Opinions on unique powder?

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unique is one of those powders that you should always have a 1lb can around handy, just in case. You can load pretty much anything with it, pistol wise and I have also used it in 30-30 win. Not a favorite but very versitile.

Cheers.
 
I guess old habits die hard, having used Unique as the go-to powder for many applications. I even use it in my 32ACP. I find it very versatile.

NCsmitty
 
The only thing I have to add is that I have another 8 lbs of Unique on order. It's the only powder I use in all my pistols, but my 44 mag and it only eats H110.
 
Guys, if you use/like unique you owe it to yourself to try out clays universal. I used to use unique. Tried clays at the urging of someone that does handgun ammo for a living. He was right. I've never looked back. MUCH cleaner burning.

As a bonus the charge weights are almost identical.
 
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I'm actually thinking about getting 8lbs of Longshot, it works great for mid-range 357 loads and really pushes the 40 S&W with top performance. I'll keep loading with Unique, no doubt, but for high performance 40 loads, Longshot is impressive.
 
Unique

The name says it all I've used it in 9mm 38-357 and never found it to be dirty. Have found that people who claim how dirty and smokey it is are shooting lead. Have given Trail Boss (very bulky)some thought for 38/357 would be nice to see the powder level in these cases. Called Dillon to ask what kind of reports they been getting on the metering of it. Told me the SASS guys love it meters great. Will always have some Unique on the shelf.
 
Yes, I like Unique. Yes, it's the most versatile powder around. No, it doesn't burn as cleanly as certain other powders. But a lot of the "unclean" burning can be made to go away by increasing the charge weight. If this isn't an option, then the use of slightly heavier crimp, a magnum primer, or slightly heavier projectile or all three will usually make Unique burn no LESS clean than most other powders. I hope it's made for a long long time.
 
HS-6 is as versatile as Unique but it meters very well unlike Unique. It's also a very clean low flash powder. I have used it with good success in all 5 calibers you mentioned in your first post.

For handgun rounds I like and use W231/HP-38, HS-6, Lil'Gun, H110/W296, Power Pistol, AA#5, Longshot and a few others but have found HS-6 and W231 to be most versatile. I will not use Unique because it Doesn't meter well at all. The more I use HS-6 the more I like it!!
 
Angel, have you tried WSF powder? It's faster burning than HS-6 and slower than Unique, and it meters really well.

I wish Hodgdon's would publish more data for it. (I cautiously use Herco data)
 
Kostner,

I use Trail Boss in 38 spcl for my 125 gr Lead rnfp with I think about 3.3 or 3.5 or 3.8gr of Trail Boss (can't recall at the moment but I'll check my Bench Log tomorrow - PM me for a recipe swap)and I love it. I also use it in 30-30 with 165 gr Lead flat point and about 7.7 gr of Trail Boss.
I only shoot 125 gr XTP's with 21.0 gr of H110 in my 357 Mag though. I like the fire it spits, I love the B O O M !!!! and I like how other shooters stop and go "What in the Hell was that!!!???"

Cheers...
 
zxcvbob,
I've been meaning to look into WSF for a while now because I hear good things about it but I just can't bring myself to buy another powder right now. As you see from my above post I do have many!! LOL I also want to look into True Blue. I hear that's a good powder too but the same holds for it, when I use up some of the others I'll give it a try.
 
I've noticed the unburned powder all over my right arm shooting my 1911 loaded with Unique.

I notice the same thing with Unique in 45 LC. I switched to Titegroup, and that doesn't see to have that issue.

Mike
 
I'm going thru my 1-pounders of powder and trying to use up any that are less than half full. Reduce the clutter. Just finished up all my Blue Dot last week, and almost done with the Green Dot. I'm trying to get back to just using powders that measure well in a progressive press: Bullseye, WSF, AA#7, 2400, 296. Those 5 cover *all* the handgun bases (and the 2400 is redundant, you don't really need an intermediate step between AA#7 and W296.) Actually, I think you could do it all with just 2 powders: Bullseye and Power Pistol.

But I like Promo so much and it's so cheap I'll keep using it even though it meters like sawdust. It's also supposed to be good for reduced cast bullet loads in rifle cartridges.
 
I love Unique, but when I want a higher density "Unique" that is cleaner, I load Power Pistol. Aside from a little flash, I have been pleased by how well PP works in my usual Unique powered cast and jacketed bullet loads. Charge weights are very similar for similar velocities, accuracy is good and it meters like a ball powder. For some reason many think cast and PP is a bad combination, but IMO and experience this is not the case.
 
I've used Unique with 3.3 grains and 148 hard cast bullets with great results other then the dirty part. I just bought a lb of 231 to test. It meters better, but I haven't shot it yet so I don't know how accurate my rounds will be.

I've also had great results with 4 grains and 158grain hard cast bullets.

All have been low pressure and dirty, but accurate.
 
Lovesbeer99,
If that 148gr bullet is a DEWC try 3.5gr of W231 and you will be very happy. I am shooting a 4" S&W M686. I charge 4.1gr W231 under a 158gr LSWC with equal success. The only "dirt" I get when using W231 isn't from the powder but from the hard lube on the bullets.
 
for bowlin' pins with my 686 I like 7 1/2 grns under 158 JHPs. Easy on the gun, easy on me and easy on the pins.
 
I am a unique fan very versatile . Use it for most of my range practice loads for many calibers 9mm 45acp 45lc 38spc 357.I always keep this pwdr in stock.A little dirty but newer Unique seems to burn cleaner.
 
I used to use Unique, but now I use Titegroup almost exclusively. It seems to meter more uniformly in the Dillon and lets face it, UNQ is just flippin' dirty unless you're loading pretty stout +p type stuff to burn it all.
 
Marty -

Fact is, smokeless powder needs high pressure for a complete (clean) burn.

When the gun fires, the powder starts to burn, the pressure increases; the bullet leaves the case, the combustion chamber volume increases. Continued burning keeps the pressure up, but expanding combustion chamber volume keeps the pressure from rising too much.

If you want lighter loads and just decrease the powder charge to get there, then the expanding combustion chamber volume is likely to prevail. You get incomplete combustion and a dirty burn.

Instead of decreasing the charge weight, select a faster burning powder. That will get the pressure up and get the burn done in a shorter time, while combustion chamber volume is still small.

Conversely, if you want to increase the muzzle velocity do not try to get there by just dumping in more powder. The pressure will come up too fast relative to the rate of combustion chamber expansion, and you are in danger of an overpressure and blowing up yr gun. Instead, select a slower burning powder.
 
Unique is kind of dirty, and yes, it certainly does meter terribly. But I get great results with it in my 30-30 Win behind cast bullets. And I can get almost 800 loads out of a pound, so if you like to practice a lot it's a very inexpensive way to go.
 
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