Price for Unique Powder?

[6GUNSONLY]

I quit Unique years ago. Yes, its versatile, as the name implies, but so dirty. IMHO, there are better choices, especially given the scarcity and prices these days.
Went on a prairie dog hunt years ago and had a bunch of mid-range .357s loaded with Unique shooting them out of my old flattop Ruger. Grass was so high we were just driving around in an old Suburban shooting prairie dog targets of opportunity. I was in the back seat behind the driver, who was the ranch owner. I'd shot at a couple out my side window and the smoke was blowing back onto Frank, the driver/rancher. Frank says, "what are you shooting, black powder?"
I've had good luck with AA5 for mid-range loads And its good in .45 ACP as well, although I'm still working through some old stock of 700X in that application.

 

[RWJ]

I did a bunch of surfing on the 'net, and came across the following on a site called Shooters' Forum about dating these containers of Alliant powders using the 6 digits after the letter shift code. Anyone else heard of this?

This would make the Orange Labeled container I bought the oldest, which sounds logical.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/alliant-lot-date.4081302/

Well, based on the info you guys posted, I was able to talk him into $30 per pound

I did have to drive about a 150 miles round trip, so you have to figure in the cost of gas, which puts it right around $210 when all is said and done, so I'm thinking it was worth it, given its versatility for many cartridges

Thanks to all for the input - anyone know how to date the production from lot #?

All plastic 1 lb bottles, as follows:

641Z100814 Plastic, Silver label logo
615Z062212 Plastic, Silver label logo
647Y051315 Plastic, Silver label logo
616Z082912 Plastic, Silver label logo
652Z081916 Plastic, Silver label logo
606Z091211 Plastic, Orange label logo

 

[CH4]

If I really need it and he wouldn't go for $200 for all 6, I'd probably be willing to sweeten the offer up $40 a pound ($240 for all 6), but I'd have to need it pretty bad to go any higher than that.
There are better pistol powders than Unique, but there aren't many that can be used across such a wide variety of calibers and loading levels. It truly is UNIQUE in that regard.

This ^^^^

 

[Sal1950]

I did a bunch of surfing on the 'net, and came across the following on a site called Shooters' Forum about dating these containers of Alliant powders using the 6 digits after the letter shift code. Anyone else heard of this?

This would make the Orange Labeled container I bought the oldest, which sounds logical.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/alliant-lot-date.4081302/

You got one hell of a deal on that powder, congrats
I know your probably just curious be powder doesn't deteriorate within any reasonable time limit, specailly if its kept sealed. Enjoy it.
Happy 4th of July all.

 

[rockquarry]

You got one hell of a deal on that powder, congrats
I know your probably just curious be powder doesn't deteriorate within any reasonable time limit, specailly if its kept sealed. Enjoy it.
Happy 4th of July all.

It's good for many decades if properly stored. A few years back, I used several powders from the late '60s and early '70s (based on prices listed on the containers). Same with primers I received with the powders. All worked fine. Others have used older powders and primers without problems. Shelf life is pretty much indefinite. Keep everything in the original containers/ packaging and place on a closet shelf.

 

[Jul]

Rather than a criticism, a different perspective...

What's money for if you can't enjoy it? I'm sure I didn't pay much for Unique or any other powder in 1965, but I enjoyed handloading then and still do. Some have apparently figured out a way to take your funds with you when you die and that's fine for you, but I'll have no use for my money then...

Spend your money how you wish and I will do the same.

 

[rockquarry]

Spend your money how you wish and I will do the same.

Sounds good; I thought that's what we all did anyway.

 

[bph9]

I quit Unique years ago. Yes, its versatile, as the name implies, but so dirty. IMHO, there are better choices, especially given the scarcity and prices these days.
Went on a prairie dog hunt years ago and had a bunch of mid-range .357s loaded with Unique shooting them out of my old flattop Ruger. Grass was so high we were just driving around in an old Suburban shooting prairie dog targets of opportunity. I was in the back seat behind the driver, who was the ranch owner. I'd shot at a couple out my side window and the smoke was blowing back onto Frank, the driver/rancher. Frank says, "what are you shooting, black powder?"
I've had good luck with AA5 for mid-range loads And its good in .45 ACP as well, although I'm still working through some old stock of 700X in that application.

Actually the problem with it being dirty was addressed quite a few years ago but the burning rate was also affected. I had a lot of problems working up all new loads with the improved variation of Unique. All that is irrelevant now as Alliant is not selling powder to civilians anymore because all of their powder is going to the Russian/Ukrainian war. My buddy paid $100 for a 1lb can of Bullseye he found for sale and considered himself the luckiest man on earth.

 

[Skeet 028]

Actually the problem with it being dirty was addressed quite a few years ago but the burning rate was also affected. I had a lot of problems working up all new loads with the improved variation of Unique. All that is irrelevant now as Alliant is not selling powder to civilians anymore because all of their powder is going to the Russian/Ukrainian war. My buddy paid $100 for a 1lb can of Bullseye he found for sale and considered himself the luckiest man on earth...

Holy cow... I'd have sold all my Bullseye for that kinda price. I have almost as much Bullseye as Unique....and don't use Bullseye...When they reformulated Unique I never had to change anything as well as I can remember...and I didn't really consider it all that much cleaner. A question though ....did they also clean up 2400 in the same time frame??

 

[Sal1950]

Sounds good; I thought that's what we all did anyway.

I've known a few that squeeze the nickel till the buffalo craps.

Actually the problem with it being dirty was addressed quite a few years ago but the burning rate was also affected. I had a lot of problems working up all new loads with the improved variation of Unique. All that is irrelevant now as Alliant is not selling powder to civilians anymore because all of their powder is going to the Russian/Ukrainian war.

I also didn't find a need to adjust load but I wasn't using chrono back in those days.

Holy cow... I'd have sold all my Bullseye for that kinda price. I have almost as much Bullseye as Unique....and don't use Bullseye...When they reformulated Unique I never had to change anything as well as I can remember...and I didn't really consider it all that much cleaner. A question though ....did they also clean up 2400 in the same time frame??

As I already said, I also didn't find it much cleaner, my hands and guns would still be black after one or two hundred at the range.
I found Hodgdon's Universal a very acceptable replacement with an almost identical burn rate and still use a lot of it today. I bought a 4lb jug of it about 5 or 6 years back and still have about 1 1/2 lbs left. I've been wanting to try CFE Pistol and there is some around but I really to go to a gun show to pick up a pound or two.

$100 a pound, forgetabit. As others have mentioned there are alternent powders available for $40-50 lb that I'd use if I had too.

Lastly I use 2400 in a number of magnum rounds and never found it too dirty as in sooty, though it does tend to leave behind unburned flakes depending on how it's loaded etc. YMMV

 

[Jul]

I've known a few that squeeze the nickel till the buffalo craps.

That would be me

 

[shil]

Unique? What's that? I haven't seen any offered for sale in at least a couple years. Careful, though. Ascertain that, if you buy from a private party, the containers are still sealed. In your case, if the above criteria are met, $40 a pound would not be an unreasonable offer. Be prepared to walk away. The seller may be fully aware of the lack of supply.

 

[toad67]

It's a bit late now, but I just sold 7 pounds of Unique for $200 and a pound of Bullseye for $20.