Has anyone anywhere seen any Unique?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bernie

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2003
Messages
898
Location
The great state of Arkansas
I like Unique for my .41 cast bullet loads, and am not hurting for any at this time. However, for the last two years I have kept my eyes open for some just so I do not run out in the future. After all, my cast bullet .41 Mag loads are probably the number one cartridge that I have shot for the last couple of years.

This is more a question just because I am curious than because of real need. When is the last time you saw Unique and what state were you in?
 
I was given a pound by @bersaguy last year but I'm not sure where he got it from or when. Haven't seen any since. Alliant seems to not be selling much through consumer channels anymore. St. Marks is right down Hwy19 from me but I can get powders from Belgium more consistently, easier and cheaper than from Alliant. Kinda strange.
 
I haven't seen it available except for opened containers at remote gun shops at reduced cost. I actually have an unopened 1lb container of Hercules Unique I picked up for a song at a gun show 5 it 6 years ago. Old stuff but should be good.
 
I saw Alliant powders in a small gun store this week. $45 to $48 bucks a pound, though. There may have been some Unique in the mix. The prices stopped me from doing much other than taking a quick glance.
 
I understand that new ammunition has a certain priority for the makers of the components that we use. Pretty much all of the primers and a sizeable portion of the powder we buy is being made by Vista and being sent to their ammo production and it irritates me. However, we as hand loaders are consumers as well and are for the most part being ignored. When times are good again, if I have choices, I will likely buy powders and primers from someone who did not totally ignore the needs of hand loaders. If imports are available, that may be what I purchase.
 
Bought some thru Brownells, costly though, but I don't look for the prices of powder to go down unless we get an elected official who sides with the firearm industry. I buy whatever I can for what ever price I can. I would like to see the prices go down but along with primers, the powder makers set the price. Buy what you can and just enough to get you thru.
 
If you really want the burn characteristics of Unique but can't find any Alliant powders, pick up Hodgdon's Universal if you ever come across it. It was made to compete with Unique. Just be sure to use the load data for Universal and don't simply substitute Universal for Unique.

Back in the days of "less shortage", I found that BE-86 was superior to Unique (easier measuring, cleaner burning) and Alliant 20/28 (slightly more energetic than Unique but well behaved as a substitute).

HP38/W231 is also a good powder, slightly faster than Unique so you'll want to start low and work up but for me, these two powders seem to be the most available at the local stores.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
I was given a pound by @bersaguy last year but I'm not sure where he got it from or when. Haven't seen any since. Alliant seems to not be selling much through consumer channels anymore. St. Marks is right down Hwy19 from me but I can get powders from Belgium more consistently, easier and cheaper than from Alliant. Kinda strange.
Click to expand...
I got that one from Bill Jackson's in Clearwater, but I haven't seen any since. https://www.evergladesammo.com/ had 8 pounders in stock very briefly earlier this week, but they went pretty quick. They still have a fair amount of powder in stock, just no Unique
 
I haven't seen it for 2 years now, except for the rare 30 second in stock item at P.V. The name fits itself..
 
I stumbled across 1 lb at a local retailer aproximately 1 year ago. Literally 2 days later, I also picked up most of a 4 lb cardboard can from a trusted source! It was raining Unique. Well stored, and appears in good condition, this is in the front of my "use it first" stack. Other than that, I have not seen much of any offerings from Alliant anywhere.
 
I like Unique and have a couple of pounds I bought just before the world went pear-shaped. I use it for 45 acp and 357 target loads. I doesn't meter very well,but I've made up 2 dippers from brass cases trimmed to my loads for said calibers. When I check measures with a 505 they are surprising accurate horses and dippers 006.JPG
 
In the last 2-3 months I've seen 2 of my LGS get powder shipments in. Typically on the order of 10 1-pound cans each. No Unique, but I do remember Bullseye and 231. Mostly powders I never heard of and don't use. (Upstate NY) About march of 2020 I saw people online saying they couldn't find Unique. I got online and brought one of the last 8 lb jugs from Brownells. Herco is a pretty good substitute for Unique.
 
Have not seen any Unique for over 2 years, up here in Cheddar country, but I still have 5 lbs of one 8 lb jug left, and 4 single one lbs left unopened. I use it in 9mm, 45, 38 sp., and 44 mag. but have other powders that get used too. It's good to be stocked, just need the primers fairy to come with the magic wand, and sprinkle alittle primer joy around in the next year or so. LOL Shortages are one thing, but never quite every like this before, with primers, and the ones I do see, the moons' the limit, for price.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

sisyphus
  • Locked
2400 vs Unique?
2 3
Replies
55
Views
2K
RealGun
RealGun
C
  • Locked
Anyone use Unique powder very often?
2 3 4
Replies
96
Views
7K
RugerOldArmy
RugerOldArmy
HighRoadRover
  • Locked
Unique Questions
Replies
12
Views
863
rsrocket1
rsrocket1
B
  • Locked
Looking for a heavy bullet .41 mag load
Replies
6
Views
227
bernie
B
R
  • Locked
Unique
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
bob barker
B
Back
Top