Unique Powder

[Slugster]

Precision Reloading is showing Alliant Unique powder in stock at $56.37 per pound.

[Recycled bullet]

It's wild that 1 lb of Alliant unique cost the same as 20 gallons of gas for my truck.

[Tall]

The hazmat charge and shipping is a killer.

[gc45]

i sure wont pay it.

[Shawlerbrook]

Gotta wait until there’s a free hazmat deal and hope it’s still in stock. Unique has been showing up at a few places lately and I’m to the point where I don’t look at the price if I need it.

[35isit]

That's almost what I paid per pound at a LGS two years ago. Bought five pounds. They had about 16. Really should have bought it all. But my debit card cried: Groner:when I paid for it.

[Lance Boyle]

I had been investigating alternatives since using up my last of Unique. Sadly I thought it’d be easier to replace it. I had mostly used it in .38 and .357 but more accurately misused it under optimal pressure and just wasn’t loving it.

Since then I keep finding places where I wish I had it to use. It’s like letting that nice girlfriend go and regretting it later.

My alternatives have also jumped the shark price wise.

One thing I had bought for handgun uses was WST but not a Unique replacement. It sat on the shelf unopened for probably 8 years. Holy moly it’s now one of my go to powders as Bullseye is MIA. It’s accurate and clean as a whistle. Maybe not as accurate as BE but probably neither am I.

AA5 was another powder I tried as a possible Unique replacement. I was also underwhelmed at first, more of my using it below its optimal pressure. When I finally began using it in its right power range it’s been very pleasing.

[contender1]

Apparently,, there has been a batch of powder made available that has been AWOL for a few years. I'm seeing Unique, & Trail Boss pop up.

Until demands slow down, and supply's increase,, we will not see "deals" on powders like this. But if you enjoy a particular ammo combo,, then you either pay the prices,, or you become a collector of pretty metal & wood guns to look at.

[lightman]

Its good to see it on a few shelves again. But there are alternatives. 231 can replace Bullseye, BF86 can almost replace Unique and 110 or 296 can replace 2400. There are several more. Just saying...............

[almar]

i have a relatively good amount of unique left for what i use it for but ive been using BE86 alot more because i stocked up when it was 30$/lb. Im not paying that price for powder, i saw some Aliant powder in the 80$ range per lb...are they nuts?

[jdgabbard]

They can keep it for that price. I won't buy powder over $35/lb. And if I do buy it, it's going to be something else. I love unique. But it's not worth that price. Not to me...

[chuckbuster]

I’m sitting on about 10#

[K43]

I switched to BE-86 when Unique disappeared and BE-86 was still available everywhere. There are many threads documenting people switching to BE-86 on here.

[deces]

i have a relatively good amount of unique left for what i use it for but ive been using BE86 alot more because i stocked up when it was 30$/lb. Im not paying that price for powder, i saw some Aliant powder in the 80$ range per lb...are they nuts?

I'm sure that's what they have been charging uncle sam for ukraine.

[jonp]

Its good to see it on a few shelves again. But there are alternatives. 231 can replace Bullseye, BF86 can almost replace Unique and 110 or 296 can replace 2400. There are several more. Just saying...............

Hate to differ with you but 110/296 can not replace 2400

[jonp]

I’m sitting on about 10#

Cool Beans! I still have 46 lbs.

[lightman]

I agree, 110/296 is not a perfect replacement for 2400 but it can do about the same thing in many of the cartridges that I reload. The other 2 replacements that I listed are not perfect replacements either but will serve.

[P Flados]

Hate to differ with you but 110/296 can not replace 2400

When I needed more stuff in the 2400 range, I went looking for available choices like AA#9, AA 4100 and SW Heavy pistol. These are all closer to 2400 than H110. Of these three I ended up with Heavy Pistol and am happy with it. For a powder just slower than 2400, I had a good stock of Wc 1680. Between these two, I can do "better than" 2400 for 9 applications out of 10.

As far as Unique, I bought an 8 lb jug before Biden was elected and still have a good bit. I have not found a load that it does better than something else that I have.

[fatelk]

I picked up three sealed cans of Unique at a gun show earlier this year, for $10 each.

Yeah, I know. "Old stock" was an understatement, but it looked and smelled fine when I opened them, and I was careful working up loads in 45 Colt and 45 ACP. They clocked just what they should over the chronograph. The best part was I sold the empty cans on ebay for more than I paid full. They must have dated from the 1950's. Too bad he didn't have more. That 70+ year old Unique is still as good as new.

[hawkeye1]

I have a couple pounds of unique on the shelf but recently bought three pounds of BE86. Will see how it stacks up side by side. Have heard it’s real close. I’m curious grain for grain to match unique velocities.