why i like unique

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive allways said id never give up unique on my bench. Yesterdays shooting showed me why. I load on dillions and unique doesnt meter that well but i loaded 9.5 grains of unique power pistol and universal clays with 6 differnt 240-255 grain swcs and a 260 lfngc and shooting them in two differnt guns there was only two cases where the unique wasnt the most accurate load in both guns. There were to loads in the super that were edged out by power pistol but it was by a small ammount. Now this isnt scientific as if i would have tried 10 grains the whole test might have changed but my loading bench will never be without Unique or bullseye. I dont beleive modern technology has improved on either one of them to any extent.

[Castaway]

Unique, as it name says is unique.  If I had to use only one pistol powder that's what it would be.  I load from 380 up to 45 Colt loads and even reduced 45-70 loads.  It serves me with 12 gauge loads as well.  Nothing else out there is a flexible with as good results, especially with cast bullets.  There are those out there that complain about how dirty it is but my response is, "so what?"  I've never had a failure to fire due to using it, nor even with Bulls Eye.  Although you can't get top-end performance in your 357, 44 Mag or Ruger 45 Colt equavalent loads, it still gives plenty enough umph for most applications.  In fact, I've reduced my pistol powders kept on the bench, got rid of Bulls Eye and my mainstay is guess what?  Unique.  Ture, it doesn't meter the best, but it does a great job loaded volumetrically (Lee disk dispenser) when you look at the target results. 

[sidekick]

Lloyd, understanding your preference for Unique, what is your opinion on Universal Clays in .44 Special or Magnum with 240-255gr. cast bullets? I've read several good things about this powder, and I am about to start working up some moderate loads for my S&W 4" 629.

[Lloyd Smale]

Universal clays seems to burn cleaner then about anything but like the other post. I DONT CARE IF A POWDER IS CLEAN. My guns are shot and shot alot and any powder using cast bullets is a mess if you shoot enough. I personaly think powder pistol is about as clean and has given me better accuracy in those applications and like i said for Accuracy unique is usualy the champ for me. I bought an 8lb keg of universal clays about 2 years ago and its still half full if that tells you anything. Ive gone through 3 kegs of Unique and over a keg of power pistol in the same ammount of time. I did find one good load with a 240 swcgc and univ. clays in my super so at least i can shoot it up with that. But i doubt if id ever buy anohter keg of it and i will continue to use power pistol

[DWTim]

I agree, I agree!

There's data with Unique for every pistol cartridge I am loading, or want to load in the future. I've loaded my .358 calibers from 700 ft/s Specials all the way up into 1,200 ft/s Magnums. With the exception of one bullet type, it's been very easy for me to find an accurate load using any bullet in any handgun cartridge. Unique is a bit sooty, but it's consistent. I've had .45 Colts that were less than half-filled, and .44 Mags on the zippy side. The residue was about the same.

And as far as sootiness, how bad can it be? I don't want to start powder fight, but why single out this particular idiosyncrasy of this one propellant? Without mentioning the particular powders, I'll say that I would much rather wipe off a light coating of gray soot than clean out a plasticy mess, a black charring that leaves my brass tarnished, or little green balls that stick to the brass and get in the action.

Since I added some .38s and a .45 ACP to my collection, and RCBS was previously kind enough to provide me with a small cylinder for my Uniflow, I am a happy man. I will continue to buy and test other powders, but Unique is the only one that I'd even consider buying in a quantity larger than one pound.

[Evil Dog]

I will certainly have to agree that Unique doesn't meter all that well.  Was out putting together some 38 Spl rounds earlier today, 5.0 gr with the Lyman 358311 160gr RN.  Since that is only 1/10th grain under max I was weighing each and every charge.  Didn't take long to notice that 1960's vintage Lyman #5 powder measure was dropping charges anywhere from 4.6 to 4.8 gr as weighed on my Pact digital scale.  Have no reason to doubt the scale readings as it consistently repeated the correct weight for my check weights.  Sure did slow things down a bunch weighing every one rather than my usual custom of weighing every 10th charge.  Best to be safe though.

[Lloyd Smale]

I wouldnt worry a dammed bit about a .2 variation in powder charges. Two powders that i even have more problems with metering are redot and herco and i use the crap out of both. What ive found is in a handgun at 25 yards it makes no diffence. Ive got redot loads the vary that much with powder charges as low as 3 grains that still shoot under an inch a 25 yards and outshoot powders that measure percisely. I think a guy has to measure the quality of a handload on the target not the scale. Ive taken these same loads and measured the precisely and have seen absolutely no differnce in accuracy. Only time id be worried about exacting powder weights is if i was pushing the ragged edge in pressures with the load and you have no bussiness using powders like these for doing that anyway.

[Evil Dog]

I do a lot of PPC / IPSC / Practical Pistol type shooting.... pretty much entirely double action with a 1954 vintage K-38.  Cast Lyman 358311 round nose bullets weighing right at 163gr when cast from wheelweight.  As long as I can keep within a 7" circle at up to 30 yards that is all that really matters.  I suppose all I really need is ammunition that consistently goes "bang".  In order to achieve "major caliber" level with a 38 special they have to be loaded towards the upper end of the published data.  1/10th of a grain in either direction probably won't make any noticeable difference in the first place.  When setting the powder measure I will often throw 10 charges into the pan, weigh it and divide by 10 to get the average charge weight.

[OLDHandgunner]

I Agree with you Lloyd.
                                                                                                                                               I've been using  Unique, Bullseye & 2400 for almost 40 yrs. in most my handguns. I've used other powders from time to time to try them out but always use these 3 the most. Thats why I used to buy them in 4 lb cans. As far as metering goes I've never noticed an accuracy loss in my Dillon using these powders. And believe me if these powders didn't shoot excellent I'd be using something else.
Unique is probably the most versatile of all the pistol powders.

[Slufoot]

I just ordered two 8lb. jugs of Unique yesterday. Someone mentioned Unique as being the most versatile pistol powder, I totally agree!

[GregP42]

I would not be without it either, I shot 265 rounds out of my 32-20 Dan Wesson yesterday, all cast bullets backed my Unique, no problems of any kind, and I don't think it is all that dirty. If anything I think that X800 and Red Dot are worse that it is for getting your firearm dirty. I use it in everything from 32-20 to 41 Mag, and in reduced loads in 45-70, and when I reload for my Dad it is what I use for his 44 Mag. It is just a very good all around powder.

Greg