Beemer-mark
Member
Universal. As the name says, like Unique, it good for about everything. Meters way better than Unique. 30+ years reloading and I've never understood the love affair for Unique.
Unique Powder
- Thread starter jimmyj
- Start date
DWalt
Member
Probably the single most useful propellant available today for loading every handgun caliber is Universal. I have an 8 pound container of it. If you can find some, buy it. Also good for 20 gauge.
venomballistics
Member
It had a bit of an advantage with cast lead.
It's reputation for being flammable dirt seemed to work with bullet lube to create a layer of sludge that wouldn't allow lead fowling to gain a foothold.
Since coating hit the scene, I no longer require it's unique properties
I stopped by my LGS the other day. No Unique, but I've got enough of that for a while. I was looking for some AA#5, and a fellow on another site told me he was reducing his stash, and would give me a pound! We met, and he handed me the "Plain Brown Wrapper" I looked inside, and he had included a can of UNIQUE!
WOW! I offered to pay him, or at least fill his Harley's tank, but he pleasantly declined both offers!
I have been experimenting with HP-38, and AA #5. I was getting some strange indications from Universal, so I decided not to use it. The LGS had some BE 86, and I have a pound of it, but the cost was $54.
My last pound cost ~ $44. Otoh, HP 38 and AA#5 were $35/lb.
WOW! I offered to pay him, or at least fill his Harley's tank, but he pleasantly declined both offers!I have been experimenting with HP-38, and AA #5. I was getting some strange indications from Universal, so I decided not to use it. The LGS had some BE 86, and I have a pound of it, but the cost was $54.
My last pound cost ~ $44. Otoh, HP 38 and AA#5 were $35/lb.
I've gotten to be a real HP-38 fan. And I still have plenty of Unique, but when I'm out there are substitutes. If I experimented with like I used to I would REALLY miss because of the great amount of data concerning reduced loads for rifles and such.I stopped by my LGS the other day. No Unique, but I've got enough of that for a while. I was looking for some AA#5, and a fellow on another site told me he was reducing his stash, and would give me a pound! We met, and he handed me the "Plain Brown Wrapper" I looked inside, and he had included a can of UNIQUE!
I have been experimenting with HP-38, and AA #5. I was getting some strange indications from Universal, so I decided not to use it. The LGS had some BE 86, and I have a pound of it, but the cost was $54.
I'm saving all the Unique I have left for my Skeeter 44spl loads. I'm not shooting 44's much these days, so it should still last a while. I still use 231 for 148gr 38 HBWC, and will turn to HP-38 when that runs out. Still "fiddling" with Universal and BE-86, but getting good results with both in 38spl loads with 158gr SWC, not so much with 148gr HBWC and WC's, though. Local stores seem to have a lot of 244 and AA-5, at the moment.
SLT223
Member
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Trying to maintain stock of Alliant pistol powders has been a fruitless effort the past decade plus in my area. Seems to be most places. I don’t know or care what their problem is bc there are so many better stocked options now. CFE Pistol is a better powder for the Unique burn rate in my opinion. Try CFE. You will like it.
This might be helpful:
This might be helpful:
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Thanks for the chart! Interesting that Winchester 244 is just above Unique, and Hodgdon Universal is just below it. I have several pounds of Universal now, and see a lot of 244 on the shelves of local stores. Looks like either will be good replacements for the old "tried and true".
Beemer-mark
Member
Universal is very similar to Unique. I use it in calibers from 32-20 to 45 Colt. Meters way,way better than Unique. Used Unique for years but found better powders. Don't understand the love for Unique.
For years, Unique was... unique. Worked with everything. Yes, hard to measure, dirty, and yet totally reliable for many classic loads.
I have reserved a few pounds of Unique for .38 spl. Just finished a batch of .357 mag. and used Tite Group. Very pleased with the results and, so far, am using it for 32-20.
They say that “supply & demand” is the universal driving force in a free market ecomony.
Apparently, this is not the case when it comes to smokeless powder or primers.
Or, there are other factors at play that might cause us to reconsider the “free market” part of the equation.
Apparently, this is not the case when it comes to smokeless powder or primers.
Or, there are other factors at play that might cause us to reconsider the “free market” part of the equation.
I agree with you, 6string. Supply and demand is something learned in school, but it doesn't seem to rule for many commodities in a real economy. There are other forces at work. The demand portion of the equation is item-dependent. Are we talking essentials like food? Or non-essentials like various hobbies or entertainment? Look at gas prices. I can't say my usage is price dependent, and I think many of us would say the same. The supply side of the equation may be artificially manipulated, again like gas prices. For the equation to work, there has to be competition. If there's a single source or few sources - think utilities - the equation doesn't work. They can charge what they want. That's where government regulation starts to intervene. I don't like price control, but with single-source items, I understand it.
Smokeless powder is an example of an artificial market in my opinion. Supply is not fluid; it's artificially constrained. I suspect demand is relatively constant despite the grousing from me and many others. For a lot of us, though, we pay the price and just complain. Suppliers charge what they want, we pay the price and powders are here today gone tomorrow.
Smokeless powder is an example of an artificial market in my opinion. Supply is not fluid; it's artificially constrained. I suspect demand is relatively constant despite the grousing from me and many others. For a lot of us, though, we pay the price and just complain. Suppliers charge what they want, we pay the price and powders are here today gone tomorrow.
