Substitute powder for Hodgdon's Universal?

N555 said:
Well there's nothing stopping anyone from buying probably a lifetime supply of CBI.
Looks like their prices are back to pre plandemic levels.
Be about $11 a pound after shipping and hazmat, at least that's what I paid for mine when I bought 32lb.
https://www.cdvs.us/product/cbi-pis...-four-4-jugs-for-a-total-of-16-lbs-of-powder/
Or continue to complain and make excuses as to why you don't have any powder.
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Looks interesting. Do you have a source for load data, other than the minimal test data they have on that page?
 
barnfrog said:
Looks interesting. Do you have a source for load data, other than the minimal test data they have on that page?
Click to expand...
What do you want to load? I have used it the most in 115gr 9x19 by far and a lot of 45acp.
For me 4.5gr under a 115gr barely cycles a 9mm didn't bother to check the velocity. That's my recommend start load, 4.5gr and should barely cycle or cycle weakly. Anything less than 5gr gave me failure to cycle. A full case, about 5.4gr gives me nearly 1,250fps in a 5.5 inch gun.
I only load 115gr with cbi in 9mm. It's the ultimate range ammo powder.
For 45acp start with 5gr for 230gr and it should barley cycle or not cycle. Velocity was 600 to 700fps. I run 6.5gr under a 230fmj that load is softer shooting than my full power unique 230gr loads. Velocity was around 850fps.
Also use it in hot 38spl rounds.
Next time I load 44mag and/or 44spl I'll develope a load and I was going to use universal data to give me a starting point.



Targa said:
So that’s where the last of the Unique is…:D
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Lots of unique if you don't mind paying $100lb. I have been using my 2018 keg to load rounds that are going to give me tons of shots per pound, like 147gr 9x19, only use 4gr per shot. I would gladly let some pounds of 2018 unique, 2019 AA9, 2020 H110 or 2021 made HP38 go for $50 per pound. Or 4lb of CBI for $100.
 
N555 said:
What do you want to load? I have used it the most in 115gr 9x19 by far and a lot of 45acp.
For me 4.5gr under a 115gr barely cycles a 9mm didn't bother to check the velocity. That's my recommend start load, 4.5gr and should barely cycle or cycle weakly. Anything less than 5gr gave me failure to cycle. A full case, about 5.4gr gives me nearly 1,250fps in a 5.5 inch gun.
I only load 115gr with cbi in 9mm. It's the ultimate range ammo powder.
For 45acp start with 5gr for 230gr and it should barley cycle or not cycle. Velocity was 600 to 700fps. I run 6.5gr under a 230fmj that load is softer shooting than my full power unique 230gr loads. Velocity was around 850fps.
Also use it in hot 38spl rounds.
Next time I load 44mag and/or 44spl I'll develope a load and I was going to use universal data to give me a starting point.




Lots of unique if you don't mind paying $100lb. I have been using my 2018 keg to load rounds that are going to give me tons of shots per pound, like 147gr 9x19, only use 4gr per shot. I would gladly let some pounds of 2018 unique, 2019 AA9, 2020 H110 or 2021 made HP38 go for $50 per pound. Or 4lb of CBI for $100.
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The OP is looking for Universal or a similar substitute. To reiterate @barnfrog s question, is there published, verified, tested loading data for CBI which demonstrates it’s a good substitute for Hodgdons Universal? If so, a link would be helpful. If not, then let us - and the OP - know that he will have to experiment with no data to find a tame and extremely precise .357 load with it.
 
.45Coltguy said:
$100 a lb for Unique!? Not a chance I'd pay that. My LGS still has 28 1lb'ers of Unique@$35.00 per lb. 2400 is $36 per lb.
No Universal to be had.
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I too have found Unique for considerably less than $100/#. And as recently as this week at Natchez and Precision. As has been posted on the “Where are reloading components…?” threads. Universal has been harder to find but Silhouette, WSF, Accurate No.5 and Green Dot - all fairly good subs for Universal - have been available. I’ve also seen True Blue but I’m not fond of it in target .357 loads.
 
I tried a pound of Universal in the 45 LC and it did not cluster as well as Unique. Never saw a reason to change.

Unique is one of the most versatile pistol powders around. Assuming you can find it.

If you can't and if it is around, try AA#5 a ball powder. It shot well in the 38 Special, the 44 Special, the 45 ACP, the 45 LColt. I am still burning up a keg in my Tisas and Charles Daily 1911's.

ILMAL6u.jpg
 
I'm sure liking all this love for Universal. I had never shot it when I bought 2 8# jugs for around $75 ea. I immediately grew to hate it as I couldn't drop consistent loads from my Hornady dropper. After multiple. failed devices to avoid hand-dipping each round I bought an Intellidropper dispenser. It's become my absolute favorite tool in my loading room. It just loves to dispense Universal, with amazing accuracy.
So now I'm trying Universal in everything I shoot, but still have a bit of a mental hesitation due to my earliest experiences.
As to the shooting results...the only really disappointing loads are in 40 S&W under 135gr Sinterfire Frangible bullets. So glad I bought 16 lbs...basically, a lifetime supply.
 
I have seen unique precisely 2 times at "retail price" since late 2019.
But I haven't been looking under ever stone for it as I have 6 or 7 lb left in my 2018 keg.

Targa said:
Very true. As for me, at that price it might as well be non existent, no way the stuff is that good.
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If the price doesn't come down I'm content to never buy it again.
Unique for $40+ per pound or cbi for $13 hmm mm yeah. Unique is great but it's not 3x as good as CBI.
Assuming I buy 16lb next time not 32lb.
 
Sorry to hear about metering problems with Universal. Fortunately, I have had no such problems with a Lee Perfect Powder Measure or a C-H 502. When on a roll I often get around .1 gr. variations, and occasionally less, in either powder measure...
 
Universal meters rough enough in my Hornady and RCBS measures that I no longer use it. Many similar powders run much smoother for me and I use those instead.
 
I like Universal for midrange pistol loads. I worked up a load for .44-40 in my rifle and exhausted my single pound of powder.

My local Cabelas had a pretty good stock of Winchester 244 which is adjacent to Unique on the 2023 Hodgdon chart. When I find time I will load up some ammo and clock them.
 
mdi said:
Sorry to hear about metering problems with Universal. Fortunately, I have had no such problems with a Lee Perfect Powder Measure or a C-H 502. When on a roll I often get around .1 gr. variations, and occasionally less, in either powder measure...
Click to expand...
As I mentioned, Universal poses no issues at all from my FA Intellidropper. Before that I was getting as much as 1gr variations. I've gone back a few times to try it out in a manual dispenser, just testing to see if it was a clumping issue. I don't bother any longer. In fact, there are few reasons for me to consider my Hornady dispenser. Very happy for the folks that found success with their own droppers. That said...if I ever invest in a progressive press I'll have to find a dispenser that works for my wide variety of powders.
 
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