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Mike SC Hunter

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With Unique and 2400 gone(the way of the dodo bird) what is the equivalent available substitutes?

I use Unique in 44 spl/45LC/20 ga/12 ga
I use 2400 in 357/44 mag/410.

I guess HP38/296 with work for 357/44 mag/410
I don't know what would equal Unigue.
And really not happy with HP38/296 for my other uses.
 
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Mike,

You list HP38/296 like they are the same, unless I am misunderstanding? (They are not)

I find Accurate #9 to be similar to 2400 for my magnum loads. Hodgdon Longshot can cover most of what I do with Unique.

H110/296 are the same powder and are excellent for magnum loads, though usually recommended to use magnum primers.

Dan
 
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There's no exact equivalents to either Unique or 2400, in terms of either charges weights, or direct substitution.

Hodgdon Universal was designed to be similar in range of usage to Unique, but NOT the same charge weights (hence the similar name for marketing purposes). However, Universal is essentially defunct. It has not been readily available since a fire in the manufacturing plant in Australia in 2013, and a switch to production in Canada has not rectified the situation.

Hodgdon HP-38 and Winchester 231 are the exact same propellants. Winchester 296 IS NOT. The confusion perhaps lies in similar names. HP-38 and W231 are relatively fast burning powders, faster than Unique.

Hodgdon H110 and Winchester 296 are the exact same propellants. These are slow burning powders with very specific loading data. They do not function correctly with reduce charges.

Best advice is to go the Hodgdon Data Center website, look at the loading data for cartridges you use, and velocities you want to achieve, and buy those propellants. Hodgdon also owns Winchester, IMR and Accurate brands, and that data is listed as well.

Most Hodgdon-sold propellants have good availability. The old Hercules is long dead. Screw Alliant.
 
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For Trap shooting, Universal will work, almost as good as Unique but
has more ash, at least for my medium, 12 Ga. loads.

In the 38 it was ok but not as good in my 357 loads, for accuracy.

Good luck.
 
Don't overlook Red Dot for sub - 1000 fps cast bullet loads in the .357 & .44 magnums, and target level cast loads with the .45 acp. It is a go to powder for me for such loads, particularly in the .44 mag.

I have a fair number of .44 mag revolvers, and have found while 6 to 6.5 grains of red dot in a .44 mag case under a cast 240 swc may not be the most accurate load in each individual revolver, it seems one of the most consistent, providing very good accuracy across the group. About 900 to 950 fps.

Back in the 70's I used a lot of Unique in my mid range loads, then couldn't find any one day. But I did have a lot of Red Dot for shotshell reloading, and seen it was also recommended for handgun loads, so I tried it. A close second for these kinds of loads is Win 231 / HP38.

Larry
 
I use 231/HP38 for all low to midrange loads in everything from 38 special up to 45 Colt. Seems to work well but I am not a bullseye shooter just a pleasure shooter.
I really like 2400 and sure hate to see it gone and when my supply is gone I guess I will try Accurate number 9 which is reportedly a close substitute.
What I do not know about it is whether standard primers will light it off like 2400. I use 296/110 but only with magnum primers. Again 2400 was more flexible about charge weight which is why I prefer it I really hope that both Unique and 2400 are not gone forever.
 
I'm also in the "can't get 2400" camp. I finally got a pound of Accurate #9 and plan to start the workup program in .357 Magnum. I plan to ladder loads with both std and mag primers. We'll see how it works out. A search on the Google gave me the impression most who load #9 for .357 find that a mag primer is not necessary.
 
I've used 4227 in place of 2400. Very similar characteristics though you will use a few more grains of powder. Like 2400 it's best used for full house magnum loads.
Unique is in a class by itself. I used it mostly for reduced smokeless loads in my black powder rifle loads, as in 45-70, 50-70. A little bit of Unique nearly duplicates the original velocities plus it is not position sensitive which lets me forgo the use of over powder wads.

John
 
CFE-Pistol & Longshot have become my favorite powders for many pistol applications.

Lucky for me, I also have a stash of Bullseye, Unique, 296 and 231...

Cheers!

P.S. Still and all, I'm always looking for powders (& primers!) at the right price: just incase...
 
Using the burn rate chart ... every place moved up/down ='s 0.571% change (faster/slower) in powder speed ranking.

For a given load's powder substitution, I've had good luck choosing the closest faster ranked powder rather than going to a slower powder. Availability and cost also guides the choice.
 
IMR 4227 is my favorite (close to) full house .44 Magnum powder. A magnum primer is highly suggested. However, can be hard to find and COSTS.

BE-86 is similar to Unique in burn rate, runs through a measure better, burns cleaner and is flash suppressed if that matters to you.
 
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I like Universal but find it's very difficult to locate. HP38/W231 is very available. You might try CFE Pistol, which is also very available. I'm trying it out now. So far so good but the jury is still out.

I've been ordering those two from Cabela's/Bass Pro and having them shipped-to-store with no shipping or Hazmat fees.
 
In all the powders that I have used in my 58 years of loading shotgun, rifle
pistols & revolvers;

when going from a starting load to a maximum loading, per my manuals,
every powder used, had at least ONE accurate load for me in my testing.

They might burn cleaner, or have un-burnt granuals on the table , had no flash,
or scared the shooter, at the next table, by the loud noise, but they worked.

I do know for a fact;

that ALL of them will kill, paper.
 
BigMuddy said:
Mike,

You list HP38/296 like they are the same, unless I am misunderstanding? (They are not)

I find Accurate #9 to be similar to 2400 for my magnum loads. Hodgdon Longshot can cover most of what I do with Unique.

H110/296 are the same powder and are excellent for magnum loads, though usually recommended to use magnum primers.

Dan
Click to expand...
I meant H110 but typed in HP38.......My error.
 
TIMETRIPPER said:
I've used 4227 in place of 2400. Very similar characteristics though you will use a few more grains of powder. Like 2400 it's best used for full house magnum loads.
Unique is in a class by itself. I used it mostly for reduced smokeless loads in my black powder rifle loads, as in 45-70, 50-70. A little bit of Unique nearly duplicates the original velocities plus it is not position sensitive which lets me forgo the use of over powder wads.

John
Click to expand...

Unique makes great 20 ga & 12 ga loads
 
Fishinfool said:
Don't overlook Red Dot for sub - 1000 fps cast bullet loads in the .357 & .44 magnums, and target level cast loads with the .45 acp. It is a go to powder for me for such loads, particularly in the .44 mag.

I have a fair number of .44 mag revolvers, and have found while 6 to 6.5 grains of red dot in a .44 mag case under a cast 240 swc may not be the most accurate load in each individual revolver, it seems one of the most consistent, providing very good accuracy across the group. About 900 to 950 fps.

Back in the 70's I used a lot of Unique in my mid range loads, then couldn't find any one day. But I did have a lot of Red Dot for shotshell reloading, and seen it was also recommended for handgun loads, so I tried it. A close second for these kinds of loads is Win 231 / HP38.

Larry
Click to expand...

RED DOT is gone too as it is an Alliant powder.
 
Powders come and go; has been that way for decades. Many shotgun powders will also work for handgun. They are the first that I consider when a preferred powder is discontinued or unavailable. Some of the shotgun powders are not suited for handgun use, typically in that they will peak before they are truly useful in a handgun. Others burn incompletely in handgun loadings. Only a few full power load rifle powders will also work well in handguns.

First place to look for good handgun loads are in the respective powder makers data. I avoid non-official data, as it may be just to much on the edge. If a powder maker does not list a particular shotgun powder as suitable for handguns, there is likely a reason.
 
imakmst said:
I'm also in the "can't get 2400" camp. I finally got a pound of Accurate #9 and plan to start the workup program in .357 Magnum. I plan to ladder loads with both std and mag primers. We'll see how it works out. A search on the Google gave me the impression most who load #9 for .357 find that a mag primer is not necessary.
Click to expand...

I have found the need to stick to heavy bullets and stout crimps with AA9 for good ignition. In 357 that means 158+. 44 Mag 250 + and 45 Ruger 250 +.

Where 2400 was marketed as a rifle powder, there are few applications for AA9 there.
 
2400 works well for 30 carbine loads also. I purchased 4 lbs of it about 5 years ago when I was loading .357 and 30 carbine. I never opened it. Wonder how much that could be sold for at a gun show?
 
2400...4227works almost as well...AA-9 also... 4227 is quite often accurate too

Unique...Herco...Universal(clays) BE-86 and AA-5 is close. HS-6 on the slightly slower side

Luckily I just have a fair amount of Unique Herco Red Dot Green Dot and 2400...10 pounds of Hs-5...slightly faster than Unique...and other powders useable in Unique's place...7625 PB and 4756...also DC'd
 
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