Unique Powder

Put some powder on a white sheet of paper and look for discoloration

How’s it smell? If it smells ok, and since it’s unopened I bet it will, I’d use it

Let your friend shoot it first!

Open it up and check it out.
(if it is degrading you want to know so you can dump it)
Does it look and smell ok?

Deteriorating smokeless powders produce and acidic odor and may produce a reddish brown fume. (Don't confuse this with common solvent odors such as alcohol, ether and acetone.)Powder deterioration can be checked by opening the cap on the container and smelling the contents. Powder undergoing deterioration has an irritating acidic odor

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If it smells fine, its likely okay.

We have 30+ year old latex paint at work that has been unopened since it left the factory. Most times i go to get one to sell (for cheap and special circumstances) its perfectly fine.

The nitric acid will leach out of the nitroglycerin if it's "bad". This will leave a rusty, brown color and a sharp, acrid, distinctly acidic smell, like freshly cut red oak.

Your treasure trove of Unique is a real find. Just note that it was made before they started to mill the particles to a consistent size. For the best accuracy, you'll either need to use it in a powder measure with a metal housing that has a consistent vibratory input, OR use one of the new electric measures that weighs each load.

Hope this helps.

Shoot it. I would. I would not Shoot it in any ammo that will sit for a long time, and I wouldn't use it in any redline loads.

when dumping it on white paper no red dust, smells good, and no rust on the inside of the metal can. If so I would shoot it. I would also keep it in the original can you will be able to spot deterioration better (rust) in there. The multiple colors are the factory blending two or more lots to keep it within the correct range for the data.

Akula69 said:

In reading the can, I note that Hercules had some reloading data on it way back when. I wonder if anyone in here would still have that sheet....

I'm probably gonna load it in shot shell, #8 shot at 7/8 ounce. Not sure I want to trust it in metallic.

Thoughts?

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As it degrades it becomes less powerful not more powerful

Akula69 said:

In reading the can, I note that Hercules had some reloading data on it way back when. I wonder if anyone in here would still have that sheet....

I'm probably gonna load it in shot shell, #8 shot at 7/8 ounce. Not sure I want to trust it in metallic.

Thoughts?

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Load it like Unique. It isn’t degraded from the description so load it using published data and enjoy.

Akula69 said:

Well, I was hesitant to open it (foolish - I know) its been around for a loooong time. But, I did finally pull the tab and when I pressed the center of the cap a slight 'whoosh' was heard - it still had a good seal.
Smell is fine, but there is a slight difference in some of the flakes - some are totally black and some are dark grey.

I transferred it to a plastic bottle with seal - the color variation was consistent throughout. Can interior was spotless and shiny.

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That tells me it's still good. Unique changed it formula a few decades ago to make it burn cleaner, retaining all load data. So current load data is the same. I would leave in the metal can. Always look for red dust or a smoky cloud when you pour. This will indicate the powder is breaking down.

I have a can of Herco in the square can just like yours ,un-opened, metal tab intact. If I recall it was priced around $1.67 marked down from $2.??, from Gibson.

Buy your friend lunch.

It was a sealed, never opened can? Shoot it!

Lucky you! Unique is my favorite pistol powder! Follow others advice and Shoot it!!!!

If you use it and it works fine, you gain $30 or whatever.
If it doesn't work or epicly fails, what might that cost?

Akula69 said:

In reading the can, I note that Hercules had some reloading data on it way back when. I wonder if anyone in here would still have that sheet....

I'm probably gonna load it in shot shell, #8 shot at 7/8 ounce. Not sure I want to trust it in metallic.

Thoughts?

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Yes there was and yes I have a copy. Is the load you are looking for in 20 gauge? It is the only one I found using 7/8 ounce of shot.

Stock up on cleaning supplies!

The load data looks like this.......I had copied the 20 gauge.

There may be 1 oz loads for 12 gauge. Back in the day, this load data was my preference.

That is premium powder and meters very well.

That can is from the early 60s. I have shot Unique/Infallible made before 1920. Since it looks and smells good, and there is no rust inside the can, go shoot it with confidence. It will be fine. It will be a little dirty, but that is just the way it always was. Enjoy.

If there is a batch number stamped on the bottom of the can, you could call Alliant to see if they have a more exact manufacturing date for it.

In 2001 Alliant changed Unique’s properties so that it would burn cleaner. The same load data could be used.

Here are some links regarding this:
Here is one Jeff Quinn did on “Gun Blast” in 2001
https://www.gunblast.com/Unique.htm

Alliant still says “cleaner burning” on their link. Odd, they changed it 20 years ago. Anyway look what they say about shotgun loading and there are links for load data.
https://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/unique.aspx

There is a lot of discussion on other forums. I will not link them here.

I do recall when Unique’s formula was changed and my load recipes remained the same, but the new formula shot much cleaner.