UNIQUE-Am I missing something?

[MyDads38]

Was at the LGS yesterday and they happened to have 4 lbs. of HP-38 on the shelf. I bought all 4 lbs. @ $19.99/lb. I didn't really need it (have 16 lbs. of W231), but at the price, I couldn't leave it. They also had 10-1 lb. bottles of Unique on the shelf for the same price. I've never been a fan, since I only load target/range ammo in standard calibers (38 Spec, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 auto) and have Bullseye, Red Dot, W231, TiteGroup and 700X on hand.

Honestly, I'd prefer to find more Bullseye, I have good luck with my other powders; but the price keeps me asking myself if I should buy some anyway? Another LGS has primers on sale @ $25/1,000 and that makes more sense to me than buying the Unique. So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

 

[Engineer1911]

Do a cost analysis to determine the cheaper load. Six grains of Unique versus four grains of W231 will be a higher cost powder charge for Unique. I use Unique in 44 mag loads that give more than adequate "Umph!" for shooting paper compared to the cost and power level of Win 296 or AA #9.

You might find out that it doesn't make much difference in cost when your "on hand" powder inventory is multiple pounds of powder.

 

[Skeet 028]

Heck, if you are loading paper target loads stick with what you have. Contrary to what some will say about Unique not throwing consistently... it has been and is a great powder. The best?? Nah I use much of it but much for shotshells in 20-28 ga. Blowing holes in paper? Unless you want more than target loads use the RD GD 231 HP-38 and their ilk. Cheaper and easier. At 25 bucks buy primers. You can have all the powder you want but you'll need the primers and that is a good price now. Powder has really come down in price. I bought 2 pounds of CFE 223 yesterday at Wally World at 22 bucks + 88 cents tax per. Their primers were 35 or 36 per M. But I have at least a hundred M...Buy primers!

 

[scooter123]

I would pass on Unique, the only reason I have 2 lbs. in my stash is because that is what everybody recommended when I started reloading. Found out really quickly that it meters so poorly that if you want consistent velocities that you need to hand weigh every single charge thrown. My preference as a replacement for Unique is Vihtavouri 3N37. While it is at least 50% more per pound than Unique it meters wonderfully and gives me excellent results. And while I do enjoy the reloading process I find it much more enjoyable when I can charge 300 cases in the time it would take to charge 50 cases using Unique.

 

[g8rb8]

..... So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

Hope elbow joint replacement becomes perfected.

 

[rwsmith]

There seem to be two camps....

People that like fast powders because they are more economical. Also they can be pushed to fairly warm loads. Being on a tight budget I'm a fast powder fan.

People that won't touch fast powders because of potential damage from overloads.

Since you do a lot of target shooting you naturally want to keep a stock of Bullseye, Titegroup or similar powder, not for economy but for it's fine performance in target shooting. It sounds like Unique is 'optional' for you. With the variety of powders that you use already there's no particular advantage for you in you having Unique.

I can get 2500 .38 target loads from a pound of Bullseye. I get about half as many general purpose loads using Unique.


The reason I like Unique is that it's a great general purpose powder AND its versatility in both pistol and rifle loads. Therefore, I keep some in stock.

 

[da gimp]

Unique has always worked consistently thru our RCBS powder thrower & our Dillon 550B's powder throwers... if I consistently operate the handles of either with the same amount of force each time...but this is true of every powder & powder thrower.. if you are not doing things the same each time, I suspect your results will be sporadic with nearly anything.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

Unique is like the stack of wood I keep around. I don't have a fireplace, but one day I might want a fire...

I can find a load for any center fire handgun I own that uses Unique and it will generally preform quite well.

 

[linde]

. . . So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

I'd seriously consider building an underground powder magazine . . . about seventy-five feet from the house!

 

[feelinlucky]

Unique is pretty good for less-than-full-house 44 magnum loads.

 

[glenwolde]

I've never been a fan either. I went through a couple of pounds and never found it to be the most accurate.

With faster powders you're probably throwing and average load of maybe 5 grains? With 75# of powder you'll need something on the order of 100,000 primers. No sense buying more powder if you don't have the primers for it.

 

[glenwolde]

Contrary to what some will say about Unique not throwing consistently...

If he's using 700X I doubt that's an issue for him. 700X is the worst metering powder ever.

 

[4barrel]

Like rwsmith said--Unique is about the only powder you can use in pistol and rifle of about any caliber.

 

[Gamecock]

I started using Unique 40 years ago for shotshell loads. When I drifted into loading for handguns, the Unique I already had was immediately useful.

The reason I like Unique is that it's a great general purpose powder AND its versatility in both pistol and rifle loads.

Rifle loads ???

 

[rwsmith]

Indeed.....

I started using Unique 40 years ago for shotshell loads. When I drifted into loading for handguns, the Unique I already had was immediately useful.



Rifle loads ???

Besides the pistol caliber rifles it is great for reduced loads in many calibers. Like I mentioned before, I don't keep it for just being a good powder, but for what you can do with it.

 

[MyDads38]

If he's using 700X I doubt that's an issue for him. 700X is the worst metering powder ever.

I bought 2 lbs. Of 700X because I found it during the "shortage". I haven't opened either container and probably won't, unless I just want to give it a try. At that time, if Unique had been on the shelf, I would've bought it too.

I remember in the early 80's, when I first started reloading; I had a can of Unique for my 357 & 44 mag reduced loads. Since I no longer shoot magnum calibers I stay with faster burning powders for target/range plinking loads. I guess I will leave the Unique on the shelf and stock up on more primers and bullets. Since the election, ammo/components seem to be more plentiful and staying on the shelves longer-evem 22 LR!!

And with app. 75 lbs. On hand, with charge weights from 2.8 -5.0 grs., I'll be okay for a while

 

[Bosquebass]

If you have all that HP38/231 you really don't need any Unique. They both work about the same for me in handgun loads with the Unique being much more difficult to get accurate weights with my powder measure.
Both of them have been around forever so there are about as many loads published for one as the other.
So go buy the primers!

 

[apollo99]

There are a lot of powders I prefer besides Unique, If I only had a choice of one powder it would be Unique. It is the .38 special/ 308 Winchester of the Powder world.

 

[Ed Fowler]

I liked the old formula Unique, when they changed it to the new Unique I only burned one can then switched to 700X. Have shot about 90 lbs of 700 X and really like it.

 

[oldgranddad]

If you can get large and small pistol primers for $25/1000, load up. I'm still seeing $35-$40/1000 before sales tax at the big box stores like Sportsmans Warehouse, Bass Pro and Academy. Prices are higher at the LGS.