UNIQUE-Am I missing something?

[Nevada Ed]

Yes you can do the cost thing, of 4grs vs 6grs of powder.

You can also notice 1220fps vs 1550fps in a 357 magnum load
or a 9mm 115gr at 1150fps vs 1263fps in a 3.5" pistol.

It never hurts to have a pound of Unique around, even if you have to shoot the 12 Ga.

 

[29aholic]

I have never had any problem with 700X metering in about a little over 3 decades of using it.
Now, 800X is a whole different ball of wax.

 

[glenwolde]

I have never had any problem with 700X metering in about a little over 3 decades of using it.
Now, 800X is a whole different ball of wax.

I have problems with both. I use a Lee Auto-Disk measure which might be part of the problem. I'd use another measure but I like fixed cavity, and it's the only one that's automatically actuated so I can use it on my Dillon.

When I use 700X or 800X I strap a $7 Walmart aquarium pump to the measure to keep it flowing. Works like an agitator.

 

[tabascoman79]

I use a lot of unique. Mostly in 9mm, 40 and 45acp. But I've also loaded a lot of 240gr lead with 10-12gr of unique that worked awesome. It's a powder I'll always keep in stock

 

[rwsmith]

What did they do????

I liked the old formula Unique, when they changed it to the new Unique I only burned one can then switched to 700X. Have shot about 90 lbs of 700 X and really like it.

What did they change in the 'old' Unique?

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

While it doesn't meter the best out of my Hornady measure, I find it it a pretty descent powder for my 38spl. Rather than hand weight each charge, I just don't load them right up to the max to account for + or - a tenth of a gr in charge weight. It has a tendency to leave a few flakes in the chambers and barrel, but I have found my 38spl loads are fairly accurate with the stuff.

Admittedly though, my main 38spl powder is Power Pistol. That is what I use for the little stash of +P I like to keep on hand for carry rounds.

Poor metering powder???? I give you IMR4350! Wow that stuff is aweful!! But I won't switch because my rifles like it so much. I don't mind hand weighing my rifle rounds, I don't load them in bulk like I do handgun rounds.

 

[Triggernosis]

I was considering getting some Unique for .38 and .32 loads because I understand that it is a "fluffy" case-filling powder, thereby having an extra measure of safety over potential double-charging. Is there another "fluffy" powder that measures better than Unique and would be suitable for .32 and .38 loads?

 

[Ed Fowler]

What did they change in the 'old' Unique?

The old unique was what some called 'dirty' and smoked up a revolver. My 45 long colt revolvers loved it, then they "cleaned it up" their powder my revolvers were no longer as accurate, leaded quicker and were a little cleaner.

I don't know what they did, I bought all I could find of the old Unique and when it was gone switched to 700X and find it as accurate as my old Unique.

That is my experience with my hardware, others may have better experiences.

I do all of my handgun shooting at long ranges, 100 yards or better so miner changes can have more noticeable results.

 

[flyrobb]

That's a good price on the primers. Go with them.

 

[DWalt]

I too have never had any powder measure charge inconsistency with either Unique or 700-X. But I use the same ole Lyman 55 measure I bought back in the late 1960s. I now have two of them, have never used any other. I also use home-made powder hopper baffles, and that helps also.

 

[rwsmith]

Cleaner but less accurate???

The old unique was what some called 'dirty' and smoked up a revolver. My 45 long colt revolvers loved it, then they "cleaned it up" their powder my revolvers were no longer as accurate, leaded quicker and were a little cleaner.

I don't know what they did, I bought all I could find of the old Unique and when it was gone switched to 700X and find it as accurate as my old Unique.

That is my experience with my hardware, others may have better experiences.

I do all of my handgun shooting at long ranges, 100 yards or better so miner changes can have more noticeable results.

I question their marketing judgement on that one.

How about cleaner and still accurate?

 

[rwsmith]

Cleaner but less accurate???

The old unique was what some called 'dirty' and smoked up a revolver. My 45 long colt revolvers loved it, then they "cleaned it up" their powder my revolvers were no longer as accurate, leaded quicker and were a little cleaner.

I don't know what they did, I bought all I could find of the old Unique and when it was gone switched to 700X and find it as accurate as my old Unique.

That is my experience with my hardware, others may have better experiences.

I do all of my handgun shooting at long ranges, 100 yards or better so miner changes can have more noticeable results.

I question their marketing judgement on that one.

How about cleaner and still accurate? Or not change it at all?

 

[fyimo]

I find the discussion interesting because I like Unique gun powder but I have found it nearly impossible to find for sale.

 

[Wise_A]

So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

Go shoot.

On the subject of Unique, given your cartridges and apparent loading style, I could make a case for using it in 9mm or 40. But while it's a good powder--I like it a lot--no powder is magic. Although I am an admitted powder addict.

I did purchase an 8# keg of Unique, which I'm about to tear into now that my 1# bottle is almost empty. That keg is named "Hillary"--I bought it Just In Case, because I can load all my cartridges with it acceptably.

I think I'm going to try Bullseye in 9mm next. Something faster than the Unique and Universal I've been using, just to see if it shrinks my "out there" groups any.

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, glenwold when did Walmart sell powder and primers?

 

[Mistered]

I did purchase an 8# keg of Unique, which I'm about to tear into now that my 1# bottle is almost empty. That keg is named "Hillary"--I bought it Just In Case, because I can load all my cartridges with it acceptably.

I did the EXACT same thing when I found a 8# keg last year when there was nearly NOTHING else on the shelves - and for the same reason of universal cartridge reloading - including light 30-30 rounds where 10 grains makes a nice target/field round. I'll admit I was stocking up Had the election gone the 'other way' !

 

[DWalt]

Everyone should be aware that the faster shotgun/pistol powders work fine for low to medium velocities in CF rifle cartridges of .30 cal and greater, essentially producing black powder level MVs. And charges are usually about 15 grains max regardless of bullet weight. I've loaded lots of .30-'06 cartridges using 13 grains of Red Dot. And they even group very well at shorter distances. A little powder will go a long way with such loads.

 

[hdwhit]

MyDads38 wrote:
Another LGS has primers on sale @ $25/1,000 and that makes more sense to me than buying the Unique. So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

It depends. How are you situated for primers? It sounds like you have plenty of powder, so if you're not flush with primers, I'd probably go that way.

 

[NJM15]

I admit i am a powderholic !

Was at the LGS yesterday and they happened to have 4 lbs. of HP-38 on the shelf. I bought all 4 lbs. @ $19.99/lb. I didn't really need it (have 16 lbs. of W231), but at the price, I couldn't leave it. They also had 10-1 lb. bottles of Unique on the shelf for the same price. I've never been a fan, since I only load target/range ammo in standard calibers (38 Spec, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 auto) and have Bullseye, Red Dot, W231, TiteGroup and 700X on hand.

Honestly, I'd prefer to find more Bullseye, I have good luck with my other powders; but the price keeps me asking myself if I should buy some anyway? Another LGS has primers on sale @ $25/1,000 and that makes more sense to me than buying the Unique. So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

Despite all the powder I have (about 35 lbs) whenever I go to a show and see good deals I cant resist . have 8 lbs of Power Pistol saw them at a show for 17.00 I even asked the lady if that was the right price she said yes I said ok, ring up 2.
Is there a powderholic anonymous group I can join ?

 

[NJM15]

Have some dont like it

Was at the LGS yesterday and they happened to have 4 lbs. of HP-38 on the shelf. I bought all 4 lbs. @ $19.99/lb. I didn't really need it (have 16 lbs. of W231), but at the price, I couldn't leave it. They also had 10-1 lb. bottles of Unique on the shelf for the same price. I've never been a fan, since I only load target/range ammo in standard calibers (38 Spec, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 auto) and have Bullseye, Red Dot, W231, TiteGroup and 700X on hand.

Honestly, I'd prefer to find more Bullseye, I have good luck with my other powders; but the price keeps me asking myself if I should buy some anyway? Another LGS has primers on sale @ $25/1,000 and that makes more sense to me than buying the Unique. So with 75 lbs. powder on hand, what would you do?

I used Unique for my .45 Colt loads I like loading around start,
dirtiest powder I ever shot. Tap the cases on the bench results in powder residue don't know if burnt or unburnt, stepped up a little on the load , somewhat better but not what I would call clean. I went back to my red dot, cylinder and barrel cleaner now, no residue at all. only problem is now I have about 3lbsof it left