The “unique” thing with Unique - FBI duplicate loads

[Hi-Speed]

I have, like many, duplicated Win/Rem/Fed 38 Special +P LSWCHP loads using Unique (5.2 grs), Power Pistol (5.6 grs) and AA5 (6.2 grs).

Their velocities are within 25-30 FPS of each other...no real statistical difference in my opinion.

But Unique does not have the same blast and “bark” as Power Pistol or AA5 in comparable FBI loads. Unique’s recoil impulse with its FBI loading is markedly less than the other powders noted, and without any noticeable flash.

Unique has stood the test of time.

I also like Unique for 1,100 FPS 357 Magnum loadings with the 158 gr cast SWC in my Ruger B/H. Enough accuracy and power for me.

Pls share your experiences with Unique in your 38/38+P/357 Mag loads.

[Winger Ed.]

I'm a big Unique fan for .38, 9mm. & .45ACP.
Until I recently fell into a sealed 5 pound can of Bullseye for $40, its all I've used since the mid-80s.


There's a few loads for it in .357, but I always find myself drifting back to Blue Dot or something else.
It's common for some light rifle loads, but I was never comfortable with that.
I gravitate back to minimum rifle powder loads for rifles.

[Walks]

Favorite Powder for .357 Loads.
Lyman #358429 168gr SWC - 6.0grs Unique for all .357 Revolvers. With one exception.
The one Exception;
Lyman #358477 150gr SWC - 6.5grs Unique for the S&W M27, M28

[Petrol & Powder]

My problem with Unique is two fold: It isn't very powder-measure friendly & it seems to perform better near the upper limits in terms of charge weights.
Neither of those complaints are an issue if you're loading small numbers of cartridges (say fewer than 100) and you're loading them to near the upper pressure ranges (like say duplicating the FBI load). So Unique has its place on my bench.

I keep Unique on hand for those times where it shines, like making the "Skeeter" load in 44. But I'm not a fan of Unique for high volume production.
The other positive attribute of Unique is that it is nearly universal when it comes to handgun cartridges. You can almost always find at least one load for a handgun cartridge that can be assembled with Unique. During the powder shortage of the Obama years, Unique was one of my fall back powders used to conserve other powders held in my stockpile.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I can't think of any specific experiences to share about Unique in .357 Mag. as you requested, but it is my "go to" powder for most handgun cartridges, and has been for many years. Although it may not be the optimum powder for all cartridges it works in most cartridges, and usually quite well.

[Froogal]

I like Unique. I like how it dispenses from the powder measure, and I like how it fills the case. For .357s, I load 5.5 grains of Unique under a 158 grain lead bullet. Standard, small pistol primers work just fine, but I experimented with some magnum primers. Those magnum primers seemed to produce considerably more "bark" than the standard primers. The jury is still out.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I like unique also. I go through about #8 a year. I use 6.5gns in .357’s with a 150-160gn bullet. I use it in.32hrm with 4.0gns under a 100-119gn bullet. My favorite .45c load is 8.5 under a 282gn bullet. I also use it in 480 ruger with 10.0gns under a 386gn hollowpoint for a nice practice round. I almost forgot 9mm. I use 4.0gns under a 135gn hollowpoint. These are all specific loads that I developed for my revolvers. I can’t forget .41 mag. I use 8.0gns with a 226gn bullet for practice rounds.

[Three44s]

I like Unique, but I like HS6 more often.

Three44s

[Outpost75]

I haven't used Unique in 20 years, mainly due to its particle size which doesn't flow through progressive loading machines. I use AutoComp or WSF for the same applications I used to use Unique for, only for +P revolver loads. Unique does not burn uniformly in light loads for me. For standard pressure loads Bullseye or TiteGroup are much better suited and burn cleaner.

[Forrest r]

You don't see a lot of testing with unique and lite bullets in the 38spl's on the website for some reason. It's nothing to get 950fps+ out of a snubnosed 38spl using unique with 125gr cast bullets. The bullet on the right is a 110gr cramer "gallery" bullet.
[IMG][/IMG]

I used that 110gr cramer bullet & 7.0gr of unique testing 38spl p+ loads in a 2" bbl'd revolver. That combo produced 1100+fps & recoil was low enough that double taps were extremely easy to do with that 16oz revolver.

[dogdoc]

My problem with Unique is two fold: It isn't very powder-measure friendly & it seems to perform better near the upper limits in terms of charge weights.
Neither of those complaints are an issue if you're loading small numbers of cartridges (say fewer than 100) and you're loading them to near the upper pressure ranges (like say duplicating the FBI load). So Unique has its place on my bench.

I keep Unique on hand for those times where it shines, like making the "Skeeter" load in 44. But I'm not a fan of Unique for high volume production.
The other positive attribute of Unique is that it is nearly universal when it comes to handgun cartridges. You can almost always find at least one load for a handgun cartridge that can be assembled with Unique. During the powder shortage of the Obama years, Unique was one of my fall back powders used to conserve other powders held in my stockpile.

I can usually get my Dillon to measure within 1 or 2 tenths of a grain with unique. That should make no difference even on max loads. Your scale is only accurate to plus or minus 1 tenth(unless you have lab scale). Published max Loads are not that close to damage levels or we would all be blowing up guns or shooting them loose.


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[Petrol & Powder]

I can usually get my Dillon to measure within 1 or 2 tenths of a grain with unique. That should make no difference even on max loads. Your scale is only accurate to plus or minus 1 tenth(unless you have lab scale). Published max Loads are not that close to damage levels or we would all be blowing up guns or shooting them loose.


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Or I can just use Bullseye or WW231 and get the exact same weight from the powder measure every time.

Unique has a place on my bench and I like it for some applications, but those applications are few. I'm with Outpost75, there are other powders that work better for standard pressure loads. It's not fear that drives my decision to use other powders.

[USSR]

...Unique does not have the same blast and “bark” as Power Pistol or AA5 in comparable FBI loads. Unique’s recoil impulse with its FBI loading is markedly less than the other powders noted, and without any noticeable flash.

That's because you are barely above a standard .38 Special load and not well into the +P range of the FBI load. You are closer to it with your AA#5 load (I use 6.4gr), but you really need to move up to HS-6 for velocity. Hands down the best FBI load powder.

Don

[Froogal]

5.5 grains of Unique under a 158 grain LRN works quite well for CAS. Both in a revolver and a lever action rifle. I am not concerned with velocity.

[sharps4590]

I use Unique more than any other powder. From little handgun cartridges to cases as big as the 9 X 57 and 8 X 58RD.. and bigger, cast and jacketed bullets.

[charlie b]

I used to use Unique a lot for all the reasons listed. Then I switched to AA5 and AA7 for my .45 and .357 loads. Meters very well and seems to burn cleaner for me. Meters perfectly in my progressive press.

[35remington]

I can affirm that 5.2 grains of Unique is certainly not barely above standard pressures and that such a charge will equal or exceed the velocities obtained with factory “FBI” loads. Such a load is in fact in the Plus P range using a 158 grain bullet. The OP’s commentary is relevant in my experience.

[USSR]

Hi-Speed,

Just so you should know, prior to the adoption of higher pressure .38 Special +P loads, 5.0gr of Unique behind a 158gr lead bullet was a well known and used standard velocity .38 Special load.

Don

[35remington]

4.7 grains Unique is max standard pressure with a 158. 5.2 grains is Plus P. This is via current pressure tested data.

[JBinMN]

4.7 grains Unique is max standard pressure with a 158. 5.2 grains is Plus P. This is via current pressure tested data.

Yep. Agreed. Per the Source links for each, if anyone wants to check:

Unique - 38 Special 158gr. LSWC:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...3&cartridge=26

Unique - 38 Special +P 158gr. LSWC:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...3&cartridge=27

Just posting the source links for agreement/affirmation, not argument.