Unique

[Apples]

Scharfschuetze

I use a Redding powder measure. When I bought it in the late 60s, you could also get a small volume pistol insert for the drum...

Jack Stanley

Just for what it's worth . The Uniflow powder measure I bought all those years ago came with two powder drums . One was a large and the other small , When using Unique I've always used the small so there was less area that had to be sheared against . You can still feel it as the measure is operated but , if you try to push the handle outward against the arc of handle movement it is not so bad.

Yessirs.

I've just acquired a pile of RCBS gear, including a Uniflow measure. Because I intend to meter little other than Unique when working up from milder .41 and .44 loads I also purchased the small Uniflow drum. I learnt me somthin' else on the innernets about powder weight in the hopper and how a powder baffle may assist consistent metering so I got that too.

Uniflow drum - small

Uniflow powder baffle

Great thread. I'm glad to have found it. After the OP, seeing the reasonable and experienced replies has put my mind at ease with my plan to follow in the footsteps of The Pistol Greats by using Unique (and also have a ready supply of 2400 if I can find some...)

[Apples]

.
...but I digress.

The OP was concerned with the apparent detritus deposited in his barrel after using Unique.

KCcactus

For those having more problems with Unique, what primers are you using?

I am curious to hear some answers to this one, too. Large pistol primers should more than suffice.

And "Crimp!" has been mentioned several times. I understand it is possible to also over-crimp which could reduce neck tension, exacerbating combustion pressure loss. When I began prepping some brass I became concerned at the seeming over-sizing (over reduction in case o.d.) from my RCBS .41 Mag Carbide Sizer Die... after poking around some on the internet and after a phone call to RCBS themselves I find that to be normal; the sizer die is to spec and now I am relieved to realize there should be superior neck tension when the bo0lit is seated in addition to the recommended crimp settings.

[MajorDude]

I have had the problem you describe. I decided that it was light loads/light crimp like others, but have another idea. I had an issue once with some 38 specials that were barely getting out of the barrel and bouncing off the ground half way to the target. I pulled some and the loads looked normal, but I discovered that the powder had been attacked by the plastic powder hopper of my measure. I used to store powder in my measure all the time. These loads left a ton of "popcorn" all over the bench, gun, etc. I read that some powders are more prone to this than others. Can't recall if it was Unique though.

[sharps4590]

Plastic hoppers will "off gas" and deteriorate powder. I learned that the hard way also. My experience was it seemed to be especially prevalent if the measure was where sunlight could reach it.

[OS OK]

That's an interesting observation Major...can't offer another perspective on that though because I've never made storing powder in the measure a practice. It's just one of those things I don't do but, for other reasons.

But, the comment I'd like to make is regarding the use of Unique and it's sloppy metering...I have learned to double 'tap' the Uniflow (using the small drum) on the fill stroke to better settle the powder in the drum metering hole on the fill. I've sat in the shop doing OCD type test where I'd dump and weigh every load drop and write it on a tablet. I wasn't actually loading rounds, I was just interested in trying to develop a technique to meter the unique without going to the expense of using some high end throw.

What I ended up with is basically this...
Double tap on fill and on dump, be consistent and don't try to be over energetic, just smooth and even strokes.
Use a powder baffle to keep constant weight above the metering hole...tap the hopper at the start to settle the powder until you stop seeing the settling...doesn't take but a dozen gentle taps to start the process.
Unless I'm forgetting something, that's about the sum of it.
The result is this, I get prolly 50 to 70 percent drops that are right on the button, right on target weight.
The remaining percentage never went farther than .1 on the low side, another words... -.1 to target. I think, not sure but...I think the test target was around 8 grains and the scale was the old digital RCBS that was a stand alone scale or use it with my auto dispenser. An early version RCBS put out years back, very accurate but not as fast as the new ones in cycle time.
This observation prolly doesn't mean much to someone using a progressive but to us old turret and single stage users it is applicable.

So that's all of my .02 cents worth...charlie

[OBIII]

For those of you too fastidious to use that dirty, filthy, Unique powder, please package it up and ship it to me at your expense. I will be more than happy to dispose of it safely for you. PM me for shipping address.
OB

[dverna]

Interesting thread. I have never used Unique but decided to put up 4 jugs of it for SHTF. This was due to many good reviews by people I respect on this site.

I will ill be testing it soon.

There may be better application specific powders out there but I have decided that keeping a wide assortment of powders is not where I want to be. KISS.

[Moonie]

Unique was the first powder I ever used, in 9mm. I currently have a 4 pounder of it that I've just opened.

[trapper9260]

For those of you too fastidious to use that dirty, filthy, Unique powder, please package it up and ship it to me at your expense. I will be more than happy to dispose of it safely for you. PM me for shipping address.
OB

I am willing to help out also for those that want to get rid of it also. Let me know by PM. I will do the same as ODIII

[Texas by God]

UNIQUE. Aptly named and booting boolits in the butt accurately for 100 yrs. I would hate to be without it. Best, Thomas.

[tdoyka]

i'd take unique in a heartbeat. i've begun shooting unique in my ruger sbh and i don't find it to be dirty at all. trail boss is alot more dirty. even tho i like tb, i'll stick with unique.

[TXGunNut]

It was my first powder too. Finally found some a few months back, been out of it for years. OS OK's double tap technique was worked for me for years but I had one incident of bridging last session in spite of it. I was trying to throw 8 grains and only 3.8 fell. It was very early in the session, still weighing charges so no harm done. I've always done a visual check with powder, starting out with Unique is probably why.

[Ole Joe Clarke]

I'll take Unique any day, and twice on Sunday.

Never used any that had cornmeal in it. Every powder that you use is gonna be dirty to some extent. Sure it's a little bit hard to measure, but it works great in shotguns, pistols, and some rifle loads. I'm trying to save my pennys to by a 8# can of it.

I don't understand all the belly aching about Unique. If you don't like it, don't use it.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

[35 shooter]

Unique was my first powder to load with too. I started loading with a 12 ga. shotgun and have since used unique in every handgun and rifle since, with both jacketed and cast boolits at one time or another.

My loading bench isn't complete without a few cans of unique around. As long as it's made, i won't be without it.

[slim1836]

As long as it's made, i won't be without it.

Amen for that.

Slim

[hankgreen]

why do you think the call it "flaming dirt",,,,,i use it all the time without issues,,,

[clum553946]

I also like Unique, I use it in 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, 44-40 for my old lever actions! I also use it in reduced loads for the 30-30 & 45-70. It's a little on the dirty side, but it's kind of a period smokeless for those guns & I like the way it performs in those cartridges! I figure if it was good enough back in the old days, it's good enough for me now!

[docbrown]

First post and I hope I am in the right place to ask this question. Since this is a thread about Unique, it seemed like it.

Relatively new to reloading and I was hoping those here with experience loading with Unique. I loaded up the following for my CZ75 clone:

124 gr X-treme plated round nose with CCI 500 primer and 5.4 grains of Unique at COAL of 1.0955. Alliant's web site shows a max load for a 124 grain jacketed bullet as 5.8 grains of Unique, CCI 500 and a COAL of 1.12. My Lyman shows a max load as 5.0 grains of unique for a Jacketed 125 gr bullet.

Initially, this looked like a safe load (7% below Alliant's max), Now looking at the Lyman manual, I don't know. I am not above separating the loads I made (about 30 of them), but I don't really want to if I don't need to. Anyone have experience with this or a similar load? Does it seem too hot? Thanks in advance for your thoughts, and feel free to tell me if I am in the wrong place.

[RogerDat]

I had managed to keep some one pounders on hand through "the troubles" and eventually able to add an 8 lb. jug to those. For pistol I am using a Lee disk powder measure on the turret press and so far no issues. Not hard to meter from a disk, loads fine, works well in all the revolver and auto loader pistol uses, plus shotgun. My other main pistol powder would be Titegroup which is pretty close to the ETR7 mentioned in earlier posts.

I just don't see the issue, it works, and pretty decent too.