Unique Powder
Does anybody have any thoughts in it? I'm thinking of using it because it will work in my .380, .38, & .357. Or if anybody can reccommend another powder that'll work for all three cartridges that would be helpful, too.
GH1[:)]
GH1[:)]
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I use Unique in .45ACP rounds and I'm really happy with it. I do not load any .380's so I can't say for them, but for .38's & .357mag I really like Winchester 231. W231 goes through my powder thrower really nice as well. 0 -
I've loaded thousand's of .38's and .357's with Unique. Works very good. It might be too slow for the 380 though. I still have some I bought back in the mid '70,s. I hear the newer stuff burns cleaner than the older stuff. 0 -
Unique is one of the most universal pistol powders out there. Yes the new production powder is cleaner burning than the old but either would work for you in all 3 calibers. might not be able to get real magnum velocities out of the 357 mag but if that's not a problem go for it. 0 -
At this point killer magnum velocities aren't that much of a concern, I'm mainly interested in practice rounds. I'm sure as time goes by I'll experiment with different powders, bullets, etc. Thanks for the replies everyone.
GH1[:)]0 -
Unique, Universal, W231, PB, AA-5 and SR4756 are all good for light to medium loads in those rounds, with perhaps six or seven more powders almost as good. It's one of the better populated sections of the burn rate lineup - for good reasons. 0 -
You might want to consider "Titegroup" for your .380. 0 -
I like Unique in a lot of my loads. Its a little cheaper sometimes and as far as plinking goes its a good powder. +1 for the titegroup too. 0 -
Unique is, well ... unique. Or it WAS.
Unique was originally marketed and sold as a powder for reduced loads in the 30-06. Honest. It did so many things so well (handgun, shotgun AND rifle) that it has been cloned, copied, and imitated for a century plus.
Many reloaders reach for Unique even today, because reloaders have ALWAYS reached for Unique. It still works. It might not always be the best, but it still works. Good for Unique.
Where it works best, it is magic. But where it works only sorta, kinda well, it might be (heaven forfend!) replaced. That's why so many companies have introduced powders in that general range. Hodgden Universal might be the best alternative: it does all the same things, in darn near the same charge weights, but is cleaner-burning, measures better and often cheaper.
Today, Unique is a bit less than truly unique. It is still good, but it may not be the best.0 -
I had to make a choice like this last year. After do some research, I went with Titegroup. It seems to burn cleaner and is very case position insensitive which makes it exceptionally well suited to the low charge,big case scenario I was working with. 0 -
Unique, because of it's availability and consistency is my "go-to" practice powder. I've loaded it in 38spl, 380, 9mm, 357, 44mag, and 45acp. It doesn't create the beautiful groups that HP-38 does (in at least a couple of my pistols), but I can generally find a can of unique at WalMart.
I haven't tried Tite-Group yet, but I can't find anyone who has and doesn't highly recommend it.
HP-38 is one of my all-time favorites in 38spl and 357 for target-velocity, hard-cast lead loads.0 -
It is my powder of choice. 0 -
I use Unique and Titegroup in my .38, 9mm loads and both work very well. 0 -
Well I ordered a pound of Unique friday, along with a thousand primers & 500 125 gr jacketed flat points from Rainier. According to Cabela's everything should arrive by the 30th.
Can't wait to start reloading!
GH1[:)]0 -
i have used it for years (dirty powder), cant find any local now days. seems it is the only one not on the shelfs 0 -
I've used more Unique than anything else. I have loaded most of the common, modern pistol calibers with it, and also the .38-40, .44-40, .476 Webley, and .45-70, and used it in cast bullet loads in cartridges such as the .30-06 and .30-30.
I still use a number of other powders for pistol loads, like 231, 7625, PB, Bullseye, WST, etc. Some are more economical on charge weights, but none will do what Unique cannot, and the opposite is not always true.0 -
quote:Originally posted by gregoryhart1
Well I ordered a pound of Unique friday, along with a thousand primers & 500 125 gr jacketed flat points from Rainier. According to Cabela's everything should arrive by the 30th.
Can't wait to start reloading!
GH1[:)]
Man I just found out my reloading supplies are backordered until the end of July![:0]
What a bummer.[:(!]0 -
You'll be lucky if you get them within the next 6 months. This is a problem with ALL suppliers. I ordered a crimping die from Midway 3 months ago and just found out that they expect a shipping date of Oct 30th. 0 -
Damn![:(!]
GH1[:)]0 -
Unique is a great powder. Except for the fact that it is dirty to shoot and it is a flake powder so it is harder to dispense. My personnal choice that no one has mentioned is Bullseye. It is very clean and is a ball powder so dispensing is a pleasure. Groups are great. I use in my 9mm,357, and 45acp. 0 -
IMO Bullseye wasn't mentioned because Titegroup is suppose to be a "newer and better" version of Bullseye. I loaded for years in the late 70's with nothing but Bullseye and Unique. I love both of these powders but was led to titegroup by newer reloaders. 0 -
I didn't know about it being hard to dispense, how much grief wil that cause me? I'm using an RCBS powder dispenser.
GH1[:)]0 -
Well I didn't titegroup is a newer version of bullseye. I wiil try it out thanks. As to unique powder my powder measurer RCBS sometimes will catch in mid stroke with flake powders. Does anybody else have this issue or is my dispenser need to be retired? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 44shotdoctor
Well I didn't titegroup is a newer version of bullseye. I wiil try it out thanks. As to unique powder my powder measurer RCBS sometimes will catch in mid stroke with flake powders. Does anybody else have this issue or is my dispenser need to be retired?
You don't have a hair on your butt if you don't go out and buy an brand-new, high-dollar dispenser.
Double-Dog Dare.
Double-Dog-With-A-Triple-Snap-Dare.
Then you can give me your old dispenser.
And the rest of your 44Mag gas checked lead bullets.
Holmes.[:D]0 -
Well Colonel Plink very funny. haha
However you must have a pimple on your butt if you want a measurer that catches with unique.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 44shotdoctor
Well Colonel Plink very funny. haha
However you must have a pimple on your butt if you want a measurer that catches with unique.
You've been peeking again[:D]
But enough of this silly war of words.
You.
Me.
Ruger 44 Magnums at a hundred yards.
Tomorrow at sunrise.
We can take my truck.0 -
Just to clarify two claims above:
TiteGroup is NOT a new version of Bullseye.It is a powder with a very fast burn rate - but that's about all it has in common with Bullseye. TG was designed to use very small charges but not be position sensitive even in large revolver cases. It's also extremely clean-burning and measures well.
Bullseye is NOT a ball powder. It is a small cut flake powder, of double-base formulation. The recipe is a century old, but because everybody who has ever reloaded for handguns has used Bullseye at some time, it is still popular.0 -
RR
I have been reloading for both Handguns and Rifles with jacketed and cast bullets for more than 30 years and have never used Bulleye. For my needs for fast powder I used to use Red Dot. Now I use 231. I do use Unigue until at least my current supply is gone, same story for the Red Dot. Only reason I would buy more is to avoid have to redo the load development for my Unique and Red Dot loads. Nothing wrong with Bulleye but just never used it. There are so many fast powders that you just have to pick something. I think 231 is the most economical and it meters great and is clean burning. That is where I am going.0 -
Just goes to show there's an exception to everything, huh? Your thinking is sound, though.
I tend to have more powders on hand than most, because an article on a given cartridge has to have data for several powders. At my last inventory, I had over 70 kinds of powder, about half of them handgun powders. I have to say that Bullseye isn't one of my favorites, either. I could name a dozen powders that either measure better, shoot cleaner, are at least as accurate, or are less expensive. The one undeniable advantage for Bullseye is that with almost any suitable cartridge/bullet combo, you can find load data using it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dtknowles
RR
I have been reloading for both Handguns and Rifles with jacketed and cast bullets for more than 30 years and have never used Bulleye. For my needs for fast powder I used to use Red Dot. Now I use 231. I do use Unigue until at least my current supply is gone, same story for the Red Dot. Only reason I would buy more is to avoid have to redo the load development for my Unique and Red Dot loads. Nothing wrong with Bulleye but just never used it. There are so many fast powders that you just have to pick something. I think 231 is the most economical and it meters great and is clean burning. That is where I am going.
I just worked up some loads for gas-checked 240-gr lead bullets using 231. I was most pleased with the results using 10.5 grains.
And then 44shotdoctor delivered a pants-down spanking on me at a hundred yards.
With my pistol.
And my loads.
Hey, at least the loads are accurate.0 -
To the response of "Rocky Raab" so what is your favorite powder for your house loads? If not Bullseye than what?
As for Colonel Plink he need a pants down spanking at the gun range. For the rest of you it was 44 mags at 100 yards with his 231 and unique vs my 296 and H110. Two completely different powder types but the 44shotdoctor wins out. A house load vs an all out balls to the walls load. Felt great about you Colonel Plink? Don't be messin with the doctor.0
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