Unique, good "do it all" powder for beginner?

[dbarale]

I'm new to reloading. I only want to reload 38/357 and 45ACP.
I'm looking to get: 158SWC to 800fps in .38, 1050fps in .357 and 200SWC to around 800fps for the .45ACP.
I would like to use one powder for all, readily available and consistent (inexpensive would be geat too...). It would be nice if it also filled the case enough to make a double-charge clearly visible.
From what I've gathered Unique seem to fit my requirements, is there an obvious better choice or does it sound OK to most.
I am NOT looking to get sub-MOA at 200yds, just safe loads for plinking.

Thanks,

 

[Roadkill]

I started with Unique and it did just fine for what I was shooting at the time. I switched to RED Dot for a hotter faster charge in a Luger, use it exclusively now.

 

[rnovi]

Unique is absolutely superb for what you want to do. It's a bit on the dirty side, but otherwise is a wonderful powder.

You will be just fine with Unique.

 

[tbtrout]

Unique will work. I use Win 231 for the calibers you listed and it works very well. As a side note IMR Trail Boss works very well as a 38 target load. Clean Burning as well.

 

[Eagle103]

I started a while ago with Unique. It's a very good all purpose powder and it burns clean. I still use it but my go to powder lately is Power Pistol which is also a good all around powder IMO.

 

[earplug]

Single stage or progressive?

I use Unique and other faster burning powders.
I recently switched to a RCBS Pro 2000 progressive press.
When I used a single stage I would charge 50 cases in a loading block and then check them under a light. Easy to see a double charge or empty case. Double charge a case to see the differant level.
I have been real happy with my Progresive press and the RCBS lock out die.
What i'm trying to say is don't chose your powder based on it being idiot proof. A visual check is better.
Unique is fine, there are better specfic powders for your needs.

 

[GRIZ22]

The only two pistol powders I normally stock is W296 (for hotter magnums and M1 carbine) and Unique and I could really do well just with Unique. I load 380, 38, 357, 44 spl, 44 mag, and 45 ACP in handguns and although faster powders would be cleaner especially in the smaller cases Unique does fine.

Buy the 4# size and your price per pound goes down significantly.

 

[Idano]

Powders are like cars everyone has their preference and I happen to prefer Unique for my pistols . I am running moderate loads; 5.5 gr with a 115 gr PHP in the 9 mm and 6.6 grs with 165 gr PHP in the .40 S&W. These loads fill the case over 60% make double loads slipping by are impossible. Also the loads can easily tolerate a .5 gr deviation should something go wrong with my powder measure between load checks. I check my powder dispense every 25th round on my progressive and I only occasional see a 0.1 gr deviation which I consider good.

 

[GooseGestapo]

IT'S TERRIBLE STUFF.
INCREDIBLY ADDITICTING.
STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!!!!!........

I first tried the stuff when given a pound of it for my 14th birthday back in 1970. Along with a 25lb of #6 shot, a 250ct bag of 20ga wads, 300 shotshell primers, and a Lee 20ga shotshell loader.

One whiff of that stuff, and I was HOOKED for life.
Withdrawal symptoms are trimbling hands, pacing the floor, fidgiting, twitching index fingers, and looking out the window to see if it's "shooting or hunting weather", and checking the cabinet to see if you're running low again.
Overdose symptoms are a sore shoulder, delayed onset muscle ache, headache, dizziness, or something like Viagra...........
(from recoil, twisting and turning to hit targets, muzzleblasts, and toting a gun around all day, and bending over and picking up spent cases/shells).

Now, 37yrs later, I own 40+firearms, 5 or more loading presses, and $$$$ in loading equipment and components.

-I've spent thousands of ill-spent hours reloading pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammo just to get another "snort" of that stuff. About 4 hours today reloading. I even progressed on to other things such as "bullet casting".

It even caused me to seek out friends who also were "hooked". I even went to college and sought a degree and pursued a career that allowed me to be in constant contact and presence of the stuff continuely. Now that I no longer "work" for a living, I'm still continually using the stuff. As time has gone on, I have to increasing have more and more of it to attain my "fix" or fill of it. I've even gone on to use newer more powerful substitutes such as "Universal".......

It's terrible, throw it down and run.........
(just let me know where you're going to "throw" it though!!!)

 

[RecoilRob]

Unique is a really versatile powder and will do what you want but I'd offer one caution: It doesn't always meter accurately through some meters.

Due to its' large flakes, it can bridge in the meter and throw light charges which can cause a squib. Been there and seen that....

WW231 is also able to do what you ask with the advantage of excellent metering properties. It isn't as 'fluffy' as Unique and will not take up as much room in the case but a double-charge is still visible and noticeable if you look.

And, seriously, if you're worried about double-charges you have some problems with your technique that NO powder can overcome.

On a single stage press, I charge the case from the powder meter on my left and place it directly in the press for bullet seating. No case gets in the press without being charged that way and each case gets one stroke of the meter....along with a quick visual check on the way to the press.

Unique works well but you DO have a potential variable using it that you might want to eliminate with the 231. If you are carefull, you will do fine with either.

 

[dbarale]

Thank you guys, I'll be reloading on a Lee Classic turret. I got four holes turrets with three dies sets. I rigged a mini Maglite on the "empty" hole between charging and sitting the bullet so I can check each charge.
Slow will be fine for me. 200 rounds in 3 to 4 hours is my goal, safety first.

Thanks again for your help everybody, sorry for yet another newbie question.

 

[db_tanker]

Bah...ask them...believe me, I am sure that those on here would rather answer a question than read about a fellow shooter/reloader having a KB and removing a hand, eye, etc...


Unique was one of two bottles of powder I first bought...the other being RL-7...


found that Unique made excellent light loads in a 30 WCF as well as light loads for 44 and 45 winmag.

As RecoilRob hit on, it can be a bit of a PITA when using certain powder measures. Some "greybeards" I have spoke with told me that a 22 short case with a wire hanger handle makes an excellent dipper. They were too cheap to buy the Lee Dippers. They work pretty good when you run charges by volume. just be sure to keep a powder scale handy to make sure your throwing the right charges. My lyman powder measure hasn't had too much trouble with the powder, though.

A fun thing is to take a plain base cast bullet that is heavily lubed and load it with a case of Unique...voila! you have ammo that is almost as smokey as a BP load! did this with the GF's 38 special...kinda worried her

I don't use it much nowadays, however...mainly for light loads in my 45-70 and 30 WCF using cast bullets. Pistol gets either 231, Bullseye or Trailboss.

D

 

[Walkalong]

Don't forget about Universal Clays. The "other" do it all powder. Cleaner as well.

 

[highlander 5]

+100 on Universal Clays use it a lot for 44 spl and 45 Schofield and standard 45 Colt loads

 

[bobaloo]

For another twist I happen to like Power Pistol. I use it in 9mm, 40, 45 and 357 loads. You can load from light to very hot with it and it is a fairly bulky powder that fills the case well.

 

[TooTaxed]

I started with Unique, but have found that Win #231 works excellently for everything from 9-mm Mak through .45 Colt...including .38-Spl, .357 Mag, and .45 Auto.

Avoiding a double charge should never be a problem if you are using a single stage press...always turn the case upside down to inspect the primer seating immediately before loading the powder.

 

[Stanley Greenman]

I have found that Titegroup works really great for .380- 9mm-.38/357 and .45 ACP, but don't tell anyone, need to keep the price down.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I use Unique in my 40 S&W loads and it has given me excellent results.

 

[Master Blaster]

Unique is excellent with plated or jacketed bullets, I like it in 9mm with plated or jacketed bullets and its very clean with a moderate to full power load. With cast lead or in a very light load its filthy and smokey. If you are loading target loads with lead, Trailboss is THE powder to use, clean accurate low recoil, it shines with lead bullets!! It also fills those .45 acp, .44 mag and .45 colt cases so there is no chance of an undercharge or a double charge!!!!

Universal clays is also good for .357 magnum with jacketed bullets, but again filthy with lead, not quite as bad as unique though.

 

[MCgunner]

Unique is, well, unique. In .38, .45, 9mm, you can load mild to hot loads with it. In 9mm, it's one of the better +P powders and what I use. I shoot Bullseye a lot more in light stuff, but Unique will do light stuff, too. It is a bit dirty and not quite as economical as Bullseye. But, it's a good all around powder for these calibers. If you wanna go hot in a magnum like the .357, you're going to have to go slower, like 2400, W296, AA#9, that sort of powder. I reserve my .357 brass for hot 2400 loads and shoot .38 brass/light loads in 'em for light charges. One of my favorite .38 loads, a slight +P load and relatively powerful, is 5.0 grains of Unique under a 158 grain cast SWC. It's sort of an old standby and it works very well. Fired from a .357, it has a little more rock and roll than a light wadcutter load, feels more like a real caliber. And, it's accurate and slaps the pepper poppers down with pretty good authority. It's quite a bit easier on K frame .357s than full power .357 magnum stuff, yet it has some punch to it. It might be a little rough on non=+P rated alloy J frames, but not nearly as rough as a hot +P load. I used to shoot it a lot in a Rossi M88 and that gun probably had 8-10 K or so of those loads through it when I sold it and was still tight, timed perfectly, and accurate. It wasn't +P rated, but was steel framed, so I didn't worry a lot about the unique load wearing the gun much.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I think Hodgdon's Titegroup is a little better than Unique and fills the same rolls. My reloading is mild .357s, mild .38 Super and target loads for .45acp.
Titegroup burns cleaner, shoots straighter, and most importantly to me it meters perfectly from my Redding 10X powder measure.
I think that's probably why I get such good accuracy from it.

 

[RustyFN]

Titegroup is my favorite powder right now but I have been hearing so much about Power Pistol that I am going to have to try some. If you are going to use Unique in a Pro Auto Disk then you want to use the disk and not the charge bar. The charge bar has trouble meetering Unique accurate.
Rusty

 

[Master Blaster]

Titegroup is fine powder, but one of its drawbacks is the very small volume it fills in the case, this increases the possibility that you will accidently double charge a case. I only use it in 9mm now, and .32 acp for that reason, its a fast burning target load only powder in larger cases like .38 spl, imho.

The other drawback to it is that the residue when used with lead cast bullets is that it leaves a sticky hard to clean residue.

Trailboss good for lead, Unique and Universal clays, or even 231 for moderate velocities with jacketed bullets

 

[Ndenway]

I started out using unique for lead loads in 38/357, 45acp and 45lc, but switched to using red dot, red dot burns much cleaner and gets the same to slightly better velocity as unique with lighter charges, whichs means its cheaper to load with.

 

[StrikeEagle]

Unique is my favorite single powder. It does it all for handguns, and even makes a credible showing in Magnum rounds. Though of course, slower powder is better, Unique does ok.

In many cases, Unique is not just a 'good' choice, but perhaps the BEST: .38 spl, .45 ACP, .45 Colt.

And it's not just a beginners' powder. You'll never outgrow it.