Yarddog
Member
Started with it and it will always be on my bench, Unique that is ; )
Y/D
Y/D
Is there a better powder than Unique?
- Thread starter ssyoumans
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steelerdude99
Member
ssyoumans,
When you get the charge you want in the cartridge, Unique works fine. It's a just a challenge to get the charge ya want. As you have some win231, it's just a matter of trying it. HP-38/win231 has many loads for it and meters much better on the auto-disk than Unique. I don't like that unique is a flake powder and does not meter all that well. The inter round differences can be .1-.3g with the small charges vary the most. One more thing, Unique is shotshell powder as its primary usage. Its secondary use is in handguns. See the web site:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/unique_handgun.aspx
chuck
When you get the charge you want in the cartridge, Unique works fine. It's a just a challenge to get the charge ya want. As you have some win231, it's just a matter of trying it. HP-38/win231 has many loads for it and meters much better on the auto-disk than Unique. I don't like that unique is a flake powder and does not meter all that well. The inter round differences can be .1-.3g with the small charges vary the most. One more thing, Unique is shotshell powder as its primary usage. Its secondary use is in handguns. See the web site:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/unique_handgun.aspx
chuck
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Blue68f100
Member
Unique does not meter worth a flip on a progressive where you can't do multiple taps to settle the powder.
Any thing better , YES ... WSF, WST, 231 and more.
If you only using one powder your leaving a lot on the table.
Any thing better , YES ... WSF, WST, 231 and more.
If you only using one powder your leaving a lot on the table.
I must being doing something wrong. Unique meters great for me, even on the Hornady progressive and I do not wrap and tap the measure. 700-X is meters great on my Dillon.
Must be all the moonshine vapors in the East TN atmosphere.
AA#5 shoots as good as Unique, meters better in my powder measure(don't have a progressive press), and burns much cleaner. Therefore I don't see how I've got my priorties mixed up.
New Unique is not dirty. A few years ago, Alliant cleaned it up quite a bit. Old Unique wasn't called "Flaming Dirt" without a reason. Now that was some nasty stuff.
New Unique is not dirty. A few years ago, Alliant cleaned it up quite a bit. Old Unique wasn't called "Flaming Dirt" without a reason. Now that was some nasty stuff.
This is exactly the kind of advise I listened to when I bought a pound of Unique. Best thing going for .45 Colt, they said.
So, I loaded up my first 50. Throws were +/-0.5gr. Utterly frustrating. The fans said not to worry, it'll be OK... The highest ones were at max for standard pressure, but I was shooting them in a Ruger, so at least they were safe.
Velocities were all over the place from 750fps to 925fps, as you might imagine (4" barrel). I didn't even bother calculating the SD.
It's just the Pro AutoDisk, I told myself, but my other (also a Lee) powder measure won't do any better than +/-0.2gr. But I'm not going to go spend a bunch of money on something wlse, when it's the ONLY powder I have an issue with.
And who sits around and taps on their powder dispenser all the time? That must be maddening.
With Universal, the most a throw is ever off is 0.1gr, and No.7, well, I'm just surprised if it's ever off. (BTW No.7 has been my most accurate powder in the .40S&W.)
Also, I love the comments the NEW CLEAN Unique. After years of shooting Universal, I was surprised at the mount of crud. I can't even imagine how dirty it used to be... I have to knock out all the crud left in the cases before I put them back into my ammo boxes.
For the record though, I have no doubt that Unique works well for them, and does everything they say. God love 'em (the Unique fans). I'm not one of them. I guess I have different priorities.
... Oh, and Hodgdon Clays for the .45 ACP.
zxcvbob
Member
That's what I find so fascinating about this thread, and the related "Powders you love" and Powders you hate" threads that are going on. There are powders that I hate that other people love, and vice versa.
(Unique works well for me in hot-loaded .380's and in .38 Special +P. I haven't tried it anywhere else yet, but it should be good in 9mm)
OP
OP
ssyoumans
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Alrighty, thanks for all the input.
For now, I think I am going to try the W231 since I already have some. I feel it will work pretty good in 380 and 45 ACP, but wasn't as sure about 40S&W or 9mm.. Seems like it gives up a lot of velocity compared to other powders, but I'll give it a try.
I think I am also going to buy a lb of AA#5. I don't see anyone really saying anything bad about it really, maybe a little temp sensitive.
I don't have any plans to completely abandon Unique, as I still use it for mid-level 44 Mag and a few others, just thought it was time to get off the Alliant powder train that I've used for years (Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, 2400), and try some others.
I looked at the Ramshot powders, and I like them for my rifles (TAC & Hunter), but I couldn't figure them out from the powder burn charts. Some charts had them faster (Ramshot & Hodgdon), some had them much slower (VV). I may come back to them at a later date.
For now, I think I am going to try the W231 since I already have some. I feel it will work pretty good in 380 and 45 ACP, but wasn't as sure about 40S&W or 9mm.. Seems like it gives up a lot of velocity compared to other powders, but I'll give it a try.
I think I am also going to buy a lb of AA#5. I don't see anyone really saying anything bad about it really, maybe a little temp sensitive.
I don't have any plans to completely abandon Unique, as I still use it for mid-level 44 Mag and a few others, just thought it was time to get off the Alliant powder train that I've used for years (Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, 2400), and try some others.
I looked at the Ramshot powders, and I like them for my rifles (TAC & Hunter), but I couldn't figure them out from the powder burn charts. Some charts had them faster (Ramshot & Hodgdon), some had them much slower (VV). I may come back to them at a later date.
steelerdude99
Member
ssyoumans,
Don't forget about the loads offered on the Hodgen/IMR/Winchester site (see http://hodgdon.com ). It does not have the best user interface, as it gives a web browser error rather than saying that "you did not agree to terms".
But anyhow, here goes: Under the data pull down, select reloading or loading OR the "click here to enter the Reloading Data Center". [ Different ways to get there ]. In the middle of the page, you'll see "By clicking the 'I Agree' button, I understand/accept and will agree to abide by the precautions and warnings outlined below. " Click agree and then read the terms. The concept of that in and of itself bothers me, "agree" ... and then see what it is you agreed to. If you click on the Cartridge or Shotshell loads before agreeing, it will give ya 404, file not found web browser error. After that, select pistol or rifle and then the cartridge (e.g. 40 S&W, 9mm Luger ...) and then click "get data". After that you can further filter by selecting powder, bullet ... I found six WIN231 recipes for the 40 S&W.
Good luck,
chuck
Don't forget about the loads offered on the Hodgen/IMR/Winchester site (see http://hodgdon.com ). It does not have the best user interface, as it gives a web browser error rather than saying that "you did not agree to terms".
But anyhow, here goes: Under the data pull down, select reloading or loading OR the "click here to enter the Reloading Data Center". [ Different ways to get there ]. In the middle of the page, you'll see "By clicking the 'I Agree' button, I understand/accept and will agree to abide by the precautions and warnings outlined below. " Click agree and then read the terms. The concept of that in and of itself bothers me, "agree" ... and then see what it is you agreed to. If you click on the Cartridge or Shotshell loads before agreeing, it will give ya 404, file not found web browser error. After that, select pistol or rifle and then the cartridge (e.g. 40 S&W, 9mm Luger ...) and then click "get data". After that you can further filter by selecting powder, bullet ... I found six WIN231 recipes for the 40 S&W.
Good luck,
chuck
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Bigdog57
Member
I once tried Unique in .38 Special (Ruger Securitysix) and .45ACP (Colt M1911A1) -I promptly deposited the remainder in my garden.
Whoever coined the term"Flammable Dirt" was dead on right. It gummed up both guns to the point of failure. I keep them clean, and cleaned while shooting that day. No help. Just plain garbage, in MY personal experience. Other loaders like it. Just didn't work for me.
I bought twelve pounds of Bullseye - it's my 'goto' powder these days. Much mo' betta!
Have had good performance from the old classic, Red Dot. My Number Two 'go to' powder.
Whoever coined the term"Flammable Dirt" was dead on right. It gummed up both guns to the point of failure. I keep them clean, and cleaned while shooting that day. No help. Just plain garbage, in MY personal experience. Other loaders like it. Just didn't work for me.
I bought twelve pounds of Bullseye - it's my 'goto' powder these days. Much mo' betta!
Have had good performance from the old classic, Red Dot. My Number Two 'go to' powder.
Jim Watson
Member
Use the 231.
You have some and it works.
I have loaded most non-magnum handgun ammo with W231 (or the now identical HP38) since the CH rep recommended it over the large flake 700X in my first progressive. I have tried this and that but always gone back to 231.
There is one exception, it is fine in everything from .38 wadcutter to +P, 9mm and .45 power factor loads to hardball. But it is erratic in powderpuff loads like midrange .45s.
I am at present using Solo 1000 (touted as the Cheap VV N310) but it does not meter very precisely even with the aerator trick, not much better than 700X. I have some Clays and Bullseye and will see if they do better for the 700 fps stuff.
You have some and it works.
I have loaded most non-magnum handgun ammo with W231 (or the now identical HP38) since the CH rep recommended it over the large flake 700X in my first progressive. I have tried this and that but always gone back to 231.
There is one exception, it is fine in everything from .38 wadcutter to +P, 9mm and .45 power factor loads to hardball. But it is erratic in powderpuff loads like midrange .45s.
I am at present using Solo 1000 (touted as the Cheap VV N310) but it does not meter very precisely even with the aerator trick, not much better than 700X. I have some Clays and Bullseye and will see if they do better for the 700 fps stuff.
Master Blaster
Member
You know, today I went and looked up the 200 LSWC .45 load data in Lyman 49. They don't even show a load for Universal (clays). The top two accuracy loads are 6.0 gr bullseye, and 6.0 gr W231. I have found Lyman picks good powders for the loads they publish. Hodgdon does have a load for universal in their annual manual. Some time back I tried it and had very poor accuracy. Maybe I should try it in 9mm with jacketed bullets to use it up.
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