LouisianaJoe
Member
I use Unique for .357,44mag,.454,45acp, 45Colt. I use Bullseye for .38 wadcutters and 45ACP
Opinions on the best general use pistol powder?
- Thread starter Mark in GA
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sheriffoconee
Member
I hate to be the first to say Unique, but someone had to step up
bmcgilvray
Member
Actually, it meters pretty well through Bryan's pepper shaker. I KNOW he uses it on his Post Toasties! That's how much he likes it!
I have found in life that there is no "one size fits all", reloading is no exception.
Oh Skip, Unique's not just for breakfast any more.
While it's good on the Post Toasties and in the scrambled eggs too, Unique goes with most every meal. Provides a little zip for peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Great on sardines with crackers. Adds zest to a garden fresh tossed salad. Try it just once in the cheese sauce poured over steamed broccoli. Grilling fans, try a mixture of garlic salt, black pepper, and Unique, sprinkled liberally over New York strip steaks and cooked medium rare. YUM! (warning: do not sprinkle Unique directly on meat while it is on a hot grill). Desserts are better with Unique. Just try "+P strawberry shortcake" with Unique sprinkled over the whipped cream.
And Skip, you are entirely correct. While Unique comes closest as a "one-size-fits-all" powder in my view, I sure would want to keep Bulls-Eye and H 110 on hand. Would miss 2400 for heavy Magnum cast bullet loads too.
Erich
Member
[Laughing to myself, Sheriff, as my wife silently shakes her head.]
FWIW, when I talk about "metering problems," I'm complaining about sticky powder resulting in overthrows on my RCBS 1500. Overthrows that the machine tells me about - all it results in is a waste of time. I don't find that it overthrows more than a tenth of a grain when measured on a Uniflow. For what it's worth, I don't care about a tenth of a grain on non-max/non-defensive handgun loads, so it's not really an issue using a volumetric measure like the Uniflow. On the 1500, it's really more of a PITA than anything else: when I'm loading, say, the "TX FBI Load," I want each round to be precise - an overtrickle due to sticky powder wastes a few seconds.
It's really not a big deal - as I said, I'd never be without Unique. (When the Dems took Congress in '06, I went out and bought a mess of it so that I wouldn't have to be without it when hoi polloi got to scurrying around in a panic.) It's a wonderful powder.
Of course (as I mentioned), Power Pistol is, as well. It has everything Unique has except the soot, the history . . . and some of the versatility.
Sounds like the ringing endorsement of the crowd is for Unique, though - and I would never argue it's wrong.
FWIW, when I talk about "metering problems," I'm complaining about sticky powder resulting in overthrows on my RCBS 1500. Overthrows that the machine tells me about - all it results in is a waste of time. I don't find that it overthrows more than a tenth of a grain when measured on a Uniflow. For what it's worth, I don't care about a tenth of a grain on non-max/non-defensive handgun loads, so it's not really an issue using a volumetric measure like the Uniflow. On the 1500, it's really more of a PITA than anything else: when I'm loading, say, the "TX FBI Load," I want each round to be precise - an overtrickle due to sticky powder wastes a few seconds.
It's really not a big deal - as I said, I'd never be without Unique. (When the Dems took Congress in '06, I went out and bought a mess of it so that I wouldn't have to be without it when hoi polloi got to scurrying around in a panic.) It's a wonderful powder.
Of course (as I mentioned), Power Pistol is, as well. It has everything Unique has except the soot, the history . . . and some of the versatility.
Sounds like the ringing endorsement of the crowd is for Unique, though - and I would never argue it's wrong.
Chuck Jones
Member
Unique
(hence the name)
/c
(hence the name)
/c
bmcgilvray
Member
Yeah but Erich, who wants the flavor of Power Pistol in their Post Toasties?
Actually, if I had any sense I'd try that Power Pistol. It might make straight-walled revolver cartridges "walk and talk."
Besides, it might be especially good on lamb, or fish.
Actually, if I had any sense I'd try that Power Pistol. It might make straight-walled revolver cartridges "walk and talk."
Besides, it might be especially good on lamb, or fish.
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yep...put me in the unique camp as well....at least for the stated criteria
RidgwayCO
Member
VihtaVuori N340. Unless of course you believe powder technology hasn't improved at all in the last 111 years...
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I love Unique in .45 ACP especially, but in competion where you MUST meet power factor or go home, I dropped it in favor of HP38. VVN340 is fine but hard to get out here.
A light load that you can't even feel can fail you at chrono.
If you don't have to pass chrono, then Unique is fine for medium loads.
Will not reach max power in magnums.
A light load that you can't even feel can fail you at chrono.
If you don't have to pass chrono, then Unique is fine for medium loads.
Will not reach max power in magnums.
smithandwessonguy
Member
WW-231 and WW-296 is what I use and have had no issues with either powder.
Win75
Member
I use a lot of Bullseye and Unique. The problem of double charges is really there with the Bullseye but since I am retired/disabled, I have nothing much better to do than reload with a single stage press and I can check all my loads for doubles or noneles (I don't think that is a word but I check for empty cases) before sticking a bullet in the case.
I'm amazed that no ones mentioned any of the AA powders. The AA powders meter extremely well due to their spherical shape rather than a flake powder. They burn clean, are reasonably priced & can be used in a wide verity of loads.
I'm a big fan of unique, herco & the clays line of powder.
But it's hard to beat AA#5. I've never heard of anyone having any problems having this powder not meter well in any of their powder throws. It'll make major for most loads, uses just enough powder so that a double charge is easily noticed. And it doesn't seem to be temperature/position sensitive. This double base powder burns slow enough to get some good hp out of it but still lets the reloader use standard primers.
I'm a big fan of unique, herco & the clays line of powder.
But it's hard to beat AA#5. I've never heard of anyone having any problems having this powder not meter well in any of their powder throws. It'll make major for most loads, uses just enough powder so that a double charge is easily noticed. And it doesn't seem to be temperature/position sensitive. This double base powder burns slow enough to get some good hp out of it but still lets the reloader use standard primers.
OP
Mark in GA
Member
I don't have experience with it, but wonder how Hodgdon Universal would fair as an all around powder? It's burn rate seems close to Unique which has to be a good thing, but I wonder how much bulk it has and how it meters for progressive reloaders?
Mark in GA
Mark in GA
J-FRAME
Member
Unique and 2400 is all I use.
After I use up my W231, Unique, and Universal I plan to standardize on Bullseye. I do mostly target shooting, so Bullseye meets 99% of my needs. I also have 2400 for the occasional .357.
Unique and Universal Clays are ALMOST, but not quite interchangeable. Universal Clays is probably a little cleaner. Do not, under any circumstances, confuse Clays and Universal Clays.
(often refered to as just "Universal") Regular "Clays" is more similar to Bullseye.
