Is Unique inherently difficult to work with?

[jski]

On another thread (".45 Special loads") the issue of Unique powder has come up. The claim is that it is difficult to work with, i.e., it's difficult to accurately measure because of the size of the flakes. So I thought a separate thread for this issue would be worthwhile.

I use the ol' reliable RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure. Will this cause problems with accurately measuring Unique?

 

[thomas15]

Try it and see how it works for you.

 

[jski]

Not to worry, I have every intension of using it in my .45 Special. But I'm always willing to learn from others.

 

[ATLDave]

I don't think it's difficult to work with. It's difficult to get to meter to very precise weights. But since most are using it for mid-range or plinker loads, rather than loading near-max or as bullseye rounds, that's not a big deal.

My main use for Unique is for .41 magnum rounds in the power level of the old police loads - well back off of max. So a window of, say, 8.1-.8.5 grains isn't a problem. They all shoot about the same, and more accurately than I can hold offhand.

 

[BigBore44]

Unique isn’t difficult to use. It doesn’t “meter” to the 0.1 of a grain. But it’s also a powder that doesn’t need to.

 

[Charlie98]

I had some problems very early metering Unique through my Hornady powder drop... I traced it back to static in the plastic powder hopper, which would probably affected any light flake powder, not just the Unique I was using. After 20 years of running all sorts of powder through it, I don't have those problems...

Like the others mentioned, a little weight disparity isn't that big of a deal (+/- .1grn) I would suggest that if you are loading right up to max (my idea is anything within .5grn of max) or you are loading for development or such, you should be weighing each charge anyway.

Unique gets a bad rap sometimes... it's dirty, it doesn't meter, it's not as economical as X powder... all of which are probably true in some instances, but I've been using Unique since Day 1 in my reloading, and I don't plan to change that, even given some new competition from other companies.

 

[jski]

Just checked. All their (Alliant) Dot powders (Red, Green, Blue) are flake powders with an average diameter of 1.5 mm (0.06 inch). The same as Unique.

 

[someguy2800]

I've never really had a problem metering flake powders. The powder just needs to be jostled a bit to settle it in the drum. With a uniflow measure I get in the habit of double tapping the handle on both the up and down stroke. Sounds simple but its just enough to get the powder to settle a bit in the drum. Works with stick powders too. Unique is not a spiky powder so +/- .2 grains on an 5 grain charge is not that big a deal. I don't have a problem getting +/- .1 in both my measures.

 

[ATLDave]

Unique is not a spiky powder so +/- .2 grains on an 5 grain charge is not that big a deal.

I think this is a point that many miss. We're not talking about Titegroup here.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Unique meters just like any flake powder, not great. As has been mentioned +/- a tenth isn't usually a problem.
It's such a versatile powder, I always have some on hand.

 

[BigBore44]

You want to see hard to meter, try 800-X.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

There are probably half a dozen handgun rounds for which I endlessly experiment with different powders.
If I used Unique for all of them no target would know the difference.

 

[Walkalong]

Metering? Shoots better than it meters, don't worry about it.

Accuracy? It is usually easy to find an accurate load with it in a variety of applications, thus the name.

 

[brewer12345]

You want to see hard to meter, try 800-X.

I hear all the complaints about that stuff, but I have no issues getting it to meter well for 20 gauge shells and it is the bees knees for heavier/hunting loads there. As a bonus, it tends to result in low pressure shells, so any variance in powder drop is not a big deal. It was also the only shotgun powder I could readily get during the shortage without paying truly stupendous prices.

 

[sourdough44]

I use Unique a fair amount, usually modest loads in large cases, 45 Colt or similar. In general, I prefer H Universal in that burn range. It's very close to Unique in performance, meters better, data is commonly available for many popular cartridges.

 

[rg1]

Someguy2800 above gives some great advice on using the RCBS Uniflow with Unique or other flake powders. A couple light pecks of the handle on the up and down stokes is important. Settles the powder and insures an accurate and complete drop. Drop about 10 or so to verify your weight and to settle the powder. Keep the powder hopper at about the same level. Don't let it run nearly empty. A powder baffle in your hopper may help consistency? Main thing is to operate the same every drop. Same force of pecks, same speed of pulling the handle. Check the dropped powder weight every so many rounds.

 

[mdi]

I haven't heard of any experienced reloaders having trouble with "dirty, hard to meter" Unique. I normally use two powder measures, a CH-502 and a Lee PPM. For some powders the Lee is better and for others the CH is more consistent. My CH is slightly better with Unique than the Lee. I clean my guns after each session so "dirty" has no meaning. I have fired a couple hundred rounds of Unique charged 45 ACP in my 1911 and it never stuttered once, not dirty enough to slow down the action. I have used Unique for more different rifle and handgun cartridges than any other powder in the last 30+ years, and I have no "problems"...

Each powder I've tried has it's "quirks" but Unique has very few and it's universal use overcomes them all...

 

[joed]

The only problem I ever had was in my Dillon powder measure. I was getting squibs because Unique would bridge and not drop into the case occasionally. That's something that I prefer not to live with.

I used it for many years and people swear by it, but there are better powders on the market, I switched to Universal. Unique is also a very dirty burning powder and left a soot on my guns. I've not noticed that with Universal.

 

[Charliefrank]

I've never really had a problem metering flake powders. The powder just needs to be jostled a bit to settle it in the drum. With a uniflow measure I get in the habit of double tapping the handle on both the up and down stroke. Sounds simple but its just enough to get the powder to settle a bit in the drum. Works with stick powders too. Unique is not a spiky powder so +/- .2 grains on an 5 grain charge is not that big a deal. I don't have a problem getting +/- .1 in both my measures.

I do the same with mine. My older Lyman has a metal knocker on just for that

 

[Peakbagger46]

I use Unique for my Glock .40 with plated bullets. It meters poorly enough that I weigh each charge.

Excellent accuracy out to past 50 yards makes up for the inconvenience.

 

[Toprudder]

With my Dillon measure, I would strap an aquarium pump to the hopper. The vibration helps settle the powder more consistently into the charge bar. This helps with quite a few powders that are hard to measure, 800x is the worst by far that I have tried.

I tried Unique, and while it works well across many calibers, I found other powders that worked as well and meter much better (BE86, for instance).

 

[Catpop]

Nope, I love it just as much as universal. Burns clean for me on top end just like 4227 does.

I've heard it called 'flaming dirt" for some reason- maybe because shooting low to midrange loads- which I don't--anymore.

Try it you'll like it-- just like mikey!

 

[blue32]

Its difficult in that it will not throw precise charges. If I want to get 4.5 gr. out of my Dillon measure I may get +/- .1 here and there. But like others have said, the versatility of its operating range makes that a moot point. No other powder lets me load 32 auto to 357 mag, shotshell, and modern bottle neck rifle cartridges like Unique. It is the most accurately named powder on my bench.

 

[Blue68f100]

The RCBS Uniflow is what I had when I started hand loading. Unique would not measure accurately for me and others. It averaged ±0.1 gr or larger swing, 0.2 gr was not uncommon. At the time I was loading for small sized cases 380acp. It was just too much of a drift for my liking. There are other powders that preform the same or better that meter accurately. If your dealing with a large capacity case the deviation is not going to be noticed.

I haven't heard of any experienced reloaders having trouble with "dirty, hard to meter" Unique.

Been loading for over 40 years do I qualify as an experienced hand loader??????

 

[GW Staar]

Been using Unique for 45 years.....often called the most versatile powder made. But I wouldn't know because I don't load shotgun, and never tried it in rifles, but I've been perfectly happy with it in .45 ACP and .40 S&W. I find it accurate, reliable and forgiving. Trickle for exact loads if you want, but most can't tell the difference. Those who enjoy the sharp recoil of faster powders may not like it.