Unique and .357 mag loads?

you may not want to do that. The only data I have seen is for Thompson Center with a 10 barrel. Please check it Handloader Issue #261 - August, 2009.

Bula,

For that velocity with the bullets you mentioned, 6.0 - 6.2gr of Unique will put you there.

Don

I use Unique all the time. 6.4 grains with a 158 gr hard cast RNFP should get you a little over 1000 fps. (depending on barrel legth.)

The Alliant 2016 Reloaders Guide shows:
158gr Speer LSWC, Unique, CCI 500, 1.570" Min OAL, Max Chg 6.0 grains, 1034fps

The same load is listed online:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...owderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=28

Bula said:

vaalpens,

Odd, I only checked the Alliant info on the .357 Mag 158g cast RNFP, no Unique. But its there on the Lead SWC, weird. Could the charge for the Speer SWC be so low because those are soft, pure lead with powdered lube?

Thanks,
Bula

Click to expand...

I've had similar issues with the Alliant web site, I just see a recipe for one bullet and one powder for a particular cartridge choice. Kind of frustrating at times.

Looking at vaalpens' link got me investigating. If you go to Alliant's Product page and pick on the powder you are interested in there will be a choice on that page that lets you look at all recipes.

I'm not interested I shooting full power loads any more. For 357 Magnum cases, I also load around 6 grains of Unique and 158 grain cast SWC. Nice loads.

(Side note, I have a couple K frame 38 Special revolvers so my 38 Special cases get saved for them.)

Bula said:

vaalpens,

Odd, I only checked the Alliant info on the .357 Mag 158g cast RNFP, no Unique. But its there on the Lead SWC, weird. Could the charge for the Speer SWC be so low because those are soft, pure lead with powdered lube?

Thanks,
Bula

Click to expand...

If you analyze the various bullet/powder combinations in the Alliant data, you can see that the newer data is all for more specific bullets by brand and exact type, and they tend to only include new data for the newer powders (they really want you to buy BE-86 now). The older data is just being left as it was, not re-tested and updated, and it seems the new data is never being combined in the same charts as the older data, even if the bullets are essentially the same. You have to compare multiple load charts to figure out what can really be matched.

I have not looked at the books in a while, but Unique has always been a prime choice for mid-level .357 Mag loads - I'm sure my older books have lots of data for it. I like Unique and have used a lot of it, but I do not usually load mid-level magnums, so I normally turn to slower powders unless I am loading for .38 Spl.

I've used some of the loads you mention with a 158 gr bullet for over 40 years. 6.0 Unique puts me ar about 1000 fps and 7.0 at 1100 (chronographed). Lyman 49 shows over 8.0 of Unique as a max load for a jacketed 158.

I've got notes in my book regarding 6.0 unique as my go to standard for 158 lead. Would still be using it - had they not come along with be86.

I have been using Lee's reloading manual for my S&W 686 4"bbl and my Marlin 1894C 357 magnum.They have info for 158 grn lead and jacketed rounds.
I am using Unique and Red Dot.

The 2004 Alliant data has the 158gr LSWC at 6.8gr max.

It's not what you'd call "recent" data, but my 45th edition of the Lyman Reloading Handbook shows the following .357 Mag loads with cast bullets and Unique powder. Test gun was an S&W M-27 with a 5" barrel, loads are suggested starting load and suggested max load.

158 grain #358156 w/gas check 4.0gr/680 ft/sec 8.0gr/1250 ft/sec
168 grain#358429 4.0gr/739 ft/sec 7.0gr/1157 ft/sec

I always preferred SR-4756 for mid-level .357 loads because it burned cleaner than Unique, but I understand it's being discontinued.

Here is a link to the 2004 paper Alliant manual referenced in post #13 above:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070