Unique Powder ?

[youngda9]

I've been using Unique powder to reload .40 and some 9mm. I've reloaded and shot thousands of rounds of .40 with the stuf and it works great and shoots clean. I've only used it with jacketed bullets in these two calibers up until now.

I just started using it for my new 3" .357 (Ruger SP101) with a load of 9.0gr behind a 125gr Lead RNFP bullet using a small pistol primer(CCI 550). This is a really dirty load...and I don't know why. I got the load out of a book, worked up to the 9gr max load. This load kicks less than the factory 125gr Winchester Winclean load. It seems to emit a decent puff of smoke and the gun is coated in black soot after 50+ rounds. My left hand(the one I do all of the loading and cylander manipulation with) is black at the end of the shooting session.

Why is this powder so dirty all of a sudden? Do I need to use a magnum primer instead of a small pistol primer to ignite 9.0 grains, I'd formerly been using about 6.0-6.5gr for the .40? Is it something with shooting lead that is dirtier....could it be the lube that is burning off as well?

 

[68wj]

Interesting. Used Unique for .357 sig, .40, .44 mag, .45 acp, and now working a load for .41 mag. I have never had any issues with it being dirty, though other people tell me I should when they hear what powder I have used. I will be watching this thread.

 

[Tilos]

My guess would be bullet lube (your 1st lead bullet loads) and a revolver ("using it for my new 3" .357").
There is no cylinder gap to spit smooge in an auto ("I've been using Unique powder to reload .40 and some 9mm").

Just sayin'

Tilos

 

[cagwp]

I too use unique for my 38 s&w 6" revolver and it is also pretty dirty as well. I use 4.4grn WIN SP primer and a med crimp, this gives me around 850 fps vel. It does seem like switching to lead bullets has made this load more smokey and dirty. I am also trying to start to load for the 40 using unique powder and 140 grn MBC lead bullets. I dont know why this is happenning as well. Lets see what everyone thinks. CAGWP

 

[jmortimer]

Unique is normally used with sp and not spm primers. I use Unique for .38/.357 and for .45 Colt and never felt it was "dirty" but many do. That seems like a fairly "hot" load.

 

[Duckdog]

Unique is a staple of some of us cast bullet shooters and it can and usually is downright dirty, but it does an exceptional job in most any load I personally use it for. The newer cans claim to be "cleaner burning", but if it is, I can't tell.

As your finding out, it is extremely versitile, but the trade-off is the dirty burning. I can not tell you why it burns dirty, except that it is just how it is.

 

[youngda9]

I am just surprised because I always thought it was quite clean in my .40 cal autos.

 

[buck460XVR]

My experience with Unique is that if it's burning really dirty, you need to up the load.......but, your load is pretty hot already. I suspect that it may be the lube and maybe bullet fit. I had a friend who's Ruger had undersized throats and he had a heck of a time with lead bullets. Have you slugged your bore and throats? I shoot a lot of Unique in my .45ACP and .357s, both revolvers and carbines. I find it no more dirty than many other powders, but I only shoot jacketed or plated bullets.

 

[tlen]

Shooting lead bullets is dirty because of the lube. The cost savings over jacketed bullets IMHO far outweighs the added cleaning required.

 

[medalguy]

I think you're right about the lube. I shoot FMJ in my 45's and have had no issues at all with it being dirty. And I shoot a LOT in a 1928 Thompson. No more dirty than with any other powder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I am just surprised because I always thought it was quite clean in my .40 cal autos.

I'm guessing you are loading jacketed bullets for your .40 and 9mm instead of lead. Like said above, it's the lube which will cause a round to be "dirty" more than a powder will. Most powders especially Unique will be fairly dirty unless pushed up near the top of the pressure curve like you probably do in your .40 S&W. Since 9.0gr Unique in your .357 Magnum ammo is a fairly hot load I'm also guessing it's the lube, not the powder that's causing the dirt...

 

[youngda9]

Yes, only have loaded jacketed bullets in the 9mm and .40.

I haven't slugged my bore and I have no idea how to do such a thing. The bullets that I'm shooting are .358 in diameter.

I guess I'll chalk it up to the lube...The stainless is easy to clean it just makes for a dirty shooting environment. I'll throw a couple towels in my shooting bag to wipe down at the range.

 

[rscalzo]

125gr Lead RNFP

It's the lube burning snd not the powder. It's cleaner in the 40S&W because you are most likely using jacketed or plated bullets in your reloads.

 

[frankge]

I just loaded my .357 with 13.5g of 2400 and other than the fireball (which is cool) it shoots really clean, I am using a small PMC pistol primer. I have Unique and was gogin to try but I thought that magnums like more slower powders than Unique - which I use to load .38 special. BTW - using 158g Berry plated bullet right around 1200fps in the .357 - shoots really smooth and not too much recoil.

 

[oneounceload]

I used to use Unique for pistols and small gauge shotgun. When I ran out I tried Universal Clays - load data is VERY similar and it seems to be much cleaner burning, even in my shotgun barrels

 

[Tilos]

YoungDa9: before you slug that barrel

As you have discovered, revolvers and cast bullets are a different reloading animal from autos.

Open the cylinder and "slug" the cylinder with an UNLOADED bullet.
Try the bullet fit in the front of each cylinder throat from the front of the cylinder.

Remember, there is no forcing cones in the cylinder and if lead is being shaved off the bullet beacuse it is bigger than the throat, it is burned creating smoke.

I resize lead bullets to a slip fit in the cylinder throat and eliminate variations in bullets I buy.

There is a whole lot more to shooting lead thru a revolver and it can be a long technical journey depending on what you are looking for.

What I have given you is only a place to start to lesson the smoke and increase accuracy doing the simple things first.

There are many experienced people here that have the patience and knowledge to take you as far as you want to go.

Just sayin'
Tilos

 

[Ky Larry]

Unique is A.K.A. Flaming Dirt. I coat my lead bullets in ALOX. This seems to cut down on smoke and soot. I shoot mostly AA#2 and #5. Very clean and accurate.

 

[novaDAK]

I use Unique for almost all my handgun loads (9mm, .38, .45, and sometimes .357mag though I sometimes use 2400) In 9mm I use FMJ, the rest I mostly use cast lead. It's a bit dirty in .38 and .45, the 9mm is pretty clean actually. I thought it was because it was a higher pressure cartridge, burning the powder more cleanly, but when using it in .357mag with cast bullets, it was just as dirty as .38, so that theory was shown to be incorrect. I have some plated RN I'll load in .45, and compare it side by side with my LRN loads. I bet it will be cleaner with plated bullets.