Substitute For Unique

[Nick B]

First off I want to say that I've been reloading for 40 years and have used Unique on and off for my wheelguns . Anyway when using Unique with my Dillon 550 set up the charge will vary a half a grain . I know Unique has never been known for good metering but I don't remember it being this bad .
I was loading 7 grains in magnum cases with a 158 grn plated bullet that chrono'd 1040 fps from my 6" 686 .
So what can I substitute for Unique to use in .357 and .44 magnum for loads in the 1000 fps range ? Medium loads using 158 grn and 240 grn plated bullets.
Or should I just use starting loads using 2400 data ?
2400 sure does meter nicely .

 

[Cdog]

Universal Clays.

Almost identical in application. Meters much better and leaves much less residue.

 

[Nevada Ed]

+1;

and you can use LESS to get the same fps..................
with the 158gr lead bullet.

Since you have a 686 6"..........
you can use the MAXIMUM load on the Hodgdon site with.................
NO FEAR !!

Trust me on this one. I will not post what my load was for 1300 fps in my 6" 686 L frame but it was a little over their maximum load.

If you want to try some Ball powder ..............
HS-6 will do you well, also.

 

[3five7]

Universal Clays works great as a substitue for Unique, but I don't think you are going to find any available until much later this year.

 

[stmry]

With the solid reputation Unique has had for many years, any substitution would have to be unique

 

[rwsmith]

AA #5

Accurate #5 is supposed to be pretty close.

 

[Nick B]

Universal Clays works great as a substitue for Unique, but I don't think you are going to find any available until much later this year.

Why later this year ?

 

[Erich]

I've gone to Power Pistol for a lot of what I used to do with Unique. FWIW.

 

[trophyhunter]

First off I want to say that I've been reloading for 40 years and have used Unique on and off for my wheelguns . Anyway when using Unique with my Dillon 550 set up the charge will vary a half a grain . I know Unique has never been known for good metering but I don't remember it being this bad .
I was loading 7 grains in magnum cases with a 158 grn plated bullet that chrono'd 1040 fps from my 6" 686 .
So what can I substitute for Unique to use in .357 and .44 magnum for loads in the 1000 fps range ? Medium loads using 158 grn and 240 grn plated bullets.
Or should I just use starting loads using 2400 data ?
2400 sure does meter nicely .

If you'll remove the hopper and polish the aluminum "funnel" area of the powder cone and drop tube I believe you'll find your Dillon measure will throw Unique within +or- a tenth with boring regularity, mine sure does after the polish.

That's assuming your using the new safety return linkage btw, if not call them and they will send it to you the measure behaves better with that feature and it seems to settle the powder in the charge bar better.

AA #5 is in the same general range and meter's perfectly every time.

 

[riverrat38]

A#5 meters as well as any powder.
It is good for plus P loads, and well into magnum range, but it doesn't burn completely at lighter loads. I tried some starting loads for my M442 and crud got between the chamber wall and the case, and extraction was very difficult. At plus P levels, it worked very well.
Universal has a wider useful pressure range, as does Unique.
The reason Universal, and other Clays powders, aren't available is that there was a fire at the Australian plant that makes it. This is according to web sites that sell Clays powder. Last I read was next Summer.

Best,
Rick

 

[alwslate]

W231 should give you the midrange velocity loads you seek and
meters superbly.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, Universal is a very close match for Unique only it meters better and it's cleaner. AA#5 is similar in burn rate and it's a ball powder so it meters like water. W231/HP-38 is a little faster and True Blue is a little slower, both are good powders and meter well because they are also ball powders.

 

[David R]

Thank you I am going to try that tonight. Right now I get about + or - .2 grain which is a little too much.

David

If you'll remove the hopper and polish the aluminum "funnel" area of the powder cone and drop tube I believe you'll find your Dillon measure will throw Unique within +or- a tenth with boring regularity, mine sure does after the polish.

That's assuming your using the new safety return linkage btw, if not call them and they will send it to you the measure behaves better with that feature and it seems to settle the powder in the charge bar better.

AA #5 is in the same general range and meter's perfectly every time.

 

[scooter123]

Another powder that works very well in the 38/357 caliber AND meters very well is Vihtavouri 3N37, which is what I went to when AA #5 pretty much disappeared. Yeah, it's a bit pricey but powder in the hand is better than no powder at all.

 

[epj]

The load data for Universal can ALMOST be directly substituted. No need since there's plenty of Universal data on the website. It's my go to for mid range .357 and ,38 full power or +P.

 

[trophyhunter]

Thank you I am going to try that tonight. Right now I get about + or - .2 grain which is a little too much.

David

That was my experience with it as well, polishing the funnel produced accuracy consistent to a tenth.

After I saw a video showing the revised safety linkage that Dillon sends out on the new presses that replaces the old return springs on the powder slide bar I called them and they sent that out and my measure now throws stick powders spot on every time.

The trick is to tighten the little blue plastic spring loaded rod tensioner so it pulls the powder slide bar all the way to the very left when you push forward on the primer seating stroke.

I'm a little overboard when it comes to weighing and checking what the measure throws but Dillons measure is now finally right up there with the best of the rotary designs.

It was nice to get that working to a point where I don't worry over it any longer.

 

[johngalt]

Google alliant 20/28 vs Unique. I've read on a couple forums that 20/28 is very close, and being a shotgun powder may be more easily found. I have never used it, so I have no first hand experience with it.

 

[.41 cal]

VV N340 is a very flexible powder for .38 to .44 mag for the velocitys you are looking for. Meters much better out of my lyman 55 no question about that.
5.1g with 158 LSWC give 1024 fps out of a 6" 686

.41 cal

 

[3five7]

Why later this year ?

ADI in Australia which makes Universal Clays for Hodgdon had a fire in their plant a few months ago. I've heard that they will not be able to resume production until the middle of the summer. I don't know if this is just internet rumor or not. I do know that there is no Universal Clays available at this time.

 

[Skeet 028]

I use a LOT of Unique. Went to a local gun show and bought 2 8lb Kegs(The old cardboard) and a keg of Bullseye for 5 bucks a lb. Sold the Bullseye for the price of all of it. Think I am set for a while as I already had 2 plastic 8 lb jugs. I use it in the 20 and 28 ga shotshells too. Using the cardboard kegs first of course. Shoots just fine.

 

[Nemo288]

From ADI:

adi-powders.com.au/handloaders-guide/news.asp

AP70N appears to be the exact same as Universal according to a couple of quick simulations in QuickLOAD.
They have a reloading manual available to download at the site.

___
Nemo

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Another vote for Power Pistol. I never thought I would give up Unique in the .44 Special or .45 Colt but I have had very good results with PP and pretty much switched over to it for those two calibers and 9mm as well. As for Unique metering I found that after filling the hopper tap the tube a bit and then drop 15 throws into your pan to settle down the powder. Seems to help in my RCBS Uni-Flow.