A Unique experience

[anothernewb]

Read several times and places about how difficult unique is measure. I've been working up a load for 357 and 38, and decided to run some through the dillon just to see what I would be up against.

Set the charge for 4.6gr. Weighed it, 4.6 gr. weighed another one 4.6 gr. skipped 3 and weighed one. 4.6 gr.

put ten loads and weighed them 46.2 grains. Did 10 more - 46.1, huh. did that 8 more times - my largest deviation was .2 grains in 10 loads.

either my scale is broken, my dillon measure is fracked up, or it's not unique that's in the can, lol

 

[steveno]

how well Unique measures depends a lot on how consistent you are throwing the powder charges

 

[cfullgraf]

Consistency of operation is the key with flake style powders like Unique, but i understand the Dillon measure does well with flake powders.

Most of the folks that experience problems metering Unique use drum style measures.

I have good luck measuring flake powders, Unique and 700-X, with drum style powder measures and on with the Dillon measures on my Dillon SDBs.

 

[plmitch]

I use Unique in my Lee perfect powder measure and haven't had any problems with it.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

That's a problem we all wish we had.

What the secret?

 

[liscomb20]

4.6 to 46.2 that's a jump of over 40 grains . I'm sure it was just a misprint. . I also use unique and I have the lee auto disk and I also have only about a .2 deviation which is pretty good . Its all about being consistent .

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have loaded thousands of rounds using Unique and never had the problems some seem to report. I could get along fine with Unique being my sole pistol powder.

 

[plmitch]

I have loaded thousands of rounds using Unique and never had the problems some seem to report. I could get along fine with Unique being my sole pistol powder.

I agree, Unique is a great all around powder for my pistol, cast rifle loads and 12ga loads.

 

[87hurricane]

My Lee Perfect Powder measure does very well with Unique, never had any problems with it. I do have to watch it when I'm loading larger amounts in the summer when it's humid as it tends to stick in the powder funnel occasionally.

 

[anothernewb]

46.2 was 10 loads together weighed. I started weighing individual ones, then did batches of 10 to get an average.

 

[cfullgraf]

I agree, Unique is a great all around powder for my pistol, cast rifle loads and 12ga loads.

Besides lots of handgun, I load my 20 and 28 gauge shells with Unique.

 

[Constrictor]

for years ive loaded unique in my Dillon and just couldn't see what people were whining about metering. I throw neatly perfect amounts every time. then I tried loading some single stage with unique using a lyman powder thrower and using that thrower is where I saw the problem. I fully believe it all has to do with the powder thrower or the shape of the cavity in the thrower. the Dillon measure throws excellent charges of unique. I love me some unique!

 

[5thSFGroup]

A side issue about that powder is be sure not to leave it in the drop over night or longer. The older powder, at least, tended to work on the plastic....Yeah, I know..I should not leave it in the drop anyway....

 

[cerberus65]

I guess I've been lucky - metering hasn't been a terrible problem.

But getting the stuff to burn completely is another matter entirely! :banghead:

 

[Havok7416]

I use Unique in my Dillon a lot and have no problems with it. I also leave the powder in the measure and I haven't seen any problems with the plastic discoloring. Then again I have second-hand measures that already have seen a lot of use.

 

[James2]

I have had no problems with Unique.

As noted, consistency has a lot to do with the consistency of the operator.

 

[ETXhiker]

I use Unique in my Lee perfect powder measure and haven't had any problems with it.

Same here. I hear a lot of complaints about Unique, but it varies very little from my cheap Lee measure - usually either right on, or less than "half of a tenth" of a grain.

 

[ZeSpectre]

My measure is on a home made stand that has a fairly long "arm". As a result it bounces just a bit when I thunk the lever up and down. I'm convinced that's why I have no trouble with Unique and similar powders.

Well, unless I get down to small volume cases but then again I also think Unique sucks for itty bitties like .380 or smaller.

 

[BYJO4]

I've used Unique for 40 years and never had any issues. It's a great all around powder.

 

[goon]

I've been using Unique since I started reloading about 12 years ago and like most of everyone else, no problems. Except for the long dry spell when there was none to be had and I was hoarding my last half pound of it... that was a problem.

 

[TBH]

I asked a gunsmith what he would recommend for one stop shopping pistol powder. He handed me a pound of Unique. That was twenty years ago and I haven't looked back.
One thing I like is when loading most pistol cals., on a progressive press if you screw upand throw a double charge, you will have powder everywhere!

 

[rooster59]

For charges +/- 0.1 grain out of a RCBS Uniflow measure with Unique or any flake powder, try this:

1) rub the empty measure inside and outside with a dryer sheet.

2) use a baffle.

3) load measure 1/3 - 2/3 with powder.

4) tap reservoir with your fingers left side, right side 10 times. tap front, back 10 times.

5) drop 3 charges and put them back in reservoir.

Good to go, just try and be consistent with how you move the handle.

 

[rule303]

My Hornady LNL powder measure isn't very consistent with it, but my Dillon and both Lee powder measures work great with it. Between 28ga shotshells, and .45acp, .38spl and 9mm I use a lot of Unique, and don't see any reason to switch to anything else.