consistent volume. Thus, even those that are getting variances of +- .1 grains or so, will see little difference in accuracy and velocity as long as the volume in the case is the same.
OP
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1KPerDay
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Thanks all. My LCT/PAD is very consistent with Alliant's flaky powders (as long as you don't go too low) so I'm sure I can find a charge that will work with the calibers I need to load, or I can scoop if necessary for .380. Good to have a little buffer against running completely dry of powder... I was starting to consider "hmmm... should I really shoot this coming match? I can't really replace my reloads..."
Schwing
Member
I am a Unique proponent. It is probably my most commonly used powder. I have used it in .380, 9MM, .38 special, .357, .45 ACP and .44 and have had great results in all of the above.
My experience has been that, while Unique is not the best powder for any particular caliber, it comes close and spans everything I reload for. I use mostly lead bullets and there is so much load data out there for Unique with lead that you don't have to search far.
On the metering side, there are far better powders. I don't get consistent drops until I am up above around 3.5 grains with Unique. It is frustrating because I have found it to be my best powder for .380 but very difficult to meter in such low charges. With my lee perfect measure, I get +-.1 drops every time as long as I am over 3.5 grains. If I go much below that, I see badness as far as +-.5.
In any case, I would not pass up any opportunity to buy it. Even if you find it isn't your favorite, it is probably the most versatile powder out there.
My experience has been that, while Unique is not the best powder for any particular caliber, it comes close and spans everything I reload for. I use mostly lead bullets and there is so much load data out there for Unique with lead that you don't have to search far.
On the metering side, there are far better powders. I don't get consistent drops until I am up above around 3.5 grains with Unique. It is frustrating because I have found it to be my best powder for .380 but very difficult to meter in such low charges. With my lee perfect measure, I get +-.1 drops every time as long as I am over 3.5 grains. If I go much below that, I see badness as far as +-.5.
In any case, I would not pass up any opportunity to buy it. Even if you find it isn't your favorite, it is probably the most versatile powder out there.
I like Unique.
I have established loads in virtually every handgun cartridge that I load, 11 at present, as well as 28 gauge and 20 gauge shot shells.
Besides the shot shells, I use Unique regularly in about half of the handgun cartridges.
I'm not into magnum loads so Unique works very well for me.
Good metering takes a consistent technique and a good powder measure. I get plus/minus 0.1 grain.
But, then I like and use alot of 700-X, another flake powder. I guess it comes from reloading in the days when powder choices were limited.
I have established loads in virtually every handgun cartridge that I load, 11 at present, as well as 28 gauge and 20 gauge shot shells.
Besides the shot shells, I use Unique regularly in about half of the handgun cartridges.
I'm not into magnum loads so Unique works very well for me.
Good metering takes a consistent technique and a good powder measure. I get plus/minus 0.1 grain.
But, then I like and use alot of 700-X, another flake powder. I guess it comes from reloading in the days when powder choices were limited.
Ret.CWO
Member
I've been using Unigue many moon's all the way back to 1970. However for 44 Mag. and 357 Mag. nothing beats W296 or H110 for hot loads. I've used Unique for most of my 38 Spl. 45 ACP and 9mm. loads. Never found a problem with it. I use it on my progressive presses and it seems to drop fine for me. It's a very old powder that has proven itself over the years. to each his/her own.
Every powder is dirty when loaded below optimal pressure.
Modern Unique is pretty average when you don't load it below optimal. If you find Unique to burn dirty, you are probably loading some really weak loads in a really low pressure caliber. I have noticed no difference between Unique and any of my other 4 handgun powders in terms of cleanliness. My Unique loads are much cleaner than any factory load I can compare against, except maybe some lots of PMC I had that were freaky clean.
I know they changed the formula several years back to address the "flaming dirt" complaints.
If you shoot light loads with Clays and Tightgroup, you might want to stick to faster powders. You will have to use more powder, in general (and often get higher velocities), if you want it to burn as clean as your current loads.
Modern Unique is pretty average when you don't load it below optimal. If you find Unique to burn dirty, you are probably loading some really weak loads in a really low pressure caliber. I have noticed no difference between Unique and any of my other 4 handgun powders in terms of cleanliness. My Unique loads are much cleaner than any factory load I can compare against, except maybe some lots of PMC I had that were freaky clean.
I know they changed the formula several years back to address the "flaming dirt" complaints.
If you shoot light loads with Clays and Tightgroup, you might want to stick to faster powders. You will have to use more powder, in general (and often get higher velocities), if you want it to burn as clean as your current loads.
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OP
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1KPerDay
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A lot of people claim it is, and a lot of people claim it isn't. Apparently the "newer" Unique is cleaner than it used to be.
Doesn't really matter to me. Long as it goes bang.
Arkansas Paul
Member
If I could only find one shotgun/pistol powder on the shelf, I hope it would be Unique.
It does everything and does it all well.
It is not the best metering powder out there, you definitely won't like it as much as HP38/W231 in that regard but it has a wider application range. I've loaded it in every pistol caliber I load for and have never been disappointed.
It does everything and does it all well.
It is not the best metering powder out there, you definitely won't like it as much as HP38/W231 in that regard but it has a wider application range. I've loaded it in every pistol caliber I load for and have never been disappointed.
handloader357
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It can be a pain to meter, but i love the stuff. It's clean enough if you use a stiff charge and a good crimp. If you load it too light you'll get unburnt powder.
Reefinmike
Member
As my go to powders have dwindled down to only a few hundred grains of bullseye and hp-38 over the last year Ive been having to turn to that can of unique that I gave up on due to leading issues. The other day I loaded up 500 230gr plated 45s with 6.5gr unique. They shoot just fine and at that charge weight in my lee autodisk, it threw surprisingly consistent. I checked a few charges per box and every one was spot on at 6.5.
I did manage to score a pound of BE yesterday after nearly 6 months of passively searching. It helps, but doesnt mean a whole lot when I have about 4 gallons worth of 38 and 45 brass primed, sitting their waiting to all be loaded up. I guess the 225lbs of wheel weights a buddy just gave me will keep me busy enough.
I did manage to score a pound of BE yesterday after nearly 6 months of passively searching. It helps, but doesnt mean a whole lot when I have about 4 gallons worth of 38 and 45 brass primed, sitting their waiting to all be loaded up. I guess the 225lbs of wheel weights a buddy just gave me will keep me busy enough.
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