Unique Powder Use

R

Rivertrail

New member
Pretty new here and have been reading a ton. Have been loading for probably 30 years and watching my Dad before that. When powder started getting harder to find a couple of years ago I tried to narrow my loads down to less variety in powders - using Unique for 9mm, 40, 45acp. I stocked up on Unique powder.

I'm curious as I dont see many folks on here using unique - is it just old fashioned or are there other newer powders that are more readily available? Is it a matter of actual performance/results?

Thanks
 
For the rounds you note, I use Power Pistol. However, I use Unique for .45 Colt, .41 Long Colt, 32-20 revolver loads, 44-40, and others. I find it a good powder for old blackpowder rounds.
 
When Unique got hard to find folks switches to what was available. For ME, when I ran out of Unique, I went with Universal Clays (now simply called Universal). I had enough to outlast the "panic" and kept using it as it seems to burn cleaner, especially in my 20 and 28 gauge ammo. Both are very close as far as usefulness goes (loads are not exactly the same, however), so if one works well for your use, typically the other will as well. The ability to use it for both shotshell and handgun is something I like. That said, there are new powders seemingly introduced everyday so trying some others is for me, on the horizon. While I'll never get down to one powder for 12, 20, 32SWL through 45, it would be nice to narrow it down to 2-3.
Unique is one, depending on price and availability that I may have to take a second look at
 
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Your Unique is a great powder for all 3 of your calibers. I use only Unique for 124 gr. 9MM, I use Unique for some 45 ACP 230 gr. loads. About half with Unique and half 45 ACP with Accurate Arms #5. Unique does fine in 40 S&W for me with 165 gr. bullets. I actually prefer Winchester Super Field WSF in .40. I load several different shotgun loads with Unique. You're not missing anything by not using the latest greatest powders. I keep a good supply of Unique powder on my shelf.
 
If possible, my powder cabinet will always have some Unique available. It is one of those powders that works well in a variety of pistol, shotshell & cast rifle bullet loads. Also it is an excellent powder for creating reduced loads. It measures well & should perform well in all those cartridges you listed. I found it to be one of the most accurate powders with cast bullets in the .45-70 shooting below leading velocities.
 
Love Unique, just don't like the way it meters. It's still my go to powder for serious loads, but for practice I've switched to VV N340. Meters just right and is the cleanest burning powder I've used.
 
I use Unique in 9 mm and in .380. It doesn't meter the best, but good enough, and it fills the cases. Nothing wrong with finding a recipe that works and staying with it for plinking ammo.
 
I used to use Unique with several different handgun calibers. I use several different powders in all my handguns just so I could have good accurate loads in case another shortage comes around, that way I am not boxed in.

Unique is not used very much for my loading in the calibers that you posted.

Just as Hammerhead mentioned in his post, I have developed a strong liking for VV N340. As he mentions, it is very clean burning and has no detectable muzzle flash.
 
Unique works well in MANY calibers. I have used it for probably ever caliber I reload from .32 Long to .30-06. The thing is that there are better powders available for every caliber.

I prefer Bullseye in the calibers mentioned over Unique. It's another old standby that's fairly versatile for a fast burning powder.
 
I shoot a lot of 45 Colt using Unique more than any other powder, and I use plenty of others too. There are other powders I like real well, but for all-around versatility in 45 Colt, I still think Unique is among the very best.
 
Skeeter Skelton's .44 Special load used Unique; that's reason enough to keep some around. In recent years I have used Universal for my midrange loads but I recently told a new handloader, who was asking about suitable powders for .45 Colt, that Unique was a time tested and versatile powder.

IMR has come out with some "clones" of popular Alliant powders; their answer to Unique is called "Unequal". I've not tried it yet.
 
Unique is still my go to powder. I keep several pounds on hand all the time . I have never had an issue with metering and has always been consistent for me. So as long asI can still get it I will use it.
 
Would like to try Unique, but can't find it in this area. Did find some Bullseye at Gander Mountain last year.
Hodgdon powders are easier to find in this area.
 
As you become more aware of what powders are a available to the home reloader. Old timers powder like Unique end up on the shelf. It's been a dirty burning powder since its conception. It doesn't measure well thru a powder drop measurer. Its stats are mediocre at best in what ever cartridge its loaded in. The easiest way to describe. Its not a fast burning pistol powder nor is it a slow burning powder. Its some where's in-between. i.e. a good and very usefull do it all type of powder.
 
Good information - dont want to be the old man that keeps doing something just for the sake of thats how its always been done. Pulling the reloading books out and going to studying...
 
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