Is the new "cleaner burning" Unique of today actually cleaner burning than the old Unique ? Just wondering if I should upgrade from the stuff I bought 20 years ago .

no reason to get rid of the old Unique. the new Unique might be a little cleaner burning but not much. I couldn't tell any difference in chronographing the old and new powder.

It actually does seem to leave less residue in the bore, but I wouldn't "upgrade" just for the slight benefit. Old Unique worked perfectly for about 100 years as it was.

I can see no difference in velocity between new and old either when clocking ammo with the exact same components across the chrono.

I will be more than willing to dispose of that old Unique safely for you.

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

I think that Alliant removed 37 particles of graphite per pound to achieve "cleaner burning". Same old good stuff in my experience.

I have been using Unique for 35+ years. I didn't know
there was a "new" Unique. When did it come out? I haven't
noticed any difference.

Joe

Sorry Treeman but you're wrong. I counted every particle of graphite in a 100 lbs of Unique and the average change was 38 particles less per lb.

I can't discern any change in performance between "old" and "new" Unique and also can't see any difference in cleanliness. I'm glad too as I liked Unique fine like it was.

Okay, I have to ask: If you haven't used the powder you've had for 20 years, why would you need to upgrade to the new stuff? If I had 20-yrear-old powder, I think I would have given up reloading long ago.

bmc eats the stuff for breakfast he likes it so much!

Makes him "regular"!

I mean, HE LIKES UNIQUE!

I'm a new comer to Unique. Been reloading for quite a while but just got on the Unique bandwagon. It is as dirty as Bullseye which has been around about as long if not longer. Both have their purpose and you should be cleaning your firearms anyway. They may just save your life one day!

There is one load for sure that I am SOLD on for Unique, 45 Colt. With my 240gr LSWC, 9.0gr is the ticket in my M25 -7.

In my limited experience, coupled with what I have heard from many, many Unique officianado's, if the pressure is kept towards the top, it is as clean as any other powder out there.

Just one thing I have noticed about the new Unique. It's big flakes MAY bridge a bit in some powder measures. I have a Lyman #55 that I have to open the shallow adjustment only to get accurate light loads with it, 5gr and under. Just a word of caution.

I would like to throw my hat in the ring for disposing of your 20 year old stuff for you too! Andy has had some real good ideas in the past, I like this one too!

I bought an 8 lb keg and still have 2 or 3 lbs left . And no it's not the only powder I use . I also have kegs of 2400, H110, 231,and Universal . That's the bulk of my pistol powders I use .Rifle's are another story . Been reloading for 35+ years .How about you ?

There's a difference? Really? Never noticed anything different.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

When the new Unique was introduced and reviewed in the gun rags it was concluded that it was cleaner when used in a shotgun.
However pistol charges are so small that there may be no noticable difference.
Why everyone is so concerned with dirty guns always amazes me.
Just clean them when you are done shooting.
No big deal!

Bruce

Right on Bruce!
I have never fired a gun that didn't get dirty, and with a handgun, one shot is all it takes for that.

I could care less about clean/dirty personally- at least until someone comes up with a truly clean powder that actually cleans your gun every time you fire it.

Yeah Skip;

Unique is a staple of my diet. Great sprinkled on eggs, grits, cornflakes. Starts the day off right.

Just don't combine it with beans. You know what they say about mixing propellants. Tried it in the .38 Special once. First and only time the .38 Special beat out the .220 Swift for highest velocity of any round. Least that's what the chronograph indicated on the first and only shot taken prior to disintegration of the instrument's screens. Could be said to burn dirty.

I have some old Unique.

and when I compared it to some 2005 Unique there just wasn't much to write home about. They shot pretty much the same velocity and I didn't notice one being any dirtier than the other. 5.5 gr with a 158 gr LSWC gave me around 1000 fps out of a 4" M&P (1949 model) with either one.

I love this forum!

For my handgun loading needs, I could live very happily with a whole lot of Unique and 2400. If I only got one type powder for loading my handguns it would be Unique. I load .38 / .357 / .44 Spec & Mag / .45 ACP & Colt / with a little bit of 9mm. I can get fairly good workable loads with Unique with all of those.