I've spent forty+ years loading with Unique in a variety of cartridges...yep, it's dirty...often called, "Flaming Dirt", but is a fine choice in most any revolver caliber. In .45 Colt; 8.0 to 8.5 grains has often been called the "Standard".with considerable justification...sooted cases or not, it's been accurate in the four .45 Colt revolvers I've owned: a Ruger, two Colts and a Smith. And at 800 to 900 fps, it's an authoritative load too. For my uses, the evidence of soot is a non-issue if the load is accurate and of usable velocity. YMMv, Rod