Unique Vs Universal ( Clays)

[JWFilips]

Ok Folks :
When I was shooting lots of pistol...Unique & universal were near identical for loads.
Now I'm shooting a lot of light loads in rifles and I know unique is a favorite of mine. My unique supply is getting low but I have a good supply of Hodgson Universal ( Clays) Powder. Can light loads in rifles, substitute this powder or is there a grainual difference that sets up a red flag. Is it the same as pistol use or is there a difference with light unique loads substituting Universal in rifle?

[Baja_Traveler]

I use Universal Clays in my 30-30 as a direct substitute for Unique (Which has been on-obtainable for years). They both shoot to the same point of impact as light silhouette chicken loads using a 311008. Haven't used it for anything else outside of that...

[Jack Stanley]

For gallery loads in my aught six they are the same , at least on paper . I haven't compared the two with a chronograph present and I'm no where near the top of the load ..... come to think of it I'm below the starting point for both .

Jack

[chsparkman]

I use either one, same loads for pistol and rifle.

[Shooter6br]

"Flaming Dirt" i.e Unique I get slightly more accurate loads. Not enough to write home about

[guicksylver]

I too started with Unique. Love it and will continue to use it.

However I ended up with around 16#'s of Universal from my shotgun days.

I started to substitute Unigue for Universal in my rifle loads, with much success.

My belief and I can prove it, is that it not position sensitive.

I will search for the data, but I chronoed 20/30-06 rounds last summer with Universal and NOE 311332 ( same as Lyman 311334).

If I remember correctly the SD was 9 FPS, three rounds the same, two slightly different of five RNDS.

I will post the velocities when I locate the notes.

Groups in the 3/4" range @100yds.

Both iron sighted 03 and scoped 03a4.

The really interesting part was that good accuracy was found in the 30-06 with 11.6, 12.4 and 14.1 Grains and the 311332 from NOE
My data, if used ,use at your risk.

[10x]

This, from a powder manufacturer in Australia, seems to confirm what you suspect

http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handlo...quivalents.asp

[303Guy]

I have used it in my Brit and with one load it produced high pressure in the neck area. I know this because that particular rifle has rust damage in the neck area and these loads were expanding the neck to lock into that damage. Something full power normal loads do not do. That's not to say you shouldn't use the powder, just that it may not be wise to run at higher pressures. I was also using an inappropriate case filler.

What I like about the powder and why I bought it over the Unique equivalent is its bulkiness. At the moment I'm finding it great for boolit testing. My test load it 5grs under whatever boolit. I now use Dacron as a positioner, mainly to prevent powder spillage should the boolit pull out of the case on extracting an unfired round. I also fire the test loads straight down so I feel it best to position the powder.

[35remington]

I have found very considerable position sensitivity using Universal. Do not allow it to wander too far in the case.

[Trinidad Bill]

I have found very considerable position sensitivity using Universal. Do not allow it to wander too far in the case.

and...do you find the same position sensitivity with Unique?

I would love to find an alternative to Unique.

[35remington]

It's not quite as bad with Unique.

[303Guy]

Hang on, ADI list Universal as equivalent to Unique. Clays they list as AS30N which is what I use. So which are we talking about here? I thought Universal Clays was AS30N (not just the equivalent). Now I'm confused.

[JWFilips]

Hogdon powder 's formal name for "Universal" is "Universal Clays"

"Clays" however is a faster burning powder
For some reason most times when Universal name comes up they drop the add'l Clays moniker.
Yes it is confusing

[kungfustyle]

Universal(Clays)/Unique are listed as AP70N equivalent on that chart.

[303Guy]

OK then, so I've been using Clays, not Universal.