Where can I find Unique reloading poweder?
- Thread starter TheHobbyist
- Start date
Mainly because noobs read forums where the same old geezers tout the magic of Unique over and over again.
Then later comes the posts about how it burns dirty -can we clean it up? It meters poorly -what to do? And I sit back and laugh.
Lots of powders simply WORK. Unique is not one of the better ones. But you'd know that if you tried some of the others. Haven't you ever wondered why manufacturers didn't give up and simply admit that Unique was just too awesome to compete against?
Universal, CFE pistol, Silhouette, True Blue, AA#5, AA#7, Power Pistol - I'm getting tired of typing. Hopefully you get the point. You can use any of the pistol powders for 45-70 and you can make nice rifle plinkers for nearly any cartridge with the same mix of pistol powders.
Nothing special about Unique. It's just an old, mediocre powder that people tout because they don't know about anything else - or they've been reading some old writers.
Nemo288
Member
If the (part of) the factory that made Universal (and the other Clays) had not burned down
I wouldn't be having to break out my last canisters of Unique (less smoky!).
Once the Aussies get that line running again they will be able to sell all they make for several years.
My old Redding powder measure does fairly well with Unique but Universal is waaaaay nicer to meter.
Getting back into 12 ga. I notice that there as well the loads between these 2 powders don't vary much at all.
I have been having to dig out old Hercules manuals for Bullseye 12 ga loads.
It's not very far off from Red Dot but much touchier.
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Nemo
I wouldn't be having to break out my last canisters of Unique (less smoky!).
Once the Aussies get that line running again they will be able to sell all they make for several years.
My old Redding powder measure does fairly well with Unique but Universal is waaaaay nicer to meter.
Getting back into 12 ga. I notice that there as well the loads between these 2 powders don't vary much at all.
I have been having to dig out old Hercules manuals for Bullseye 12 ga loads.
It's not very far off from Red Dot but much touchier.
===
Nemo
venomballistics
Member
Biggfoot44
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Old doesn't mean it doesn't work , and work well.
Different people have different priorities, and if *your* #1 priority is metering , then for *you* Unique is a marginal choice.
Yes , there are lots of other powders that will work near the center of Uniques "pressure sweet spot" . Genuine Unique will perform reasonably well over a very wide range of pressure.
And yeah , it is partly a chicken and egg situation , but there is a whole lot of published data for Unique for every application you can think of . And probably more that you haven't yet imagined. Sure in a perfect world , there would be as much data for Nitro100 as for Bullseye , but don't hold your breath.
But for all my above defense of Unique , I have to be realistic about the current state of the slowly rebounding powder supply :
1. Give up finding it at local store. Check all the internet sources several times a day, and when some Unique is available , imeadately jump on it. And probably have to deal with shipping and hazmat.
2. Forget Unique for the present moment. Cruise local stores , and buy whatever medimum speed pistol / shotgun powder is on the shelf.
Different people have different priorities, and if *your* #1 priority is metering , then for *you* Unique is a marginal choice.
Yes , there are lots of other powders that will work near the center of Uniques "pressure sweet spot" . Genuine Unique will perform reasonably well over a very wide range of pressure.
And yeah , it is partly a chicken and egg situation , but there is a whole lot of published data for Unique for every application you can think of . And probably more that you haven't yet imagined. Sure in a perfect world , there would be as much data for Nitro100 as for Bullseye , but don't hold your breath.
But for all my above defense of Unique , I have to be realistic about the current state of the slowly rebounding powder supply :
1. Give up finding it at local store. Check all the internet sources several times a day, and when some Unique is available , imeadately jump on it. And probably have to deal with shipping and hazmat.
2. Forget Unique for the present moment. Cruise local stores , and buy whatever medimum speed pistol / shotgun powder is on the shelf.
And that sums up every powder I listed earlier.
scooter123
Member
Just because Alliant has published loads using Unique for nearly everything under the sun doesn't make it a fantastic powder, it only means that Alliant will stuff it into any brass container with a bit of lead capping it. BTW, I just checked Lyman 49th, Lee 2nd, and Speer 14th and none of them listed a load featuring Unique. That's a rather distinct indication that using Unique for the 45-70 really isn't a good idea.
Yeah, I do keep some Unique on hand as a backup because it is a versatile Shotgun/Handgun powder that works well in every handgun caliber I load. However, it's poor metering qualities means that it's only a backup in the event I run out of my primary powders.
PS; for those really wanting some Unique in spite of it being a poor metering antique I can tell you to try giving Fin, Feather, & Fur in Ashland, Ohio a call. Because just about every time I've been there in the past 2 years they have had Unique in stock.
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Ben_hutcherson
Member
FWIW, I hear a lot of complaints about Unique metering poorly.
I did a lot of experimenting with my Lee Auto-Disk, and found that as long as one avoids the small cavity sizes(specifically .43cc and smaller) that it meters very repeatably.
I am relatively new to reloading, having been at it a little over a year. I am not adverse to experimenting-in fact I've built up a good enough relationship with a local shop that the guys in the reloading section go out of their way to point out every new pistol powder that they get back in stock(and I'll buy a pound of almost anything I don't have). Since I only reload for pistols(and the occasional 16 gauge shotgun shell), all I keep are pistol powders, and the last time I counted I had around 20 different powders on hand.
With that said, Unique was the first powder I used when I started reloading. I used it primarily because there was lots of data in the cartridges I started with(38 special, 357 magnum, 44 special/magnum).
Despite trying lots of other powders, my favorite loads in 357 magnum, 45 Colt, and 32-20 are still with Unique. There's a lot to be said for having a high volume, pleasant shooting, predictable and accurate load, and I've found just exactly that in the Unique loads that I've worked up for these cartridges.
I'm so happy that I was able to pick up an 8lb jub of Unique last fall that I've not yet opened...now if only I could find some Bullseye.
I did a lot of experimenting with my Lee Auto-Disk, and found that as long as one avoids the small cavity sizes(specifically .43cc and smaller) that it meters very repeatably.
I am relatively new to reloading, having been at it a little over a year. I am not adverse to experimenting-in fact I've built up a good enough relationship with a local shop that the guys in the reloading section go out of their way to point out every new pistol powder that they get back in stock(and I'll buy a pound of almost anything I don't have). Since I only reload for pistols(and the occasional 16 gauge shotgun shell), all I keep are pistol powders, and the last time I counted I had around 20 different powders on hand.
With that said, Unique was the first powder I used when I started reloading. I used it primarily because there was lots of data in the cartridges I started with(38 special, 357 magnum, 44 special/magnum).
Despite trying lots of other powders, my favorite loads in 357 magnum, 45 Colt, and 32-20 are still with Unique. There's a lot to be said for having a high volume, pleasant shooting, predictable and accurate load, and I've found just exactly that in the Unique loads that I've worked up for these cartridges.
I'm so happy that I was able to pick up an 8lb jub of Unique last fall that I've not yet opened...now if only I could find some Bullseye.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I use unique for all my leadcast handgun loads. I use 2400 in all my handgun Magnum loads.
retired_diver
Member
OK, where do you find data for aa#5 and aa#7 for 45-70?????? I have been to speer #10, #12, lyman 49th, Lyman cast bullets manual, Hodgdon web site, Alliant powder web site and Western powder web site. No loading data for 45-70 and aa#5 or aa#7.
I believe you are just... not telling the truth to make your point.
venomballistics
Member
And cfe pistol.
I've seen this stuff put out some really sweet numbers.
I cannot argue the results, but must wonder how it makes its numbers.
There has to be some sort of burn rate trick like Longshot has.
I can, however vouch for AA#7, I've used this in a subsonic rifle load. While Blue Dot worked better in this role, #7 was dead on it's heels with voodoo free results. I do have to give that one the nod
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It's worked for me since 1965. Larry
BigBill
Absent Comrade
We get very high mileage when using unique for leadcast loads. I stopped using 296 and went with 2400 too because of less powder needed. Plus the hotter 296 is noted for flame cutting the throats in s&w revolvers.
Their are some who still subscribe to if its not printed in a manual it cant possibly be true. Maybe their web search skills are slowed by the use of 28.8 modem or maybe they just prefer yellow pages to google
Calling someone out for publishing false loads is more a matter of integrity than skill.
Calling someone out for publishing false loads is more a matter of integrity than skill.
Still looking for Unique here in Boise too. I just used the last of my supply today and it was a batch from the 70's, that's how desperate I was!
Switched to VihtaVuori N320 for the time being for 45 ACP but that is tricky to find as well and pricey too.
Switched to VihtaVuori N320 for the time being for 45 ACP but that is tricky to find as well and pricey too.
fredj338
Member
Actually, all the powders in that category have the same range, just not a lot of published data. If I had to, I could make just about any sg/pistol powder work in any cartridge. Like unique, it would be a compromise, but could be done.
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DWalt
Member
Most any of the faster burning powders (Bullseye, Unique, Red Dot, AA #2, etc.) will work well for light loads in many CF rifle calibers of .30 and greater. "THE LOAD" is 13 grains, no matter the caliber or bullet weight. It will save tons of money if all you want is plinking loads and for small game hunting. Also works well, producing BP ballistics in all sorts of large-caliber obsolete 19th century cartridges. No filler needed.
I'm happy I have enough powder to last me the rest of my days. I use Bullseye and Unique for most every handgun caliber I load. For a few specialty loads, I use AA #5 (especially good for maximum .38 Super and 9X23 Win loads due to its high bulk density), Herco, and 2400.
I'm happy I have enough powder to last me the rest of my days. I use Bullseye and Unique for most every handgun caliber I load. For a few specialty loads, I use AA #5 (especially good for maximum .38 Super and 9X23 Win loads due to its high bulk density), Herco, and 2400.
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