What have others been using for a load with Unique. I am loading 124 grain plated Everglade round nose bullets in 9mm and want the minimum load to maximum load. Currently loading with AutoComp at OAL of 1.15". I got a great deal 8 lbs of it. All I've found is 5.8grs. @ 1.12" and showing 1180fps.
Unique powder advice
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hdwhit
Member
My advice is to consult with the manufacturer: (Alliant Powder - Unique) as well as one or more published reloading manuals (I use four) to develop a consensus of what they give for minimum and maximum loads and what conditions they consider in developing their loads and then using the resulting minimum load as a starting point, work up a load suitable to your pistol.
I would also advise that you not base loads on what someone posts in an on-line forum. What works in my pistol may be wildly excessive in yours.
I would also advise that you not base loads on what someone posts in an on-line forum. What works in my pistol may be wildly excessive in yours.
I will only comment that I have found over the years that Unique, as accurate as it can be, is a pain in the posterior to through small volume charges "consistently". I have had this bulky powder bridge the drop tube and short rounds and then dump the excess in the next case. For this reason I will not use it on my Dillon, only small batches where I can look into all the filled cases and inspect the powder level before seating any bullets. Also, because of the bulkiness of the powder, it is dirty and leaves some large granules in the action. The residue is bad enough in a revolver, but can be a problem in a semi-auto. Lyman makes a good loading manual and has lots of data for pistol calibers.
Amp
Member
I like Unique powder in my revolver but have not used it for 9mm
bigggbbruce
Member
I have used Unique to load many different hand gun calibers.
9mm is one that I use a different powder to load with. as mentioned metering makes it difficult to get accurate safe max loads. The case is usually quite full and dumping powder out of charged cases happens making it frustrating some times..
HS-6, HP-38, Bullseye many others easier to work with...
9mm is one that I use a different powder to load with. as mentioned metering makes it difficult to get accurate safe max loads. The case is usually quite full and dumping powder out of charged cases happens making it frustrating some times..
HS-6, HP-38, Bullseye many others easier to work with...
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
Been using Unique for 40 years or so. Can use it in shotguns, pistols, some rifles. It is a very useful powder. Get a reloading manual for load data, they have a lot of other very useful data.
keith44spl
Member
Consult your handloading manual.........
I use lots of Unique over the last 50 years,
it measures out well in my Lyman 55,
.
I use lots of Unique over the last 50 years,
it measures out well in my Lyman 55,
.
da gimp
Member
I have the exact opposite opinion & history of Unique powder... It is my preferred powder by far for straight walled handgun cartridges and meters perfectly through the powder throwers on my Dillon 550B & our old RCBS powder thrower... yes it can be a little dirty, but you can safely reach warm loads at good velocities using fairly small amounts , it's economical to use.
We've loaded around/over 8000 rds of 9mmPara both 124gr lead truncicated cone & JHP using Unique. Gently raise your levels by .1 grain & pay attention to your primer.. if it's appearance changes, (craters or flattens) back off at least .1 & record that load as a MAX for that bullet.
Then break down all the rest of the ammo you loaded with the overmax charge & save your components. there is no reason to use max loads with practice ammo, and dern few of my old duty loads used the maximum level of powder either.
I have used Unique in my 9mm reloads quite successfully. If you are having problems finding load data for plated bullets (most new reloaders do) use data for lead bullets.
I have used a lot of Unique powder in my pistol ammo reloading. I have a single stage press and a RCGB Powder dropper. The last thing I do before seating bullets is look at all the cases loaded with powder and any that look low or high when compared to the rest get redone. I've had very good luck with Unique.
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I also use only Unique in 9mm, .38 and .357 Magnum. I especially like the high load density with 9mm, makes bullet setback much less likely.
Check the load manuals and the Alliant website for suggested load data. I find 5.8g Unique with a 115 gr plated bullet to duplicate factory velocities. I have data somewhere that shows 5.8 gr with a 124 gr Gold Dot to be a plus + load. The Gold Dot is also a plated bullet, but I would hesitate to go that high. I'd start at 5.0 gr maybe go as higher depending upon measured velocities. The velocities quoted in manuals and data sheets are only good for that test barrel/firearm.
Check the load manuals and the Alliant website for suggested load data. I find 5.8g Unique with a 115 gr plated bullet to duplicate factory velocities. I have data somewhere that shows 5.8 gr with a 124 gr Gold Dot to be a plus + load. The Gold Dot is also a plated bullet, but I would hesitate to go that high. I'd start at 5.0 gr maybe go as higher depending upon measured velocities. The velocities quoted in manuals and data sheets are only good for that test barrel/firearm.
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I've used a lot of Unique over the years from 4.2gr-10 gr in 38 spl,45 acp,45 colt and 44 mag.My Uniflow with a small rotor works well enough.Added a baffle recently and that helped a bit.I love Unique [emoji1]
All I've ever used in 9MM with 124 gr. jacketed and plated, HP's and round nose has been with Unique powder. I agree with checking all data sources and not to start with maximum data. My opinion with Unique and 9MM is that 4.5 grains is minimum that will reliably cycle most pistols. 4.8 grains is a mild shooting load. At 5.0-5.2 is a range I like for 124 grain bullets. Not maximum but good velocity and safe for me in various cases and bullets. I do load 5.4 grains of Unique with Speer 124 gr. Gold Dot HP's but that's maximum for me and gets 1130's fps in my G19. Wouldn't go any higher. I load 124 hollow points around 1.120-1.125" and round nosed 124's at 1.150". Recommend to use bullet company data for overall length. Alliant data is just for Gold Dot's and I think their maximum is too hot?
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In my 9mm 3.5" barrel with a 125gr plated bullet I can get
1173 fps and a115gr up to 1260 fps. I do not waste if on target loads.
Only 3.8grs of fast burning powder is needed for target loads
and they will usually shoot circles around Unique starting loads.
A lot depends on if you shoot lead or copper bullets.
1173 fps and a115gr up to 1260 fps. I do not waste if on target loads.
Only 3.8grs of fast burning powder is needed for target loads
and they will usually shoot circles around Unique starting loads.
A lot depends on if you shoot lead or copper bullets.
m1gunner
US Veteran
I use Unique for my more powerful loads, where I will get more consistent burn.
For light loads, nothing beats Bullseye, IMHO.
For light loads, nothing beats Bullseye, IMHO.
05CarbonDRZ
Member
I use Unique in 9mm,.38spl,.44spl,45LC,40 S&W and some .41 Mag plinking Loads.
I liked Unique for its versatility and accuracy for some loads, but my 40+ year old Lyman 55 doesn't like it and neither does my Hornady LNL.
I've thrown charges in about a 4.3 - 8.5 grain range for 38 special, 357, 45 ACP and 45 Colt, and after weight checking lots of charges, found that far too many Unique charges are as much as .3 grains off from the target, both over and under. 0.6 grains range variation is too much for me to feel comfortable trusting the measure.
For many years now when working up a new load or loads near max, I've weighed every charge when using Unique. Once it's gone, I'm not going back, in spite of its versatility for a wide range of calibers and loads.
I'm now leaning to the Accurate #5 for mid-range loads. It meters so flawlessly in both my measures, I have full confidence that I'm getting excellent repeatability cartridge to cartridge.
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DWalt
Member
I have satisfactorily used Unique for 9mm (and about everything else) for many years. However, my favorite 9mm powder is Green Dot. If you have a chronograph, the best practice is to experiment with different loads to get whatever velocities you want (within reason). On the light end, the main consideration is to use a load which produces 100% feeding and functioning reliability in your pistol.
My most-used manual is the Hornady 1973. For the 9mm 115 grain bullet, minimum and maximum loads of Unique are 4.8 grains and 5.4 grain. For a 125 grain bullet, corresponding loads are 4.5 grains and 5.1 grains. That should get you started.
My most-used manual is the Hornady 1973. For the 9mm 115 grain bullet, minimum and maximum loads of Unique are 4.8 grains and 5.4 grain. For a 125 grain bullet, corresponding loads are 4.5 grains and 5.1 grains. That should get you started.
fredj338
Member
Unique is a really good powder for medium to full power loads in 9mm. Tons of data, just go look it up. Proper metering is not an issue with a good measure. My Dillon & RCBS do 1/10gr accuracy.
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Qc Pistolero
Member
Even though Unique is not my go to powder for the Nine,I've use it quite a lot and my experience with it is quite similar to that of RG1.
Qc
Qc
