Unique and the 44mag

[BillBro]

One of my best sources for load data with cast bullets is the Lyman 44th and 48th editions, older yes but still they have info on more cast bullets than most so Ive been using their data since dabbling in cast bullets.

Unique is also a new venture for me having never loading it , never even finding any anywhere until very recently and buying 2lbs of it. I understand that Unique is NOT a magnum level powder but excellent for modest loadings that one can shoot comfortably all day.

Looking up the 429421 in the 44mag section of the Lyman 48th I found 9.8gr for a start up to 13.0gr as a max so I loaded [email protected] and 6@ 12.0gr thinking Id likely see about 1150fps tops. An 1150 to 1200fps load is very comfortable to me, a level of performance I find easy to shoot.

Then looking around on the web at the same powder, caliber, bullet combo I see that very, very few have ventured to this level of weight of Unique in combination with this caliber and bullet. The rounds I loaded were to published data and at a length of 1.710", I loaded out to 1.720" and gave them a good heavy crimp. The firearm is a 5.5" Redhawk. Bullet bhn is 16 and no GC.

Should I just pull these and load more reasonably? Loading reasonably was actually what I thought I was doing but seems very few would think so.

Your advice?

 

[rockquarry]

You're loading a bit below maximum; should be quite safe. I'd shoot these over sand bags or a good handgun rest at 25 yards and see how they group, checking the bore for leading along the way. While your reasoning is right in that Unique is not the best choice for high performance .44 Magnum loads, there are always exceptions and your loads may shoot very well. Besides, you are only firing a few rounds. You won't know if your loads work or not without shooting them. Good luck-

 

[cowboy4evr]

Elmer Keiths " everyday carry load " in his 4" model 29 was 8.5 grs of Unique with his bullet , Lyman 429421 / H&G 503 seated on top .
Shooting your handloads out of the Ruger Redhawk , being it's much heavier than the model 29 would help account for comfortable shooting . I , personally have always found that max or near max load data from older manuals did give higher velocity but the group size really opened up . Find that " sweet spot " when velocity and accuracy come together has always been my goal . Regards Paul

 

[venomballistics]

Unique might also be called flammable dirt in some circles, but before coating cast was a thing, it was absolutely THE powder for exactly the role you seen to intend to use it for.
you'd be right that it's not going to be a full glory magnum load, but it will be load enough.

 

[pasound]

I like the Keith load of Unique with the 429421 in my 44's. Very accurate. My 429421's are from Missouri Bullets, and coated. No gas checks needed.

 

[67tempest]

I load very modest loads for my .44 and have been using Unique for years with no issues.

 

[243winxb]

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide


Alliant has 11.0 grs as maximum with a 250 gr cast (Keith). 1210 fps. My load-

 

[BillBro]

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide


Alliant has 11.0 grs as maximum with a 250 gr cast (Keith). 1210 fps. My load-

I found that too, after I had them loaded. And the Lyman manuals, albeit older ones, had 11.8 as a start. I try to use the bullet makers info when possible. Not possible dealing with most cast offerings.

 

[SS336]

Unique might also be called flammable dirt

That is mean, but it can be a little sooty.

I like 6.5grs of Unique with a 240gr bullet for just about anything. If I want more energy I move up to 10gr with a 240gr jacketed bullet.
I not of fan of full magnum loads because of the recoil.
Your load is safe, but recoil will be more and is not needed for much except maybe hunting.
My 6.5gr load takes bowling pins at 18yds off the table with prejudice.

 

[BillBro]

I thought I would be loading medium magnums with my charges and barrel length, surprise surprise. My intent was not to set any velocity records with these, given the data range I had in front of me. If I want to do that I have about 8lbs of H110 and some mag primers.

Guess Ill see what happens tomorrow morning.
I know the redhawk is a tank but still, things can happen.

 

[cgt4570]

Try .44 Special or even .44 Russian loads for plinking.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Lyman #45 is the Unique loading manual! Circa the mid 1970's it has a Unique load for every cartridge in use at the time.

Ivan

 

[Dfish1247]

I wouldn’t worry at all, there’s a reason most reloading books have a ruger only section. I’ve loaded stouter with jacketed and unique and no issues.

You haven’t seen much because unique is generally used for arthritic plinking loads, not magnum level loads. Some folks load plum down to 6gr, talk about throwing a rock faster,lol. Around 8gr, unique starts cleaning up.

 

[DWalt]

At one time, Lyman recommended only two propellants for full power .38-44 loads. They were 2400 and Unique.

There aren’t many loads and calibers you can’t use Unique for.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

That is mean, but it can be a little sooty.

I like 6.5grs of Unique with a 240gr bullet for just about anything. If I want more energy I move up to 10gr with a 240gr jacketed bullet.
I not of fan of full magnum loads because of the recoil.
Your load is safe, but recoil will be more and is not needed for much except maybe hunting.
My 6.5gr load takes bowling pins at 18yds off the table with prejudice.

My standard load for .44 Spls is 7.5 grs of Unique behind my 250 gr cast bullet...........Been using in my .44 spl's forever.

 

[venomballistics]

That is mean, but it can be a little sooty.

I suspect it is it's sootiness that helped it work with traditional bullet lube and cast lead. It added to a slurry of crud that denied adhesion to the lead in the bore.
Despite this quite possibly being a positive trait, Unique caught shade from some that took offense to the unsightly powder soot. Its not like using something else would have gotten them out of gun cleaning.
Nonetheless, I like to put it out there to prepare new users to the prospect of their guns "pumpin' sludge".

 

[rockquarry]

I suspect it is it's sootiness that helped it work with traditional bullet lube and cast lead. It added to a slurry of crud that denied adhesion to the lead in the bore.
Despite this quite possibly being a positive trait, Unique caught shade from some that took offense to the unsightly powder soot. Its not like using something else would have gotten them out of gun cleaning.
Nonetheless, I like to put it out there to prepare new users to the prospect of their guns "pumpin' sludge".

I shoot only cast bullets in handguns; bullet lube contributes to "dirty", and dirty is something that seems to bothers many shooters nowadays. I've never really seen a difference in the degree of dirty residue among powders and I've tried many in the last fifty+ years.

I find good accuracy and the absence of bore leading far more important than gun grunge. I've also found it takes the same amount of time, effort, and materials to clean a gun that's a little dirty as it does one that's really dirty.

 

[gwpercle]

The RCBS Cast Bullet Manual list the following data ...
for comparison to the Lyman data ,
#429421 is Lyman's 245 gr. SWC

RCBS - 44 magnum
429-245- SWC is RCB's 245 gr. SWC cast bullet
Unique powder

start load - 10.8 grs @ 1212 fps

maximum load - 11.8 grs. @ 1330 fps

The RCBS Manual was published in 1986 , developed and edited by the reasearch staff's of RCBS , CCI and Speer Lab's .
I have found the data in this manual very reliable and thought I would post it so you could cross reference it with your data ... You can't have too much reliable info when reloading .
Gary

 

[DWalt]

Some must be far more sensitive to dirt than I. I have never noticed any such differences among the dirtiness of various propellants. And I wouldn't particularly care even if I did.

 

[venomballistics]

I shoot only cast bullets in handguns; bullet lube contributes to "dirty", and dirty is something that seems to bothers many shooters nowadays. I've never really seen a difference in the degree of dirty residue among powders and I've tried many in the last fifty+ years.

I find good accuracy and the absence of bore leading far more important than gun grunge. I've also found it takes the same amount of time, effort, and materials to clean a gun that's a little dirty as it does one that's really dirty.

that's my thought for the most part.
Until coatings came along to widen the range of desirable powders and tidy up lube migration issues in seating dies, I considered spent lube dripping from a 1911's mag well to be a badge of honor, and symbolic of a well spent day.