I’ve had good luck with 244 but be aware that it’s quite a bit faster than Unique. So far I’ve shot 244 in 9mm, 38 Special, and 44 Mag. Good “target” powder for all three. Burns clean as well.
Where is the Unique
- Thread starter fishwishin
- Start date
I’ve had good luck with 244 but be aware that it’s quite a bit faster than Unique. So far I’ve shot 244 in 9mm, 38 Special, and 44 Mag. Good “target” powder for all three. Burns clean as well.
Yup, same here. I've had good luck using W244 as an alternate to W231.
scooter123
Member
You forgot the General Dynamics plant in Canada, where I've been told the Clays series of powders are made. St. Marks makes H110 and other powders for Hodgdon. What is made in Canada is currently not available and won't be for at least 3 years. BTW, I shoot 4 gun Skeet and Clays and Universal were my goto powders for 12, 20, and 28 gauge loads. Now the 12 is getting Titewad and the 20 and 28 get made with Longshot. While these powders do work well these alternates have a higher density and cause stack height issues. BTW, Unique is another wonderfully bulky powder that was superb for the 20 and 28 but that is also MIA. While I have no clue as to where Unique was being made I sort of suspect it may be another Canadian product.
Cdog
Member
Alliant powders have always been more difficult for me to find locally. Seems most retailers in my part of the state keep mostly the Hodgdon brands.
As others have said, I’ve been seeing Unique, 2400, and a few others show up at a couple of places, but I can buy VV powders for less. I can’t make myself pay $50 for burning dirt when I can get VV340 for around $42.
Hodgdon is doing the same with IMR4831, IMR4350, IMR4064, and other long time favorite powders. Luckily I have a good supply of most.
I’ve recently picked up a few pounds of RAMSHOT brand powders that were recently on sale for testing.
I don’t like the chokehold Hodgdon can put on smokeless powders. Lack of competition is never good for the end users.
As others have said, I’ve been seeing Unique, 2400, and a few others show up at a couple of places, but I can buy VV powders for less. I can’t make myself pay $50 for burning dirt when I can get VV340 for around $42.
Hodgdon is doing the same with IMR4831, IMR4350, IMR4064, and other long time favorite powders. Luckily I have a good supply of most.
I’ve recently picked up a few pounds of RAMSHOT brand powders that were recently on sale for testing.
I don’t like the chokehold Hodgdon can put on smokeless powders. Lack of competition is never good for the end users.
Paul in Nevada
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All of Alliant's manufacturing capacity has been dedicated to defense contracts. Better find VV and Hodgdon substitutes for your favorite Alliant powders, maybe permanently.
Even after Ukraine is turned into a smoking wasteland, it will be a decade or more before NATO nations rebuild their stockpiles.
Even after Ukraine is turned into a smoking wasteland, it will be a decade or more before NATO nations rebuild their stockpiles.
max503
Member
People say Unique is sooty and smoky like it's a bad thing.
HODGDON POWDER AND ADI; THE AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION
I don't know what powders are made by GD for Hodgdon but you can bet they're making a lot of it for military contracts these days and forsaking the commercial ammo and reloading market. That's pure speculation on my part but I do know there's a WW1 artillery style war going on in Europe and that takes a lot of powder to fling those 155 mm projectiles.
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cmj8591
Member
venomballistics
Member
Was a handy feature when I ran traditionally lubed cast lead.
The lube plus the soot made a tenacious slurry in the bore that denied access to any form of metal fowling.
Pumpin' sludge means no brushing lead
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Like I said above, including the powders mentioned above Universal is an even better replacement for Unique since it was specifically formulated to directly compete with Unique.
Add W231 and Zip to the list too if you consider W244 or AA#5.
Cdog
Member
I like powders that give higher density loads. I'm a tight wad about many things but I want to see some powder in those cavernous .45 cases. I don't even consider the cost of lower yields per pound.
I have an ample supply of Universal, Accurate #5, W572, VV-3N37, VV-340 and other powders that do a respectable job in cases like .38 Special, .45-ACP and .45 Colt. W244 has drawn my attention. I will likely pick up a pound soon just to satisfy my curiosity.
My goal for the majority of my non magnum range loads are lower velocity, high density, low pressure, and of course good accuracy.
There are several powders with many of these attributes that play well with a wide variety of cartridges.
I have an ample supply of Universal, Accurate #5, W572, VV-3N37, VV-340 and other powders that do a respectable job in cases like .38 Special, .45-ACP and .45 Colt. W244 has drawn my attention. I will likely pick up a pound soon just to satisfy my curiosity.
My goal for the majority of my non magnum range loads are lower velocity, high density, low pressure, and of course good accuracy.
There are several powders with many of these attributes that play well with a wide variety of cartridges.
Paul in Nevada
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I'm sure you remember the other powders Hodgdon marketed during the last Alliant drought: Universal, Target, Red, Blue, and Green. They discontinued them all after only two years except for Universal, though I haven't seen that one on shelves in a while. It was ironically bad timing to discontinue them when they did. Right before the pandemic and right before Alliant dropped off the map.
I remember Hodgdon coming out with the Clays line. Clays International Clays and Universal Clays. All shotgun powders. I continued to use the red & Green Dots in the 12 ga and 20 ga respectively. Unique in the 28. Then with new pressure testing it was found Green Dot had some real pressure spikes in the 20 causing cracked tubes in small ga(20 ga) tubes. I even had one in my Briley tubes. So I changed to Unique in the 20 ga too. Then International clays was kinda discontinued and Universal sseemed to disappear. I don't think it was made to compete with Unique specifically...and to b honest I still don't think it compares to the uses of Unique...hense the name ...it still is Unique. And for those who complain about Unique not being a consistent dropping powder...It's mostly powder measures and technique generally in measure throws in my opinion. ...but it is still a pretty consistent shooting powder. Yeah I have used Universal...but mostly for handgun loads. Luckily I have a fair amount of Unique...and it's sister powder Herco which will do most things Unique will at the cost of another 1/2 grain or so of powder. I just got another couple pounds of powder...in the steel square cans. One Number 7 and one pound of Unique...15 dollars each. The guy had a couple cans of 2400 and Reloader 11 too. I did not buy them though. Weren't the Target Red Green and Blue IMR powders?? I have been lead to believe Alliant is supplying a lot of powder to Ukraine. We'll see how things shape up after the end(hopefully soon)of that conflict
buckshotshorty
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While looking for available powders this morning I found W231 @ Powder valley in 1, 4 and 8# jugs available, so, I ordered a 4 lb jug.
I have used 231 and the Hodgon version (HD38) with very good results in most pistol categories. I have not been shooting as much as years past so 4 lbs should last longer than I will.
I have used 231 and the Hodgon version (HD38) with very good results in most pistol categories. I have not been shooting as much as years past so 4 lbs should last longer than I will.
Chubbs103
US Veteran
W231 has stayed more available through this shortage than most of the powders I normally use. It also meters really well. I've switched a number of my standard loads to W231/HP38.
shil
Member
I've had good fortune as well in obtaining W231, albeit at stratospheric prices. I personally like the powder. I wish, though, I could obtain primers without taking out a second mortgage. I know I'm in good company there.
Paul in Nevada
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Funny thing is, Hodgdon was threatening to discontinue W231/HP38 for many years and yet here it is one of the most commonly available powders.
That was a fiasco. Three very different powders and the consumer couldn't tell the difference between them. They have since rationalized the names to just Clays, Universal, and International but the damage is done. It's interesting that of the Clays line, only International has no handgun application. In fact Hodgdon is quite adamant on the point, though I am sure someone has experimented with it.
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I never saw a real use for international Clays...unless it was intended for International/Olympic style loads in the 12 ga...24 grams shot at 1400 ft per for Intl Skeet and trap. I shot some International skeet. Didn't do too bad but those loads kick. Do they still make the middle powder??
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Funny thing about the Clays series of powders. For some reason some reloaders were confused but back a while when IMR had the SR line of powders no one confused the powders in that line? Were we smarter back then or just paid better attention? I don't the answer.
