Unique, really this dirty?

[el roboto]

Is it normal after 200 rounds through my .45 using Unique that it looks like I fired 100 rounds of black powder through it? I know people complain its dirty but is it really that dirty?

[jmort]

Loaded moderate to high-end it should not be "dirty"

[mikeym1a]

I've used unique in several guns and loads. I really like its overall utility. It does leave some soot, but nowhere near BP, and that soot is easily removed. What boolit are you shooting, and what lube are you using? That may have a bit to do with the soot you are experiencing.

[novalty]

Yeah, unfortunately Unique like several other powders runs dirty on plinking loads.

[Airman Basic]

Jack your charge up more toward the higher end. Soot will pretty much disappear. Accuracy usually improves also.

[el roboto]

Using 230gr lee flat nose boolit, .45acp tumbled lubed in LLA/JPW, 5.7 gr of Unique. I seem to be getting soot and gunk all in my 1911. Wondering if its a combo of the dirty unique and the lube.

[gon2shoot]

I'm guessing that the Alox may have something to do with the "crud".

[Garyshome]

Alox is dirty too.

[btroj]

I find that lube causes far more grunge than powder does.

[M-Tecs]

I am up to about the 60 pounds used since 1970. The advice to kick the load up if you want cleaner is sound. I concur that most of the crud is from the alox. Most of my light loads are Bullseye.

[ElDorado]

I use it all the time with jacketed and have no sooting problems. As long as it's not affecting accuracy or feeding, extraction, or ejection, I wouldn't worry about it.

In my opinion, cleanliness is not a factor in choosing a powder.

[jmort]

"In my opinion, cleanliness is not a factor in choosing a powder."

Forgot who it was in another thread, but they said it best, "If you want a clean gun, don't shoot it."
Wise words indeed.

[John Allen]

It is dirty with low power loads. I clean my guns after every time I shoot so it is no big deal to me. The residue wipes right off.

[williamwaco]

I find that lube causes far more grunge than powder does.

DITTO.

I don't find Unique to be any dirtier than any other powder ( That I have used. Obviously I haven't used them all )
That said, I do not use it in light loads. I use Bullseye or AA2 for that.

[tomme boy]

It seemed every time I have used it, at the end of the day it looked like I had more unburned powder on my than what went down the barrel. I don't use it anymore.

[el roboto]

I clean my guns after every shoot too but this is as dirty as black powder. I seem to have gray gunk and soot all in my 1911. Thinkong im gomna get a luber sizer cause i suspect im getting lube all in my gun from the tumble lube and the unique is sticking to it

[el roboto]

Is 5.7 grns of unique to light? Should i go to six? It kicks aweful hard at six. I dont mimd it i just dont wanna rock my gun to hard

[cwheel]

I run 6 gr. of Unique under a 225 lee round nose. Through the chrono at 850-860 fps. That is about hardball speed. Not necessarily clean, but not much worse than running a equal number of hardball through. Higher powder charges listed in the reloading manuals I have, but my goal was hardball speed. This load is accurate and runs in all 4 of my 1911's well, and a XDs if I ever get it back from Springfield. Yes, there is some recoil with this load, but you are shooting a 45acp here and not a 22. Once you get used to it, you won't pay any attention. With this load you could mix reloads and ball in the same mag and not notice the difference in recoil. If you are looking for a mild target load, this isn't it. I'd classify this as a service load. Note that the same 6gr. charge of Unique also works perfectly in 9 mm under a 115 gr. boolit.
Chris

[el roboto]

It just kocks so much harder then my 185gr factory loads. Im hoping im not getting to much preassure cause i have to load my flat nose rounds at 1.720 oal to work. Im new to all this so i am trying to be cautious.

[Ed_Shot]

Is 5.7 grns of unique to light? Should i go to six? It kicks aweful hard at six. I dont mimd it i just dont wanna rock my gun to hard

Thought it was just me. Lyman 4th Ed. lists Unique (Start) 5.5 gr. with (Max) 7.3 gr. for 452374 (230 gr). I loaded some with Unique 6.0 gr. and thought it had twice the kick of my Promo loads.