Unique Substitutes

38SPL HV · Aug 5, 2022

Good luck finding Unique, I’m holding on to two 1lb canisters until Alliant decides to make more for the reloading market (whenever that is…)

I’ve found that BE86 for all practical purposes in my handguns only is nearly identical in performance, by weight (NOT volume) to Unique:

Firearm: Ruger 4 5/8 in BH
Load: 357 Magnum mid range
Bullet: Missouri cast 158 gr swc (12 BNH)
Powder: BE86
Charge: 6.0 grs
Hi 1022 fps
Lo 1008 fps
Avg. 1013 fps
Es: 14
Sd: 4
(This has become my replacement for 6.0 grs Unique with same bullet…this BE86 load is a great practice load with adequate power and good accuracy)

Load: 38 Spl +P
Bullet: Missouri cast 158 gr swc (12 BNH)
Powder: BE86
Charge: 5.4 grs
Hi: 986 fps
Lo: 946 fps
Avg: 963 fps
Es: 40
Sd: 14

I’ve tried Accurate #5 with same 158 gr bullet but accuracy is not as good as BE86 or Unique for that matter.

What other substitutes are you folks using for Unique?

Krogen · Aug 5, 2022

I shot a lot of Unique for a lot of years. Then in a previous component draught, I tried Hodgdon Universal. It works as good or better for my applications of Unique. Of course, one should go by a data book. You can't assume it's weight and volume equivalent to Unique.

Ivan the Butcher · Aug 5, 2022

There is no other powder like Unique, hence the name.

You can find other powders that will perform the same in a cartridge, but the only powder that will do somewhat well in all cartridges is FFFg Black Powder!

If you can find a copy of Lyman's 45th edition loading manual. There is a load in it for every cartridge made at the time (mid 1970's) from 25ACP to 460 Weatherby Mag!

Ivan

38SPL HV · Aug 5, 2022

Krogen said:
I shot a lot of Unique for a lot of years. Then in a previous component draught, I tried Hodgdon Universal. It works as good or better for my applications of Unique. Of course, one should go by a data book. You can't assume it's weight and volume equivalent to Unique.

Didn’t say it was volume equivalent…I noted that it is “NOT” volume equivalent for obvious reasons (Unique is twice the size of BE86). I’m within Alliants BE86 published load data, but start low and work up…

Krogen · Aug 5, 2022

38SPL HV said:
Didn’t say it was volume equivalent…I noted that it is “NOT” volume equivalent for obvious reasons (Unique is twice the size of BE86). I’m within Alliants BE86 published load data, but start low and work up…

Umm... I was talking about Hodgdon Universal . . . .

DWalt · Aug 5, 2022

Go with the Universal.

ArchAngelCD · Aug 5, 2022

Krogen said:
I shot a lot of Unique for a lot of years. Then in a previous component draught, I tried Hodgdon Universal. It works as good or better for my applications of Unique. Of course, one should go by a data book. You can't assume it's weight and volume equivalent to Unique.

I'm in agreement with that statement. Many of my reloading friends have tried Universal when they couldn't find Unique and all but one have told me they will not go back to Unique. After all, Universal was developed to directly compete with Unique.

It meters better and it's cleaner too. You might want to give it a try.

Cdog · Aug 5, 2022

Another vote for Universal. I switched over 15 or 20 years ago.

Unique was hard to come by locally and as others, I had other shooters praising Universal. I still keep a couple of lbs of Unique on hand, but Universal has been my go to general purpose powder ever since trying it.

The two powders are similar in burn rate and load density, but they are not interchangeable.

max · Aug 5, 2022

I believe Herco might be close if you can find it.

BBrandt · Aug 5, 2022

AA #5 is almost identical to Unique in burn rate. Meters better too. I use it in my progressive presses in place of Unique.

rockquarry · Aug 5, 2022

Yes, Herco is pretty close to Unique and is useful for about the same purposes, but has lost popularity for some reason over the last twenty years or so. Many of the newer handloaders probably aren't even aware of Herco.

I've used Unique for about fifty years and it works fine, except for flowing through a measure as well as other powders. I tried Universal; goes through a measure much better than Unique, but I never quite got the accuracy with Universal that I did with Unique.

serger · Aug 5, 2022

Another tub thumper for Herco. My base powder drop for it
with lead bullets is 6 grains in 9mm/124gr, 40 S&W/180gr,
45 acp/230gr, 38SPL/158gr (this one is borderline 357).
I also use 3.5 grains with the 148gr lead wad cutters. A
decent powder.

I've found you can use Unique load data for it and since it
is slightly slower you'll have no problems.

biku324 · Aug 5, 2022

I've replaced Unique with Longshot some years ago in all applications.

scattershot · Aug 5, 2022

I’ve heard a lot of good things about BE86. Thanks for posting.

Chubbs103 · Aug 5, 2022

I've used a fair amount of Unique over the years. During one shortage, BE-86 was still available so I worked up a few loads with it and squirreled away a few pounds. I'm down to my last 3 pounds of Unique, so I might have go back.

Now, W231 is what is available around here. I'm fine with that as I like W231 for a growing number of applications.

Dfish1247 · Aug 5, 2022

Winchester 244 does better than anything for me in 357, any 158gr pill. 41,44, and 454 medium loads, unique is still the best that I’ve found.

I use a charge master scale, not a powder drop, so no idea on metering issues.

Nevada Ed · Aug 5, 2022

When I got my first bottle of BE-86 I tested it out in my m49 2" and 686 6".

11/16/20 M49 130 HST fac dup at 816-827 ES 10.8 at POA
5/6/2017 M686 125 Jhp accuracy load at 1030fps.... 5 @ .46" 15yd w/rest.

In my 5" 9mm pistol;
115 fmj at 1.12 oal: 1307fps...... full load
124 Berry THP 1.075 oal: 1233fps
124 fmj plated 1.14" oal: 1260fps
147 RN Berry 1.13" oal: 1042fps (top fps of all powders tested)
A great powder for fps with heavy bullets in the 9mm.

For 9mm target work I use CFE-p and others to help save my BE-86 powder.

I have yet to try full or max loads of BE-86 in my 686 6" , since I don't want to waste it
with all the "Max" loads , that I already have in my log books.

A nice, clean , new powder to play with, if you can find it.

M29since14 · Aug 5, 2022

I was going to suggest having a look at Universal, too, but I don’t know where you’d find any of it.

alwslate · Aug 5, 2022

Why bother with Unique when there are better powders around? W231 and Hodgdon Longshot are a couple.

CH4 · Aug 5, 2022

I still have 3-4 pounds. I know I can use myriad other powders, but never saw the need to look for a substitute for the loads I use it in.

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