Substitutes for Alliant Unique

[Wise_A]

Unique doesn't generate enough pressure in the 38 to burn clean. Try Titegroup.

Agreed. .38 Special and .357 Magnum are two very different pressure bands. Just because the reloading manuals list data for a given powder in .38, .45, and .44 Magnum, doesn't mean the powder will be very happy to operate in all those cartridges.

For .38 Special, Bullseye and Winchester SuperTarget have served me well. Lots of people say nice things about Titegroup and HP-38/WW-231 (I wish I could get some locally, but no dice). Both the BE and WST meter beautifully even at tiny charge weights, and burn clean.

For .357 Magnum, Universal has burned adequately at those pressures, but I haven't been super-satisfied with it. There's always more smoke, more unburned powder and residue, and larger groups than Unique, no matter how how or cold the load. I know a few 9mm guys that have been very happy with Hodgdon CFE Pistol, at more or less .357 Magnum pressures.

Oh, and when looking for a replacement powder, I'd also suggest swapping primer brands if that's acceptable to you. It can make a big difference.

 

[iPac]

I use Power Pistol in all my 38spl loads.

 

[lebomm]

Power Pistol, AA#5 and Unique are my go-to's for service-level loads in .38. For midrange target WCs, you can hardly beat Bullseye, IMO, but I read that AA#2 is comparable (haven't used it myself). For the hot stuff in my HDs, 2400 is the choice. HTH

Larry

 

[Gamecock]

Unique measures fine in my RCBS Competition Powder Measure. The flake looks like it wouldn't measure well, but, in fact, it measures just fine.

 

[tjpopkin]

Looking at possible replacement for Unique for 38 Spl, 38 Spl +P and 357 Mag (Mid Range) cast and jacketed loads.

Any suggestions?



Thank you

I have tried everything, and come to a broad conclusion after 30+ years of testing new powders. The Powder the consistently gives the best groups, and shoots cleanly, is Accurate #5. The starting loads should be used with care, starting from good loading books (Accurate provides a free paper one), but using the Uniques weight is a great start (in every cartridge I have used....20+)

 

[Nevada Ed]

Many use Power Pistol, Universal, w231 and the new B#-86 to replace the old timer..............................

I want to try them.......
but guess what showed up this month at the sporting goods store?

Unique.

 

[jonnnyboy]

CFE-Pistol and BE-86 for me.

 

[kd5exp]

Powders are hard to come by in my area. I wanted to try the unique but haven't found any. I ended up getting 2 lbs of W231 and have been pleased with it. 38 sp, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 acp seem to work well with it. Hope the powders show up in the future some time. I want to make a trip to OKC to Bass Pro and see what they have. They show some in stock on their online catalog.

 

[gwpercle]

Universal
Blue Dot
231
HP38
HS-6
Power Pistol
N-330
Can all work when Unique can't be found. These day's you have to use what ever you can find , not like the old days.
Gary

 

[Bugkiller99]

HS 6 works for me in 38 +p and 357. Does not work for 38 spl.

 

[Steve C]

Looking at possible replacement for Unique..

There is no substitute as good as Unique. Widener's just sent an email saying they have 8lbs of Unique at $145. That's at the old pre-panick cost of $18 a lb.!!

 

[BB57]

There is no substitute as good as Unique. Widener's just sent an email saying they have 8lbs of Unique at $145. That's at the old pre-panick cost of $18 a lb.!!

It's actually on sale for $135. However, by the time you add in the $30 hazmat fee and $15 in shipping it's $180 for 8 pounds - $22.50 per pound.

At the regular $145 price, it is $23.75 per pound, which isn't that much less than the $25 ($26.75 with tax) per pound I pay for it in a local gun shop.

 

[les.b]

Thanks, OldChief!!! I thought I was the only one still using Bullseye. It's only been around for what? 118+ years? Came out in 1898, just before I was born!!! (I'm kidding, I'm not quite that old!) I still like it for many loads. In fact I read an article by if I remember correctly, Patrick Sweeney, in "Handguns" magazine, where he uses BE for a bunch of calibers and loads.

I'm not going to list any of them here, but check the story (just found the magazine) in the February/March 2015 issue. P14, "Bullseye Magic"

I know that if I'm loading say .32 S&W Long, with 2.0 gr of BE, I can get 3,500 rounds out of a pound of powder!!! If I'm loading 38 Spls with 148 gr bullets and 3.5 gr of BE, that's 2,000 rounds per pound!!! Not bad. Although you have to be really careful about double or even triple charges, because a little goes a long way.

I may be old fashioned, but I have been using BE since 1970, and although I use other powders (and Unique is one of them), it is still my go to powder!!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[BC38]

Why look for a substitute if you like Unique?
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/306341-daily-stock-reloading-notices-34.html#post139105396

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Good ole Unique!

Don't get me wrong - I don't mind that people blame Unique. It just means more people switch to BE-86, Universal, etc and leaves less competition for supplies of Unique.

I find Unique is also very useful with .30-30, .38-55 and .45-70 cast bullet loads.a although you need to use a polyester wad as filler in the .38-55 and .45-70.

If I had to plan for the apocalypse and could only have a single pistol powder, it would be Unique.

Unique was introduced in 1900 and Bullseye has been around since 1898, and both are still excellent pistol powders and remain commercially successful as they fill a very useful niche. In contrast, other "old" powders like 2400 and Red Dot didn't show up until 1932 and are comparative newbies.

People make the mistake of thinking that newer must mean better, but in the 39 years I've been hand loading I've watched a lot of powders that were much newer disappear and I've watched a few that have gone from birth to death within that same time frame.

Looks like we are about from the same vintage...and my experience with Unique is also the same.I must say that while I've found out that it's not the best for regular .38SPL,it is great for +P loads for said .38SPL or for +P .45Colt and full power .45ACP and 9mmX19 loads(or medium vel .44 .41 and .357Mag loads(aprox 1250FPS)).
And for cast bullets in rifles,exactly as you said Sir!

Unique=dirty powder?I get my hands washed off but my wife cant wash away my smile from using it!

 

[les.b]

Qc Pistolero:

Welcome to the forum!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Qc Pistolero]

There is no substitute as good as Unique. Widener's just sent an email saying they have 8lbs of Unique at $145. That's at the old pre-panick cost of $18 a lb.!!

At that price,I'd grab it muy pronto!

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Qc Pistolero:

Welcome to the forum!!

Best Regards, Les

Thanks!Already feel like at home!

 

[BC38]

At that price,I'd grab it muy pronto!

LOL, the link in my first post above was to a special at Weidner's for 8lb jugs for $135 - less than $17 a pound.
Looks like they sold out pretty quick though