Longtime Unique fan (38 / 357) needs options

[sbrmike]

I have used Unique for years. I still have a half pound or so. With the recent absence of Unique and my new Uniflow not throwing it very well at all - bounces from 5.7 - 6.3 (357 Mag set at 6.0) and 3.7 - 5.1 (38 set at 4.7). My older Uniflow threw it much closer in both loads. I may disassemble this measure and give a good clean / degrease to see if that helps.

For the record. I was plagued with serious health concerns, multiple surgeries this entire year and got rid of a lot of stuff. I am slowly recovering (maybe) and got back into stuff. I don't know what is up with the powder throwing.

Since Unique is a bear to obtain anyways, what is a decent, easy metering option that is Available? A pound will last me a long time!

You see my 38 and 357 Mag Loads are middle of the road. All are with 158 gn LSWC bullets. Pretty much general purpose - OK for self defense, hunting, plinking, and friendly competition.

 

[moosedog]

I still use the Uniflow and Unique.
Make sure that you have the pistol drum installed and not the one for rifle, it will help. Also, I always run about 6 to 8 throws after I have it adjusted in just in case of any static inside the drum. I recheck by weighing a throw after every dozen dumps. Good luck.

 

[Krogen]

In the last component drought I switched to Hodgdon Universal. It's a good substitute for Unique. I never had consistency issues with Unique, but it was scarce then as it is now.

 

[biku324]

Longshot has replaced Unique for me in service load 38 and moderate 357 loads. It takes about .5 to 1 grain more for equal velocity, but produces less pressure, meters easily, and burns cleaner. I use it for 800 fps 41 mag loads as well, and all 40 S&W and 45 ACP & Auto Rim loads. You don't, however, get that 'Unique' smell after firing.

I could easily meet all my reloading needs with Longshot, Lil Gun (for magum pistol), and Varget (rifle).

 

[Nevada Ed]

You might buy some BE-86 powder, since it is a brother to Unique's fps in my 38 special loads and it will match unique in the 9mm and pass Unique
in high fps load in the small case with the heavy 147 gr, plated bullets.

CFE-p will also be close to BE-86 in the 9mm loads but a little lower in fps with the 38 special loads
but both will give good accuracy in target loads, if thats your thing
in both the 38 and 9mm cases.


If you can't handle full power or factory loads, due to the recoil
or the type of guns that you shoot

you might look into w231 or Bullseye for light target loads that take a lot less powder
and make a pound of powder, last a lot longer.

Good shooting.

 

[mikld]

During one of the past "shortages" (obumma era?) I couldn't find any Unique so I tried Universal. Liked it so bought 6 lbs. I have since used it in most of my handgun handloads and it meters well in my Lee PPM and my C-H 502. My 9mm "JIC" handloads are 124 gr JHP over an upper load of Universal. So far I have about 1,100 rounds stashed. Works well in my 5 9mm handguns...

 

[stansdds]

The Uniflow's drum can certainly affect how it meters small charges of flake powders. The standard drum has a pretty large diameter charge well, which means a lot of surface area and powder flakes to sweep and drag as the drum rotates. The handgun drum has a small diameter well, so you end up with a lot less surface area at the top of the well to get swept during rotation, which is better for flake powders.

One ball powder that often seems available when most other powders are not is Accurate Arms. AA#5 has worked well for me in 9x19mm and 45 ACP.

 

[max]

I think you would like 231 Or HP 38.

 

[sbrmike]

My current Uniflow is the Competition model with Baffle, Pistol/Small Rifle .5- 40 gn rotor. My previous unit was a Uniflow II with Baffle, and Small Cylinder.

My old one was nearly dead on all the time; probably varied .1gns max loading 50 cases with the above listed loads. This one won't throw 2 back to back. I'll have to tear it apart and see what is up. I ran a hopper through it to season it before throwing charges. My Unique looks good and smells good; no discoloration or ground up flakes.

The micrometer is repeatable. But.. so is the spread!

 

[hyena]

I only reload .38 Special and .45 ACP. Only a single load for each caliber, and I only used Unique. 4.5gr on the .38, with a 158gr RNFP coated bullet. Then Unique became impossible to find, and I had not stocked up ahead of time. I went well over a year without doing any reloading, until a LGS suggested I try Winchester 244. I did, using 3.8gr. Meters very nice (Lee turret with auto drum dispenser), and I cannot tell any difference shooting it compared to my Unique loads. No chronograph, but I alternated loads in my revolver, and couldn't tell any difference. Point of impact remained the same.

I like the 244, and will just stick to it if/when Unique ever becomes available. I figure I get around 20% more loads per pound of powder.

 

[nbedford]

For 38 Special 148 grain wadcutters I use 2.7 grains of Bullseye. For 158 grain swc's I use either Bullseye or HP38/Win 231. I use a lot of Unique for my 44 Special loads, but never have used it for 38 Special.

 

[LDM]

Hodgdon's Universal is supposed to be functionally equivalent.But finding that is also a problem.

 

[monsai52]

I'm a big fan of HS-6 for moderate to hot 38 Special and moderate 357 Mag loads.

Best regards,

 

[sbrmike]

A quick partial update. First and foremost, thanks for all of the replies.

Well, we all know about assuming. Well assuming appears to have bit me here. I bought this measure used. I assumed running a hopper full should have gotten it all ready for use. Nope. No way!

I disassembled the unit completely and found the Uniflow to have probably not degreased on initial use. The funnel below the hopper on the casting has (still has) a nasty black goo; similar to what would be when removing black electric tape from something. It did not scrub off easily. Luckily I had a never used Uniflow II casting on hand. I scrubbed all of the parts and installed them in the unused casting. All fit well. Tomorrow I will run a hopper through and bet this holds very close to set point.

One thing that I did notice is the Pistol / Small Rifle Rotor is nearly, if not identical in size to the standard Large rotor. I may have to research this further. This may be the larger Pistol to Large Rifle Rotor: 10 - 110 gns.

 

[cowboy4evr]

For a Unique Replacement , try " Ramshot True Blue " . It meters like water and is usually available @ on line suppliers . I have used it for years in 38 special , 357 magnum , 44 special , 45 Colt and 41 magnum with complete satisfaction . Good Luck , Regards Paul

 

[GypsmJim]

After 50 years of reloading, my "standards" are Bullseye for 38 special and down (exception .45 ACP), and Unique for .357 and up. However, with periodic shortages I have worked up loads for all calibers using either. Maybe visa versa is not "optimum", but for plinking and informal target shooting it's all OK.

Being proactive, I have ample supplies. But with the oddities of Covid I got worried and decided to try a backup just in case. I bought some HP 38 / Win231 and was pleased to find excellend results in all my handguns. With that info I bought a bunch right off of Hodgdons website at a pretty good price. It meters as good as Bullseye.

On a side note, that "old crappy" Unique works just fine in my Lee auto drum powder measure, so maybe it ain't so crappy after all.

 

[CorvZ061]

For a moderate magnum load I've been using 7.3 gr of VV N340. Out of my 6" 686 I'm averaging 1170fps with a Berry's flat plated bullet. Very pleasant shooting, and very accurate.

 

[sbrmike]

Another update. This Competition Uniflow Powder Measure has the Pistol / Large Rifle Rotor assembly, 10 - 110 grains. I already had a Large Uniflow Rotor Assembly. I doubt this will throw my above referenced charges. We will try though.

 

[twodog max]

I am another user of 231/HP38. I have not tried a lot of the other great powders in this range but years ago switched to 231 from Unique for a reason that I no longer recall. Not a perfect powder but I use it for light cast bullet loads in 38,357, 44 mag 44/40 and 45 Colt. I have 16 lbs of it so I like it that much

 

[venomballistics]

I used to use Unique like it was a crack habit.
Especially with traditionally lubed cast lead where the stuff often reduced or eliminated leading problems. Since the advent of coatings, I no longer have to care about that particular attribute.
As a result, I can explore powders fearlessly.
Power Pistol seems to be a slightly more energetic propellant of similar rate.
BE 86 also has great potential in this role.
CFE Pistol makes fantastic numbers in many cartridges, though at first I looked upon it with disdain for the CFE gimmick.
AA #7 has seen good service. Though this may be a bit slow to call it a unique substitute.
AA #5 is closer, though I've never used it.