Is there a better way to meter Unique?

I use a Redding 10-X powder measure and get good results metering Unique. One of the keys is the consistency of operation. I like the 10-X so well, I modified one to use on my progressive.

The RCBS Uniflow powder measure with the small metering drum can do well as well as the RCBS Little Dandy powder measure. The latter is all I used for handgun for decades.

Of course if you want to spend some serious money, Harrell Precision Culver Style pistol powder measure should work very well. I have a Custom 90 for rifle it it does an excellent job on difficult to measure powders.

cfullgraf is right on about consistency of operation. No matter the powder measure, consistent movements and technique are necessary for consistent results. For example, if you tap the drop tube once on one throw, not on the next, and 3 times on the next, you'll likely get 3 different charges. I'm not saying you are doing this, but it might pay to take a close look at your technique and be certain that you are consistent.

Also be sure that you've eliminated static from the powder container and charge disk with a dryer sheet.

I don't use an auto disk at this point, just a Lee Perfect Powder Measure which I use with Unique and other small grain powders, but I have read a lot of posts of people happy with the consistent throws of the AD.

I also use the RCBS Uniflow measure and again the technique is to be consistent, never had a problem using Unique or for that matter Red dot, which is a really flaky powder.

You can drop Unique very accurately from a LEE PPM.
But there is a very steep learning curve to get to that point.

If you cant or don't have the time to poop with a PPM.
I recommend a RCBS Uni-Flow for flake powder.
I have two of them and I get very good results with flake powders.

I have to say, unique for me meters uniquely well from my lee perfect. very consistent.

It doesn't meter worth a crap in my Pro Auto Disk either. It is close enough in the Uniflow when I'm loading .45 Colt stuff, but I've went to Bullseye or W231/HP38 for .38 Spcl, .40 and 9mm because they are perfect in the Lee measure. Well, in mine anyway.

JRWhit - Have you checked it to see how much it varies?

I believe the Lee instructions call for running a pound of powder through the measure to coat it with graphite. A lot of work.

First, try I would wipe down all the surfaces with a dryer sheet. Inside and out, including the disc holes.

The depth of the die in the turret controls how far the lever slides the disk when the powder measure is activated by the case. If the entire hole in the disk is not open to the powder hopper, it will not fill completely. If the entire hole is not directly over the drop tube at the time the powder is dropped, there will be a ledge and all the powder will not drop.
This is probably the cause of most inconsistencies in the Lee auto disc. Try to tighten the brass nuts Firmly, but not Too Tight.

Some guys claim a small personal pleasure device" rubberbanded to the outside of the hopper can keep the powder flowing as well.

Use a dipper? Works for me...

DeadFlies said:

Use a dipper? Works for me...

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Yup. A 9mm brass soldered to a double length of copper wire... gets to the bottom of 8 lbs jugs.

Russellc

God I hope so but I've never found it. Had to quit using it. Maybe I just don't have the patience's with the wide variety of powders that's offered today. All three of my measures will give me up the .5 gr of variation on any given day.

Don't know what I was doing wrong but lost interest in it and moved on.

If you can make it work for you and good luck.

Unique works great with a dipper, I used a .380 case and just kept filing it shorter until it dropped the right amount. I start by putting 50 cases in a loading block, then I move a powder funnel from case to case with my left hand while dipping powder with my right hand. With a little practice you can charge 50 cases in just a couple minutes. I just verify that all cartridges have powder with a flashlight before seating any bullets. The same characteristics(light and fluffy) that make Unique difficult to meter through a powder measure, make it very consistent to dip. With a denser powder like hp-38 or power pistol, the dipper has to be lowered slowly into the powder and any excess scraped off even with the top edge of the dipper. Not so with Unique, I just run the dipper through the powder and shake off the excess before dumping it into the funnel. Try dipping some and weigh each dip, I think you'll be surprised how consistent the charge weight is.

I dont care what you try, your not going to get Unique to drop worth a darn from a LEE Auto Disk measure.
All you have to do is look at how the measure is designed to see why.
Its a big container, dropping through a small hole into a chamber, that then fills the disk holes.
No way you can control how the powder flakes land in the chamber, Then the disk.
You end up with all kinds of air between uneven flakes.

You can compensate on a PPM by tapping the measure on the up stroke and the down stroke to settle the powder flat.

The reason I like a Uni-Flow or equivalent with flake powder is because they are basically just a big funnel feeding the drop tube.
Once you have settled the powder and have a consistent weight of powder in the measure. Must keep it at least 1/2 full or use a baffle that you keep full above it.
This keeps the drop tube packed full. You will not get a error higher than your set weight if you've done it right.
Its not possible to fill it more than full.
The only error possible is light. If you have settled the powder and have a consistent weight above it.
You will have mitigated that chance by a wide margin.

My Uni- flows both do flake powder at less than a 20th of a grain variance. I think... Scales are only really accurate to a 10th of a grain. So I know for sure it is at least a tenth.

All that being said... To muddy the waters even more.
I have heard tell.
A reloader had attached a cell phone vibrator to his Auto disk and apparently that action helps to settle the powder flat improving the performance of his Auto Disk.
I have not tried it yet. No need my Uni's work too good.

I've never used an Auto Disc, but I did read somewhere that it doesn't measure Unique worth a crap. Even worse if you're using the adjustable charge bar. You can try tapping going up and down, using a scoop, or buying a uniflow.

Dippers work good with Unique. And the LPPM works good with a Up swing and to up bumps then a dump. If that makes any sense.

I have switched to a very fine sand powder for my Dillon 550 with pistols and revolver loading. I have also switched over to BLC-2 for all .223 loading. I like Unique in 9mm only so it doesn't make that big of a difference to me. I will be loading shot shells soon. So we'll see how that goes.

I load pistol on progressive presses and thought I was going to lose my sanity with Unique. I tried all kinds of things to make it meter better, none really worked reliably except for the last one.

Use up any Unique you have and switch to Universal. All your problems will be over and you'll have pretty much the same burn rate as Unique.

Unfortunately, not all measures can throw consistent charges of all powders as well as the Lyman #55 measure, when it's used properly, but fortunately, the range of comparable powders are extensive now, and we can pick and choose components that fit the situation and equipment that we have.

I continue to use Unique in many cartridges because of the #55's ability for accurate and consistent charges, and because Unique is so versatile. From 20ga shotshells, to 32 ACP, it can do it all. It was introduced in 1900 under the Dupont name, and is still going strong under the Alliant banner.


NCsmitty

Quote from fnbrowning:


The depth of the die in the turret controls how far the lever slides the disk when the powder measure is activated by the case. If the entire hole in the disk is not open to the powder hopper, it will not fill completely. If the entire hole is not directly over the drop tube at the time the powder is dropped, there will be a ledge and all the powder will not drop.
This is probably the cause of most inconsistencies in the Lee auto disc. Try to tighten the brass nuts Firmly, but not Too Tight.

This is EXACTLY the secret to the PAD. I say SECRET because it is nowhere in the instructions, and it seems very few know about it. I stumbled onto it by accident when I moved my PAD to another expander/flair/powder drop die. Using the same disk that had been very consistent on my other die, I began getting varied drops. Investigating, I found that the new die was not screwed into the turret as far as the other. That is when I found that that also moved the disk hole in relation to the drop hole.

It was introduced in 1900 under the Dupont name...

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I always thought Unique was originally a Laflin & Rand product.

I have used it for many decades in my Dillon 550 and I don't think the charges vary more than a 10th of a grain either way. All my tool heads are dedicated though so that may make the difference. I check the powder throw for the first 10 rounds of a run and a spot check as I go.

I love Unique, have loved it for years, and use it exclusively. I started handloading .32 ACP and the most variation I can tolerate is .1 gr and I cannot find anything that will measure Unique consistently at <.1 gr accuracy except a hand made dipper.

I have a GemPro digital scale and it actually registers within a couple of individual grains/flakes of powder....throwing a 3.15 gr charge is now down to about 15 seconds on the scale so I can charge 3 - 4 cases a minute and weigh every charge. Took me 15 minutes to charge the last round of 50.

I'll just stick to weighing them as I don't need to load in huge volume and can now charge 200 rounds an hour.

VooDoo

I always thought Unique was originally a Laflin & Rand product.

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I guess you can read Wikipedia as well as I can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_Inc.


NCsmitty

Arkansas Paul said:

It doesn't meter worth a crap in my Pro Auto Disk either. It is close enough in the Uniflow when I'm loading .45 Colt stuff, but I've went to Bullseye or W231/HP38 for .38 Spcl, .40 and 9mm because they are perfect in the Lee measure. Well, in mine anyway.

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I second the switching to W231/HP38. That stuff meters usually with less than +-0.05gr every throw in the Auto Disk. On my 150gr swc 9mm load it does ten throw groups between 29.5-29.7 every time.