Why so much Love for Unique?

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If I hadn’t tried Universal first (that was on the shelf, Unique wasn’t) my all around powder would have been Unique, but since Universal has filled that role for me so well I have seen no need to try something else. As for dirty vs. clean powder, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the function of the firearm during a range session I couldn’t care less how clean or dirty a powder is. The guns are getting cleaned either way.
 
Unique is universal but Universal is not unique.

There are lots of smokeless powders which will do what Universal does. Whether they do those things better, equally, or not as well is debatable (preferably in a new thread). However, what Unique does is truly unique. If anyone knows of another smokeless powder besides Unique which has published loading data for as wide a variety of pistol, revolver, shotgun and rifle cartridges as Unique, please let us know. Unique has been and still is used to load rifle cartridges - as examples, hunting, target, and gallery loads are listed for .30WCF, .30US, and .30Spgfld. To the best of my knowledge, there is no such data for Universal - or any other smokeless powder - published and proofed for use in handgun, shotgun and rifle calibers. I could be wrong.
 
It works for everything. Some cartridges better than others, but works. Been around forever as well.

Dirty? Not particularly in my case (no pun intended). I have heard this accusation, haven't seen it. I have noticed 'residue' from many powders; pistol to rifle. The residue from Unique is much like dust, it brushes off easily. Unless one sees no need to clean cases, it really isn't any sort of big deal. Smokey? All smokeless powder is smokey when loaded to lower than optimum pressures; usually burns fullest and most uniformly in the upper half - upper third region of the pressure curve. (See loading manual.) Meters poorly? Not to my way of thinking. I used it mostly to load 'hardball' duplication loads in .45 ACP. I typically use the Dillon (sliding bar) measure. I remember having powder weights vary by .2 grain in some instances; usually negligible results in shooting velocity or accuracy. I also have used a Pacific (interchangeable inserts for loads) Measure, a Lyman 55, a Frankfort Rifle/Pistol measure (adjustable rotating dispenser) and in the old days, weighing every charge on a balance beam. Even with no discernible weight difference, it shoots about the same.
 
I can usually find Unique when Bullseye or Win 231, last few years BE86, are out of stock, of course I am not talking about now as 2020 is really strange and IMO worse than any other time in 35 years of reloading.
 
Interesting topic, which made me start to think about the powder that work best for me in multiple cartridges.

When it comes to ratings we normally go on feeling instead of facts. My initial feel was that currently W244 works the best for me over multiple cartridges. To rank my powders I decided to only rank the cartridges I load most, and use their accuracy ranking to determine which powder works best for me.

Following are the top to bottom ranked powders that scored the best for me over the 4 cartridges:
BE86 107
CFEpistol 174
W244 235
Longshot 388
Bullseye 871
PowerPistol 874
Unique 1032

I did not expect the above results, since lately I have mostly been loading W244, then CFE Pistol, and then PowerPistol.

It seems I will have to look at my BE86 numbers again and determine why I have neglected my very good BE86 loads.
 
It's been said before.....Handloader Magazine even wrote an article about it once, but if I could only have 2 powders for everything.....one of them would be Unique. The other would be a rifle powder. I'm not alone with that. The writer of that Handloader article picked Unique for one of them too. Can't remember the rifle powder he picked....4350 or 4895, I think..... Not only is Unique versatile, it is safer than most. Powder measure loads may not be as perfectly repeatable as some other powders, but it doesn't matter. You won't be able to tell the difference on the target.
 
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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.
 
vaalpens said:
Interesting topic, which made me start to think about the powder that work best for me in multiple cartridges.

When it comes to ratings we normally go on feeling instead of facts. My initial feel was that currently W244 works the best for me over multiple cartridges.
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It's interesting you say that. I load for 4 primary handgun cartridges... 9mm, 45ACP, .41MAG, 45 Colt. Of those, the .41 and .45 get Unique 99% of the time (for pistols,) and something like IMR4227 the rest of the time (for rifle loads.) That leaves 9mm and .45ACP...

About 2 years ago I set off to find a replacement powder for both cartridges... thinking Unique was a little outdated, and in my 4" 1911's... not very efficient. Long story short, after working my way through about 5 different powders, I settled on W244 as the powder that worked best for me in both 9mm and .45ACP (with 200grn bullets.) What was interesting was the amount of tweaking I had to do to get them to settle down and show not only reasonable accuracy, but good SD numbers and a clean burn. It was actually quite frustrating. I never have that problem with Unique... dump the powder in, mash the bullet somewhere near the recommended OAL... and you have an excellent cartridge without all the fuss. So... I've come full circle... Unique still has it's place on my bench, now until the end of Time, and I've decided all the newer powders are not All That and a bag of chips.
 
And at my local reloading shop out here in the sticks in Wisconsin, guess what they have a few 8lb jugs of at this moment....... Unique!!!
 
Charlie98 said:
It's interesting you say that. I load for 4 primary handgun cartridges... 9mm, 45ACP, .41MAG, 45 Colt. Of those, the .41 and .45 get Unique 99% of the time (for pistols,) and something like IMR4227 the rest of the time (for rifle loads.) That leaves 9mm and .45ACP...

About 2 years ago I set off to find a replacement powder for both cartridges... thinking Unique was a little outdated, and in my 4" 1911's... not very efficient. Long story short, after working my way through about 5 different powders, I settled on W244 as the powder that worked best for me in both 9mm and .45ACP (with 200grn bullets.) What was interesting was the amount of tweaking I had to do to get them to settle down and show not only reasonable accuracy, but good SD numbers and a clean burn. It was actually quite frustrating. I never have that problem with Unique... dump the powder in, mash the bullet somewhere near the recommended OAL... and you have an excellent cartridge without all the fuss. So... I've come full circle... Unique still has it's place on my bench, now until the end of Time, and I've decided all the newer powders are not All That and a bag of chips.
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Yup, toss 8gr Unique in a primed .30 caliber rifle case, preferably one that fits your rifle, top with some kind of lead projectile approximately .308-.310 in diameter and, Bob's your Uncle! you may load and fire when ready, Gridley.

When I first started reloading, it was for a Ruger BH 4-5/8" in .357magnum. I used Unique and Bullseye exclusively because it was available and there were decades of loading data published for both. I late got a longer barreled RBH and a Marlin '94 to go with and started using 2400 in some "rifle-only" loads. Unique was still my standby for everything but "some" things BE and 2400 did just a little better. When I got my first 30-06, I loaded 8gr. Unique under a 150gr lead FRN-GC. It did a good enough job and shot flat out to almost 200 yards. In Florida, that's forever! ;) Then came IMR 3031 for jacketed bullets, then 4064 for farther than 300 yard shots, then... Well, you know how that goes. But Unique has NEVER been replaced, just augmented.
 
Versatility and a ton of load data for a variety of guns. Its like a beer you like, you drink that beer only, even though there are tons of beer you can try. You know when you drink your beer it will go great with a hamburger, a hot dog, and steak.
 
I found a can of unique among the belongings of "gun stuff" a friend brought me to look at from his late great grandfathers man cave. He wanted to keep the vintage can, but let me have the contents out of intellectual curiosity. There was a dated receipt from the early 1920s from Sears & Roebuck company, 2 ideal nutcracker loading tools for .38-40 and an obsolete rimmed bp round of heavier caliber (forgot the designation, but I believe it was for a single shot rolling block cartridge as the rifle is pictured with the old man), matching lead bullet molds for each. The powder appeared in good condition showing no signs of deterioration. I loaded a small number of rounds, reduced cast load, with the vintage and modern unique for a Mosin Nagant, and couldn't tell the difference in POI at 100 yards. Ely MN was essentially a frontier town in the 1920s, and his choice of Unique for low velocity cast loads in the old BP cartridges is absolutely understandable given the difficulty of resupply. There was also some UMC marked .30-30 and .38 spl brass in the box, and I suspect the same powder was used in those. Hard not to respect that.

I always keep a can or 2 around (currently 8 lbs I acquired pre-panic) due to the versatility factor. I only have 2 dedicated loads for it, but it can be used for versatile loads in absolutely every caliber and guage I shoot. I believe I could even push .22lr bullets with it. Nothing is as versatile, or as simple to develop reduced loads for. I put up with the sketchy metering and dirty shooting to a point, but I do have preferred powders for 9mm and .38 spl that use different powders. I've found the dirtiness to go away at higher pressures, and when you're stuffing 14 grains into a .30-06 case, a little metering error is not noticeable on a 100 yard target.
 
Palladan44 said:
First thing i want to let everybody know I plan on taking some backlash here for asking this question. Im also open minded, and im searching for answers. Maybe i can learn something.

Lots of Love for Unique out there, I know that its extremely versatile, but so are many other powders.

Its Smoky, Dirty, Meters kind of poorly because its such a large flake. Some say its smelly, others like the smell.

In my opinion Unique is nothing special, and I have other powders I like much better for any given application.

Does it simulate black powder for Cowboy shooting or something like that? Im just wondering if theres a secret that im missing.
Thanks guys!
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Versatility!
 
Unique & Bullseye powders are to hand loading, like salt & pepper are on the dinner table.
You can have a whole spice rack full special spices & seasonings, but salt & pepper just plain work good on everything.
Same goes for Unique & Bullseye.
 
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Somewhere, Unique is being sold as we speak, because yesterday they did an internet search, and found this thread.... no kidding
 
I use Unique because I've memorized the loads and am too old and lazy to memorize any new ones.

Honestly, there may be powders that are "better" for each of the handful of cartridges I use on a regular basis, but loaded with Unique they are more accurate than I am, cause no leading, are safe and consistent, and are easy on the gun. I'm not exactly sure what more I should want, so it's easy enough just to keep plenty of Unique on hand and call it done.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
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Is the can on the bottom right one of the old Laflin-Rand cans? Impressive display! :thumbup:
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No, it's a Hercules can, marked Wilmington 99, Deleware, so it's quite old. The other 13oz can next to it is newer, with an actual zip code. Believe it or not, there was 20grn of powder in the old can... I wonder if I can get 2 charges in the .41 out of it...? :rofl:
 
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