Why so much Love for Unique?

[Otto]

Because it's been with us since the year 1900.

Yeah but it’s not the same powder.
Hercules reformulated it in the 1960’s and there was talk in the gun rags of KB’s associated with the change but no recalls were made.
Circa 2000, Alliant also reformulated Unique (aka “Flaming Dirt”) to better compete with Hodgdon’s new Universal. Unique’s burn characteristics were changed to be less position sensitive and cleaner. Some shooters felt the new formula yielded higher velocities for the same charge weight compared to Hercules. I switched to Universal because it performed better in my pistols with higher consistency but I think Unique excels In revolvers.

 

[rfwobbly]

Yeah but it’s not the same powder.

Of course it's not !! Manufacturing techniques have changed radically, several times since 1900. Do you really think you're drinking the same Coca-Cola as your grand dad did ?

I made my comment only to suggest that people generally buy based on a comfort level associated with a product's name.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

If the OP doesn't think it is special, then he should look elsewhere.

I use it because it works w/ all pistol calibers and can even be use in rifles for plinking loads.

 

[Riomouse911]

In 25 years of reloading for my .38-.357-.41M-.44S-.44M-.45C-and now .32H&R revolvers (and some for rifles), Unique has never failed me.

I have a shelf lined with pounds of more specialized powders for specific applications, and other pounds I’ve bought and tried in order to compare against it, but nothing does so much of what I want a handgun powder to do than Unique. I don’t know why, or how, but for me it just does work.

Stay safe.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

In 25 years of reloading for my .38-.357-.41M-.44S-.44M-.45C-and now .32H&R revolvers (and some for rifles), Unique has never failed me.

I have a shelf lined with pounds of more specialized powders for specific applications, and other pounds I’ve bought and tried in order to compare against it, but nothing does so much of what I want a handgun powder to do than Unique. I don’t know why, or how, but for me it just does work.

Stay safe.

I use other powders to conserve my supply of Unique.

 

[Riomouse911]

If the OP doesn't think it is special, then he should look elsewhere.

I use it because it works w/ all pistol calibers and can even be use in rifles for squib loads.

I sure hope you meant plinking loads... I’d hate to load a squib load for anything .

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squib_load

Stay safe.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I sure hope you meant plinking loads... I’d hate to load a squib load for anything .

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squib_load

Stay safe.

Yes, thank you.

 

[Fishingted]

Started using it when I found out that a local bullet manufacturer was using it almost exclusively for all there pistol caliber ammo. I have tried a lot of different powders in my 10mm Glock 40 MOS. Titegtoup will not run it even at max load and Stock Barrel. I have a lot of different Barrel configurations for that gun. A 9 inch Lonewolf, a 6.25 inch threaded barrel with a compensator, and a Meckteck Conversion Carbine Too. All these barrels tend to reduce Recoil. Which can also cause cycling issues. Unique has been My go Too powder for target and plinking because it will run all the different barrel and even the rifle set up without excessive recoil or Jamming. In the compensated Barrel the casings roll out nicely and I don't have to Chace them all over the range LOL. I have also Loaded 45 acp and even some shotgun loads with it. My brother Loads it in 9mm as well. I wish it metered better in my Dillon 550. It is also reported to not be as pressure sensitive as faster burning powders. Doesn't do everything perfect but does a lot of things well.

 

[orionengnr]

I have a couple pounds, and have used it once in a while....everything from .380 to 10mm.
But to be honest, it has never really impressed me.

As a previous poster said, does a lot of things well...but none of them exceptionally.
If I could only have one powder, Unique would probably be at the top of my list

But I am not (currently) so constrained, and have a number of powders that each work very well for their assigned purpose.
And therefore, Unique sits on the shelf, unused.

 

[kBob]

It is the perfect lower case “s” survivalist powder.

you can make pretty darned good pistol and shotgun rounds ( except .410 & 28) with it and you can make a better than nothing rifle round with it


In its ability to load safely such a wide range of cartridges... well, It’s Unique!

-kBob

 

[cfullgraf]

you can make pretty darned good pistol and shotgun rounds ( except .410 & 28) with it and you can make a better than nothing rifle round with it
-kBob

Unique works great in 28 gauge as well. Alliant is is pushing their 20/28 powder these days so there are not as many new recipes for Unique and the 28 gauge as there used to be.

When I was competing in skeet in the 1990's. Unique is the only powder I used in my 28 gauge shells.

 

[Random 8]

It's the carbide framing circular saw blade of powders. Might not be the most efficient or smoothest, but you can cut anything

 

[wcwhitey]

Give me a pound of Unique and I can load you a good accurate powerful round of just about any pistol or revolver cartridge from memory. Still my go to powder and if I had to have only one, Unique would be it. Its at its best in factory duplication loads. I am one of those nostalgic guys I guess, that is why I still load .38/.357, .44 Spec/Mag and .45 ACP with it.

 

[ericuda]

Loads everything and I especially like the broad range from max to min.

 

[derek45]

It's a classic and it works very well

 

[Constrictor]

I have many powders in my stash but unique is at the top of my list.

 

[ThomasT]

If I had just two powders on hand it would be Unique and 4895 of one brand or another. With those two I can load all my handguns and all my rifles. Maybe not the hottest of loads but good enough to get me by. I have several handgun powders but nearly always use Bullseye, Unique or 231. For magnum loads I prefer 2400 over 110 or 296.

My favorite 357 midrange load is 6.6grs of Unique and a lead 158gr bullet. It gives around 1100fps and works well in every 357 I have shot it in. Unique works well in upper range 38 Special loads too. For light loads I just use Bullseye or Titegroup and sometimes AA #2.

And if I ever see some Universal on the shelf I will buy a pound of that to try. I just ordered 5lbs of Clean Shot and would have ordered some of the Ultimate Pistol if there was some in stock.

 

[Reeferman]

Unique was always my go to for 45 Colt but have been using Herco for awhile and it’s really working well.

 

[PapaG]

Although I have many other powders all my handgunning needs can be met with Bullseye, Unique and 2400.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I like it because it has a great case fill for most of the small pistol rounds I load, which makes it a great teaching powder. Three grains of TG in a 38 is hard to see and not something I want my 12 YO touching. 5 grains of unique in a 9mm is perfect and you could almost just scoop a case full and still not be stupid dangerous. So from a mentor aspect it reduces fear and let's you focus on the entire process.

This is the first powder I ever bought because I learned that an overload is nearly impossible for 9mm, because of the case fill. I now load rifle too, but that example has made me very aware of checking powder levels. Great lesson learned.

The wide scope of functionality was the #2 reason, i.e. shtf, or lack of availability of other powders situation(s).

 

[peeplwtchr]

I use other powders to conserve my supply of Unique.

Hahahahaha.