Author Topic: Alliant powder recall- Unique (Read 1671 times)

oso45-70 · « **on:** June 15, 2006, 05:21:39 AM »

Alliant has a recall on Unique powder in the eight pound cans with the following numbers 850-859-861-868 You can call Alliant at 1-800-276-9337 or e-mail at alliant.reloading@atk.com. Powder from these cans can be very dangerous.........Joe.........

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2006, 06:10:10 AM »

oso45-70

Thanks Joe, I didn't get caught with any of that lot number but was ready to purchase somemore Unique.

Have been lucky enough over the years not to be involved in such a recall.
Does anyone know (assuming you purchased the above) if you would nessarly catch it yourself based on the familure flake type and or volume in the case?

swampthing · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2006, 11:39:22 AM »

That is some scary stuff. I think it was just by chance that I always started low when I tried a new powder, now I think I'll do it evertime I buy a new batch!
I'd rather keep my face on my head.

MS Hitman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2006, 01:28:06 AM »

Actually, one should start low whenever a new can of powder is put in use. This is good and safe handloading practice. Differences in burning rate may be great enough in the same type/brand of powder to cause problems at or near max loads.

S.B. · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2006, 08:21:09 AM »

Quote from: MS Hitman

Actually, one should start low whenever a new can of powder is put in use. This is good and safe handloading practice. Differences in burning rate may be great enough in the same type/brand of powder to cause problems at or near max loads.

I've never read the statement of starting low with every new can of powder? I have and use several reloading manuals. I understand the start low with a new powder or bullet weight, but with a tried and true load yuo've used for years? Where did you see this?

swampthing · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2006, 09:54:13 AM »

Right here.

Say someone that reloads, especially rifle loads, didn't hear about the recall and dumped X amount of powder in a shell just because "that is what they always used"... oh boy.
Bad habit's can lead to a bad day.
Thanks to the person who noticed the recall and made it known.

swampthing · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2006, 09:57:44 AM »

I think this phrase was meant to sum up this very topic:
"Every time you change any part of the load, start low and work up."
A new can of powder is just that... a change in the load.

S.B. · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2006, 10:59:11 AM »

Again, my orginal question was where did you read this, what publication?

swampthing · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2006, 04:02:06 PM »

Most any reloading manual will, {should}, state that phrase in one way shape or form.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2006, 05:28:14 PM »

Quote from: glanceblamm

oso45-70

Thanks Joe, I didn't get caught with any of that lot number but was ready to purchase somemore Unique.

Have been lucky enough over the years not to be involved in such a recall.
Does anyone know (assuming you purchased the above) if you would nessarly catch it yourself based on the familure flake type and or volume in the case?

Glanceblamm

Any of the powders with the last numbers mentioned above will be a finer cut, therefore will give a faster burn and pressure increase.

You should be able to see the difference at a glance.

..........Joe...........

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2006, 04:04:56 PM »

oso45-70 Wrote:

Quote

will be a finer cut, therefore will give a faster burn and pressure increase.

Thanks Joe
I suspected as much but wasn't for sure as far as smokless goes.
Knew of a case where a guy had some surplus cannon powder & was going to use a blender to grind it down to ff-g but that is another story. :eek:

S.B. · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2006, 03:57:30 AM »

Quote from: swampthing on June 18, 2006, 04:02:06 PM

Most any reloading manual will, {should}, state that phrase in one way shape or form.

Which ones actually do say this? Has there been any reports of serious accidents with this affected powder?

kyote · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:14:22 AM »

S.B.

I understand you want to know where this information comes from.It should have read "new lot# of powder"the free manuals that powder makers give away,I have read it in there.I have also read it in numeruos shooting rags.Right now I could not give you a specific place to go to and say there it is.If you have old manuals (reloading)check powders in new upto date manuals against the old one and you will notice a difference in starting and max loads.some lots are hotter then others and some are not as hot as others,but they keep them in a certain spec area that they are intended for.But,and,is why the warning. new lot # start over, start at min.and work up..
I find that some of the oooolder manuals (reloading)the give away ones.have a wealth of trivia info that the newer ones do not.I have some dated from the 1930s..

S.B. · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:51:21 AM »

Quote from: kyote on July 22, 2006, 03:14:22 AM

S.B.

I understand you want to know where this information comes from.It should have read "new lot# of powder"the free manuals that powder makers give away,I have read it in there.I have also read it in numeruos shooting rags.Right now I could not give you a specific place to go to and say there it is.If you have old manuals (reloading)check powders in new upto date manuals against the old one and you will notice a difference in starting and max loads.some lots are hotter then others and some are not as hot as others,but they keep them in a certain spec area that they are intended for.But,and,is why the warning. new lot # start over, start at min.and work up..
I find that some of the oooolder manuals (reloading)the give away ones.have a wealth of trivia info that the newer ones do not.I have some dated from the 1930s..

I'm sure the information comes from Aliant? I think one needs to consider such happenings in our world of reloading but, with modern metalurgy and heat treating of guns, I think they put a strong measure of safety in between us and their product( at least quality gun makers and American gun makers). I don't consider gun rags as reloading manuals. Too many (monetarilly) biased opinions. I don't disagree that catrastrophy could happen with a bad can of powder but think it unlikely? But agree it's better to be safe than sorry.

DWTim · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2006, 06:42:27 AM »

Hiya folks! I doesn't get any closer to the source than this:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/recall.htm

It's my favorite pistol powder... Going to check containers right now.

Also: As far as lots, isn't it SOP to record the powder type, manufacture date and lot # in your reloading log?

S.B. · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2006, 09:59:27 AM »

Thanks for the link. Are Aliant powders still made in the U.S.A.? Bullseye is the same powder as Unique only bullseye has much smaller grains or so I read several years back(maybe in one of Keith's books)? Smaller grains causes the higher pressures?

PaulS · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:17:27 PM »

Quote from: S.B. on July 22, 2006, 09:59:27 AM

Thanks for the link. Are Aliant powders still made in the U.S.A.? Bullseye is the same powder as Unique only bullseye has much smaller grains or so I read several years back(maybe in one of Keith's books)? Smaller grains causes the higher pressures?

S.B.,
Unique and Bullseye are definitely NOT the same powder! They don't even share characteristics. Bullseye is a very fast burning powder that is extremely volume sensitive and Unique is a slower burning powder that is used in the most extreme low density loadings I have ever seen.
10 grains of Unique in a 45 colt or 10 grains in a 3006 with lead bullets are both loads that are recommended with this powder.It is less position sensitive than any other powder i know of. You don't see loads for a 3006 using Bullseye powder in any amount - it just isn't suitable at all.

S.B. · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2006, 04:06:51 PM »

PaulS , I'll be out of town this next week but, when I return I'll try to find the statement again.

Sourdough · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2006, 10:26:41 AM »

So in other words you are saying we need to work up new loads every time we start a fresh can of powder? First time I've heard of this. Been reloading for 45 years. Thought the powder companies went to extreames to see that each lot matched the last lot. My gosh what a nightmare, I've got 14 cans of powder right now on the shelf over my reloading bench. I've got two or three boxes of ammo loaded from a fresh can that I started last week. And a new unopened can of Unique that I gave to the neighbor yesterday so he can load some hot .45 long colts for his contender.

DWTim · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2006, 11:12:42 AM »

I thought this was an interesting addition to the discussion (although you may need a magnifying glass to read it):

http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/chartVihta.asp

Vihtavuori publishes this burn rate comparison chart. May not be totally accurate, but it gives you an idea of how the different brands compare. I thought it was neat.

PaulS · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2006, 04:02:07 PM »

Quote from: Sourdough on July 26, 2006, 10:26:41 AM

So in other words you are saying we need to work up new loads every time we start a fresh can of powder? First time I've heard of this. Been reloading for 45 years. Thought the powder companies went to extreames to see that each lot matched the last lot. My gosh what a nightmare, I've got 14 cans of powder right now on the shelf over my reloading bench. I've got two or three boxes of ammo loaded from a fresh can that I started last week. And a new unopened can of Unique that I gave to the neighbor yesterday so he can load some hot .45 long colts for his contender.

Unless you are loading maximum loads you won't have to start at the beginning load - just drop your old load a grain or two and work back up to find that accurate load again. I am in the process of doing that with my pistol loads because I just used up the last of a couple of casks of H110. You don't have to do this every time you buy powder - only when the lot number changes. I buy in quantity so that I don't have to work loads up very often - so I actually enjoy the process - Sometimes I get a little more velocity and other times a little less but most of the time I get the same velocity around the same level of accuracy.