Longtime Unique fan (38 / 357) needs options

[gwpercle]

If you can find Accurate Powders ... they flow like water and should meter well .
Accurate #5 was my first choice to replace Unique ...
it seems to be just a tad slower burning in 38 / 357 loads than Unique .
With cast lead 158 gr. SWC , I tried 5.5 grs Acc #5 in 38 special - 856 fps - 1 hole 10 shot group 1 3/8" at 25 yards .
there were a few unburned grains but the accuracy was a winner .
Loaded in 357 Magnum Cases , same bullet - 6.1 grs. Acc #5
15 shots ...13 shots in 1-hole 1 1/2" w/ two fliers each 1/2" out of the group and it was my shooting to blame .

It looks like Acc #5 likes to be loaded in the mid to upper ranges ... 38 Special +P and 357 magnum loads look to be it's place . I wouldn't load much less than 5.5 grains in 38 special/158 gr SWC ... it starts to show unburned grains .

I'm just starting to work with Acc #5 and Acc #2 but they both show promise . I think Acc #5 might be useful as a stand-in for Unique .

Gary

 

[Model19man]

I stocked up on Unique when Hercules was about to be bought by Alliant. Right now I am down to a little less than 5 pounds. So it's going to be around here for a long time.

I get far more accurate loads using my Lee Auto Disk powder measure. You ought to get one. Your current system isn't working.

If I had to use another powder instead of Unique it would probably be Winchester 231. I do not have any that isn't made by Winchester.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

My advice during this shortage. Look at a powder burn rate chart. If two powders are friends on the chart ( close together) their burn rate is similar.
Their performance will not be exactly the same. But it will probably work pretty well for you. Also this may give you a chance to change to a ball powder which works better in a powder measure.

 

[RDub]

Your best options are BE-86, Power Pistol, and AA#5. BE-86 and UNIQUE have very similar burn rates and each complement one another in performance. Either one of those mentioned will do well for you.

 

[old pipefitter]

i've been buying Unique for 20 years and I have too much now. Selling some to Nephew and Friends. Used some yesterday for standard pressure .38's.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Red Dot, Herco, Longshot , Bullseye.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Years ago when we had another component drought that lasted 7 years I switched over to Winchester Super Field as my unique replacement . In 38 special w/158 gr bullet I use 5.5 grs . In 357 , same bullet I load 7.5 grs . In 41 magnum 210-230 gr cast bullet I use 8.5 grs . In 44 magnum , the " real " Keith bullet ( HG 503 ) I use 9.5 grs . In 45 Colt , 9.5 grs w/ a 255 gr cast bullet . I get excellent accuracy , meters well in my LEE PPM , very clean burning and is available when many others are not . Regards Paul

 

[Birdhunter6]

I have had good luck with both 231 and Universal in a wide variety of handgun calibers.

 

[BW460]

Power Pistol or BE-86.

 

[pantannojack]

4756

In moderate 357 mg loads I have been using SR 4756. I got 3 lbs at 30$ ea. It is short barrel grains, but I don't care, I weigh every charge excepting ww 231. I started with a fresh 586 nd, 4". Using magnum cases to not build a crud ring and .358 gas checks I soon found out the GC's are not necessary at .357 dia. I cast from the Lee 158GC mold and size in a Lyman Lube Sizer thru a .357 die. Yes I would have purchased a .358 dia, but the new old stock .357 was only 10$. I also used Unique before I scored the 4756, and now I got a fresh 2009 pound of 2400. As far as standard vs magnum primers, I don't have a qualified opinion. One consideration could be the long powder column; Another the fastness of the medium burn rate of these powders. 4756 ain't 296, neither is Unique.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I am well aware of maintaining a Uniflow. This one gave me issues that are mainly from assuming. I have thoroughly cleaned, wiped with dryer sheets and run two full hoppers through before replacing the baffle and setting for a charge.

This Competition Uniflow has the larger Competition Pistol / Large Rifle Rotor installed. It was advertised / sold as having the smaller Pistol / Small Rifle Rotor installed. The only difference between it and a Uniflow II is it comes with a Baffle and the Micrometer Metering Unit. I got it cheap enough so no big deal. It will work great for Rifle cartridges if I keep it. I will easily get my money back if I sell it.

It is much better but no cigar. Throws 5.8 - 6.3. I know my older Uniflow II held much closer than that, probably was 5.9 - 6.1 if that bad. I got a small rotor inbound and that should fix it right up.

I have about 3/4 pound of Unique. If I get it throwing good, I should be good for a long time.

3/4 lb of Unique at 5.0 grs a load will give you around 1,050 loads.
8 grs will put out around 660 loads.

21 boxes of 38 or 13 boxes 357 ammo would make me happy.

 

[38SPL HV]

Try BE-86, Accurate #5 or VV N340 with cast bullets. I like BE-86 since it's burn rate is just a tad slower than Unique and works well in 38/357 Mag (Mid Range) applications with excellent ES/SDs, and it measures significantly better than Unique. BE-86 is also readily available…one of the few Alliant powders which is. Bottom line, you have a lot of options besides Unqiue.

 

[john17427]

I've pretty much fallen back to two primary powders. HP-38/Win231 and CFE Pistol. I have a little bit of a few others, but pretty much everything gets loaded with one of those two. Still running through a 4 lb jug of 700x though for plinking.

 

[nbedford]

I have not seen Unique for sale since the China Virus started. HP33 shows up now and then. Some of the others mentioned have always been scarce around here.

 

[sbrmike]

Well my Small Cylinder for my Uniflow did the trick. 5.9 - 6.1 over 50 charges. I weighed each throw. I would bet scale variation is in that number as well.

The large cylinder was ridiculous. I never had two consecutive throws be the same and the variation was at least double over just a dozen throws.

So I am good for a while.

 

[pasound]

I found some Universal at a LGS three-ish years ago. Forums were talking it up, and the stock was 3 pounds, so I bought it all (I won't say how much it cost). Then, a year later, Powder Valley had a little Bullseye (bought a 4 pound jug), and then some Unique (bought 2 pounds). I have a pound of W231 and a pound of HP38 in older stock, so I think I'm set for target and mid-range loads for a long time.

Have 1 1/2 pounds of 296 for the 357 and 44 mags I rarely shoot. ;-)

As long as I have enough primers...

 

[scooter123]

An excellent alternative to Unique is Vihtavouri 3N37. It has no position sensitivity. meters wonderfully, and works really well with 9mm and 38 caliber handgun loads. Yeah, it's a bit pricey but IMO the results are well worth that higher price. I just checked at Powder Valley and it is IN STOCK in both 1 and 4 lbs. bottles. Note the Hazmat will be 37.50 for that order so I would suggest getting the 4 lbs. bottle to defray the cost. I'll also note that I wish that Vihtavouri would test this as a Shotgun powder because I have a hunch it would work very well with either 20 or 28 gauge. Since the Covid mess most of the preferred powders for loading shotshells have really dried up and Unique is one of those shotgun powders that are MIA. Good news is that once you've tried the 3N37 you'll never go back to Unique. BTW, Standard Deviation for Unique in a volume powder measure is 0.17 grains, under the 6 Sigma systems that means a variation of +/- 0.5 grains. So the variation you are seeing isn't a problem with your measure, it's typical for Unique. It's the key reason why you'll come to love 3N37, the SD is only 0.06 grains.

 

[Fauquier]

Being an 82 year old handloader,I have simplified my proceedures
to insure increased safety . I use the RCBS Little Dandy powder
measure and rotors for all my pistol loads, checking with a scale with each setup. Fast and accurate!

 

[cowboy4evr]

A powder that I tried last year and liked was Vectan ( Nobel Sport ) #9 as a Unique replacement . It performed well as a Unique replacement , burned clean and seemed quite accurate . But it seems it will no longer be available in the U.S. for some unknown reason . I hated to hear that . Regards Paul

 

[Marksman]

I haven't used a Uniflo measure for handgun loads for 35yrs. or more, I use a Little Dandy of a shuttle style measure of my own design. This measure has a bushing that throws 7.5gr. of Unique, my go to charge in .44 Special and .44 Magnum for many years utilizing a 200gr. RNFP cowboy bullet. Seldom shoot anything else anymore.