New 8lb jug of Unique vs old jug of same

Status
Not open for further replies.

solman

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2011
Messages
291
I noticed a big difference in size with the new can being much larger. Did the formula change? They are both 8lb cans the older one being from 2011 I believe and the new one I just got is marked 2019

Correction the can on the right is a 4lb can the one on the left is 8lbs.
My mistake
please forgive the ignorance of a novice.... W.C. Fields

unique1.jpg unique.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 748
Does the powder look the same?
Also is there a lot of airspace like in a bag of chips?

With the ellections comeing in November I will be stocking up on powders, primers and bullets.
 
I have not yet broken the seal on the new jug so I can't say. I am currently running low , and this is my go to powder for handguns so I thought to buy some now. Also bought some primers and bullets.
I like to keep enough supplies on hand to go a few years of shooting without having to buy. It worked out well when we had the previous administration.
 
Believe it or not but manufactures change packaging all the time. One reason could be that the old jug is no longer available from the supplier or that the new jug is cheaper because it is in a larger production run and being provided to multiple vendors.
 
I am with the bag of chips theory. Some people might scoff at paying $140 of a little jug of powder but look at how big that jug is...either that or now they don’t have to stock different size containers or different powders as they can put 8#’s of even their least dense powder in that jug.
 
A few years ago on another forum a guy order a new spring for his 1911. It came to him in a 12" x 12" x 12" box.
I would easily fit in a padded envelope. They must get the same rate on that size of box.
 
IMO, it comes down to simple economics of scale - one jug to accommodate all powders of the same bulk weight. There are probably a few others where that extra space was needed. maybe now, after some formulation changes, they determined it was no longer necessary.
 
I found that out as well when I ordered a jug of both IMR4227 and IMR3031. Here's the rub... When I built my bench, the 1st shelf was sized to accommodate the size of the 8# jugs... they slide right in. I got a new 8# of Unique...and uh-oh! I was hoping it was a fluke... but it's not, I got the other 2 jugs and they are the same size. Oh, they are barely half full... so either someone made them a great deal on that specific container, or they are trying the 'one size fits all' method.

OZHvNUum.jpg
 
I noticed a big difference in size with the new can being much larger. Did the formula change? They are both 8lb cans the older one being from 2011 I believe and the new one I just got is marked 2019

View attachment 884291 View attachment 884292

solman,
The package on the right is our 4lb and the one on the left is the 8lb canister.
The labels should be consistent with that. We would not be able to fit 8lb of Unique(R) in that container.
Please PM me with details if the label is not correct.
Thanks,
Paul
 
Without the input above the only way to see if it is the same weight by volume is to scoop both the old and new and compare. Ten scoops weighed together for an average and the totals compared. For even better accuracy do each set twice. I also was wondering about the smaller one being a 4 pounder as well. Even dense rifle powder takes up most of a gallon container at 8 LBS. I do have some of those 4 pounders. Have you ever purchased 8 LBS of TrailBoss? THAT is a big container.:eek:
 
Guys, different powders have different densities. They are sold by the pound - not by volume - in the same “one pound” containers (or 4#, 8#, etc.) so of course some full containers of one powder can have more air space than those with another powder from the same manufacturer......



.
 
solman,
The package on the right is our 4lb and the one on the left is the 8lb canister.
The labels should be consistent with that. We would not be able to fit 8lb of Unique(R) in that container.
Please PM me with details if the label is not correct.
Thanks,
Paul

Paul,
You are correct.
I don't usually buy 4lb jugs I buy the 8 and assumed this was an 8 pounder as well. Maybe the 4lb was all I could get at the time. Although I noticed many 8lb jugs are the same size as the one I posted so I assumed this one was as well. Indeed this one is a 4lb jug.
My apologies for not being more careful.
 
I'm using some new unique in the 1# bottle. My .61cc rotor is throwing .1g lighter than before. A little over 2% change. I'm not that excited.
I'm wondering if a standard blow mold is used for various pound ranges and they tightened up the size of the 8# based on what they are selling.

Edit
I see now that one is 8# the other 4#.
 
DuPont IMR extruded powders were uniform at .86 bulk density, a number familiar to users of the Powley computer.

Lee tabulates VMD for their powder measures. That is the inverse of density in bastardized units, cubic centimeters per grain Avoirdupois. You could convert to density.
 
I doubt the density of the powder will vary enough to really matter all that much. Here is an example of 1.0 Lb and 2.0 Lb canisters of VihtaVuori. The canister sizes (volumes) are identical but with the packaging scheme employed the same canister is used for different weights of powder.
Cannister Size.png

Just a matter of how much powder is dumped in the canister and which label is placed on the canister. Also, the guys making and packaging the stuff change the package every now and then. I still have some cans of IMR and Winchester powders as well as the newer plastic containers. Same stuff and while I have no idea how much truth there is to it I did read somewhere "powder companies allow themselves a 16% tolerance between batches". Lends one to believe the VMD (Volume Measured Density) of any given lot can change slightly.

Ron
 
Paul,
You are correct.
I don't usually buy 4lb jugs I buy the 8 and assumed this was an 8 pounder as well. Maybe the 4lb was all I could get at the time. Although I noticed many 8lb jugs are the same size as the one I posted so I assumed this one was as well. Indeed this one is a 4lb jug.
My apologies for not being more careful.

No worries and no apologies necessary solman.
We appreciate you buying our American made shotshell/pistol powder.
Thank you,
Paul
 
Dang, you can't fit eight pounds of powder in a four-pound jug?!?

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

If you look at my photo above... I guraaaaantteeeee you 16# of powder would fit in that '8#' jug, not so much with the older (IMR4895) jug. Unique being a bit bulkier, I would say about 12# of Unique would fit in the new Unique 8# container.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top