Using Unique

[donkat15]

Have reloaded in the past, mostly for outdoor target and plinking. Both jacketed and my cast WCs. Now indoor paper punching. Will be using K 38, 14-3, 6" and 19-3, 6". The bullets are Berry's lead 148gr HBWC (older) ...RMR cast 158gr TCFN (new, like SWC)...and Speer 125gr TMJ FN. Started using Unique over 40yrs ago, have a few new lbs. of it and would like any opinion on using it now. Always open for new suggestions. I have both .38spl and .357 mag cases. Again, mostly for target, some home defense...also have Mod. 10 and Mod. 37, both 2".
Thanks, donkat15

 

[arjay]

Ive used it for a long time too.Finally tried a newfangled powder called bullseye a few years ago.It works good. And! more loads to the pound [emoji106]

 

[Rule3]

It will work fine. I myself would use a slightly faster powder for 38 special like BE. If it is the only powder available. then go for it. It does better at the high end of the load data, to low of a charge it gets smoky and dirty.

Use 357 mag brass in the 357 revolvers (just use the start loads or the 38 special +P loads) rather than 38 brass in a 357 chamber,

 

[alwslate]

You would better served by two different powders. As stated above
one of the several fast burning powders available today would work
better and be more economical for light target loads. Reserve your
Unique for your heavier home defense loads.

 

[Nevada Ed]

With my M19 I never bothered to use Unique with any 148gr target bullet......
With the 125gr JHP bullet my light loading was with 5.9grs of
unique that averaged 1005 with my 6" barrel. My maximum
load of unique hit 1210, no need to go more with a 38 case.
The 158gr started out with 4.4grs of unique but did not have
the best accuracy in the 6". Alliants maximum +P loading hit
1014 but it did a lot better in the accuracy department at 968fps by backing off .3 grs.

Unique is best at a 50% load or better in my years of testing. In my 686 6" I have gotten a 158 lead up to 1320fps with unique but slower powders will be a little easier in your revolver.

I have found it "King of the hill" with +P loads in my J frame
except for Blue Dot in the "FBI" load that had to be backed down from a scary Hi-Vel. loading.
However I was glad to see unique come out with 861fps with a 95% loading and a heavy crimp.

Have fun.

 

[M29since14]

If you are used to Unique and already have it there is no reason I can think of that you shouldn't keep using it. Unique and 231 have always been good in the .38, and they still are. So are several others I could name such as 700X, Bullseye, AA2, Red Dot, Clays, etc., but if you have Unique and you're happy with it, by all means, keep using it. The only reason I can think of to change would be to find something a bit less smokey for shooting indoors - maybe AA2?

 

[venomballistics]

Unique, it works, and will continue to do so.
If you are simply bored with it and looking for a newer option, power pistol, or BE-86 both try to do the same job but with a little bit extra. They also meter better.
Personally, I reserve shelf space for each.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Been there-Done that. Unique will work. Will it work the best for every need? Not likely. There is one of the joys of reloading right there. Experimentation. If it were me, I'd look for another pound( or two) of a different mainstream shotgun/handgun powder (or two) to work up new loads. Chances are that you'll come up with something that performs better for some of your specific uses . Certainly, you'll learn some interesting info on powder burn rates, ideal pressure ranges, case volume etc.... Lastly, beyond that extra versatility and gained knowledge, you'll be better stocked for the next powder shortage.

Powder is like potato chips, it's hard to have just one.

 

[silentflyer]

Have been using Unique,2400, and 296/H110 for 40+ years now, don't see any need to change anything now. Those 3 do the job, fill the case so a double charge is next to impossible. works for .38/357,.41 mag and .44 mag. I do have some IMR 4227, but that's mostly used in my .22 Hornet loads. If it's not broke, don't fix it....

 

[Mad_Charlie]

After you use up your Unique, you might give 231 or Bullseye a try, I get better accuracy with those, probably because they meter so much better.

I have been using Trail boss under a 125gr cast in 357 cases here lately, for light target loads, it shoots clean, soft and accurate.

 

[donkat15]

Thanks to all the replies above. Thanks to the Forum. Started reloading in the service at Cannon AFB around 1970...but listen and learn every new day. Here's hoping powder and primers again become more available and reloading not a thing of the past. Again, thanks for the tips.
donkat15

 

[scooter123]

I use Unique occasionally because it's been my experience that it's a powder that produces great accuracy. However it meters about as well as Dog Poop so I hand weigh every single charge.

BTW, did a 50 piece capability study on the metering properties in my RCBS Competition powder measure and the study indicated that 1 in 200 thrown charges could be off by as much as 1/2 grains. Now, I am sure that someone will chime in that it will do +/- 1/10 grain in their powder measure and Unique will have runs that are within 1/10 grain. However after over 30 years as a working Emgineer I am a believer in Statistics. Because they take "runs" into account and are simply a more accurate predictor of potential extremes. I also know from my experience that an observed variation of 1/10 grain is a certain predictor that the extreme deviation will ge much larger. Nowadays if I see 1/10 grain variation I don't even reach for my calculator, I go straight to hand weighing that powder.

If you can find it one powder I've found to work well in 38 special that meters quite well is Vihtavouri 3N37. Another is Accurate #5 but I prefer #5 for my K frame sub Magnum loads. Note, my K frame Magnums get fed a charge loaded between 38 +P and the Magnum Starting charge, makes for a fun shooter that won't hurt the forcing cone. I'll also state that 3N37 is rather dirty shooting in the 38 special but this caliber has such a low operating pressure I think that's just par for the caliber.

 

[DWalt]

Many may not know that Bullseye and Unique have the same formulation. The difference is that the Unique granules are cut slightly thicker to slow the burning rate. Having said that, I normally use Bullseye in .38 Special loads, and Unique for all other calibers.

 

[RobertJ.]

I like Unique for the .38 Special, just not target type ammo. I like it behind a 158 grain Hard Cast SWC, near the upper limits.

For target ammo, specifically a 148 gr. HBWC with a minimal charge, I prefer Bullseye, Red Dot, or 700X.

Unique works well in every handgun caliber I own. It's just not my "go to" powder for every single need.

 

[gwpercle]

Unique worked 40 years ago and it still works today. It was the first powder I bought in 1967 and two weeks ago I snapped up two containers at local dealer's.
It's not the best target powder with 148 grain wadcutters, I tried for years to find a good target load, it's just not what Unique is for. Bullseye, Red Dot and 700X work better for that application.
But ,outside of light target loads, You can cover a lot of standard velocity applications in 38 special, +P 38 special and 357 magnum loads, especially with a gas checked cast lead bullet .
Another big plus in my book is Unique has a lot of load data listed for a lot of bullets .
Gary

 

[AveragEd]

I seem to recall reading somewhere years ago that Unique was named after its flexibility that enables it to be sort of universal and serve acceptably in many different loadings. But you know the old mechanic's definition of "universal," don't you? Fits everything half-assed and nothing right.

I would play around with some other newer powders and I'll bet you will find yourself using less and less Unique.

Ed

 

[serger]

I've never used Unique in 38/357's but in my model 25's it runs very well with 250 grain cast. In my 25-7 a 10 grain load is more accurate than I can shoot. Very good powder.

 

[webley green]

Yep, I've used both Unique and Bullseye for years and will continue to do so.

 

[rwsmith]

Unique still works for everything......

The only thing is that for target loads, a pound of Bullseye or Titegroup will go a LONG way using about 3 grains/load. Seems it came down to about 2500 rounds/lb.

Unique makes more soot at low loads, but it's no big deal to me. Wipes right off.

 

[Semper Fi 57]

Since beginning to reload some 65 years ago, I have always had three npowders on my bench: Bollseye, Unique & 2400. These have always stood me well. I agree that there are many more newer powders now than then, but I still use the "old three" with regularity. To each his own. Have a good day.


Jim