Unique in 9mm - Compressed Charge?

[Dudey]

This is my first post to this forum. I've been handloading for about 6 months now - 38 Special and 45ACP using HP-38. My 9mm ammo inventory is running low, so decided to start loading that. And, I haven't been able to find any HP-38, so I picked up a lb of Unique. Got some recipes from the various loading manuals and decided to try working up a test batch, starting with 4.6 gns under a Berry's 124 gn plated round nose, with Winchester brass and Remington primers, loading to COL of 1.120" (and then to 1.150"). Got everything all setup and noticed as I was dialing in my powder measure for 4.6 gns the case was much more full than I am used to seeing with the 38 Special and 45ACP. So, I got the calipers out and took some measurements. I calculated that this Berry's bullet will seat about 0.22" into the case (0.59" bullet length, less 0.37" sticking out of the case when seated to 1.120"). A rough measurement of the depth from the case mouth to the top of the charge indicated a measurement of about 0.17". Which means that the bullet will compress the charge by 0.05" when seated. Of course, if I seat the bullet to 1.150", I will gain 0.03" more room, but it is still compressed, and all this with a "starting" charge weight of 4.6 gns.
Before I proceed, am I missing something? Again, this is my first experience with loading 9mm, so maybe this is the norm. Any comments for this newbie would be most appreciated!

 

[rcmodel]

No, that's just how it is with fluffy Unique.

I'm using 5.5 with 115 Berry seated 1.120".
5.0 with 124 Berry seated 1.120".
6.0 with 115 Hornady XTP.

rc

 

[1KPerDay]

FYI if you're using MBC smallball you'll likely have to seat them deeper than "normal RN" bullets to pass the plunk test. I have to seat mine to 1.088" or so.

Start low and work up slowly, as always.


EDIT: NEVER MIND... I READ BERRY AS MISSOURI BULLET for some reason

 

[Dudey]

Thanks. I loaded a few small batches and fired them. 4.8-5.0 gns Unique under the Berry's 124 gn at COL 1.120" seemed to be the sweet spot - much tighter group than the Win white box 115's I shot as a reference comparison.

 

[TfflHndn]

Several of the Alliant powders are "fluffier" than others. HP-38 is more dense by quite a bit, as are Accurate powders and several of the Hodgdon and IMR powders. Many folks like fluffier powders for safety, being much harder to double charge unnoticed. Performance-wise, I like Unique better than HP-38 for 9mm because it is a slower burning powder. I stay away from the fastest burning powders in small high-pressure cartridges like the 9mm, unless I'm loading light (bullet and velocity). HP-38 is better suited for .38 and .45, in my opinion.

 

[Potatohead]

Yea Im having better success with the slower section of 9mm powders myself.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I've used a lot of unique for 9mm loads in various bullet weights. Unique is a great powder for 9mm as long as it plays nice with your powder measure. It is a very forgiving powder. A small amount of compression is normal for most loadings.

My unique loads all nearly identical to rcmodel's loads. I just load slightly longer and about .1-.2gr heavier.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I load 124 gr. Berry's flat noses with 5.0 gr. of Unique seated just a teeny bit shorter than RC. I love Unique for 9mm, .380, and .32. Don't worry about the "compression" it's just the way it is with Unique. It's fluffy. I have shot thousands of 124 gr. 9mm with 5.0 - 5.3 gr. of Unique and never had an issue.

VooDoo

 

[rcmodel]

+1

I'm afraid to post what 'I used to load' under 115 Sierra & Hornady JHP's!
But I shot them in a S&W Model 39, aluminum frame & all, for a lot of years.

Lets just say I dropped back 0.5 grain a couple of years ago for no good reason, except easier on the old gun & me in our remaining years.

rc

 

[iShoot17]

I think another interesting part to this whole thread is..

You've been loading for just six months and have your hands on HP-38 AND Unique?

I do believe Keller, TX was just added to my list of place to visit sooner than later!

 

[3GunEric]

I use Unique as well and it is "filling." Fired 1000's of rounds w/ MBC 124Gr. Seems smokier
than other powders.

I wonder if Unique Flakes settle in the case like Corn Flakes settle in the box?

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I load with a scale and weight every charge and one of my checks after doing 50 cases is to look straight down on the cases with a bright light to see if the levels are all the same or if one is *way* different or there is no powder at all...just a visual check.

Ever notice that if you do this visual and then gently tap the loading block to "settle" the powder how much the level drop? If you tap it gently a bunch of times it will settle about 10% or more at my house. The little flakes start to lay flat (like cornflakes) and take up less space. I like the fact that Unique fills a 9mm/.380/.32 case way up. Seriously I think I could almost charge by eye now and be pretty close....

VooDoo

 

[Dudey]

iShoot17: Actually, I bought a couple of pounds of HP-38 at the Dallas gun show last fall while I was saving up to buy a press. The Unique I bought on GunBroker last month at "desperation" price. But last week I was able to pickup some TiteGroup and Some CFE Pistol at Cabelas, so I'll be working up loads for those for 9mm, 38 Spec, and 45 ACP.