Unique powder

[Olsherm]

I have tried Unique in 44/40,38/40 and 45 colt and I havent been able to shoot any good groups at all with it. I have tried all the way from 6 grains to 8 grains and haven't had much luck.I have tried 250GR fps,Lees 252SWC,and the ols Lyman 454190 sized to .452?? Anyone have any ideas?

 

[DGW1949]

Unique don't start working it's best in the 45LC untill you get up to 8.0 grains, and that is assumeing that we're talking about using a 250ish lead bullet. A lot of guns like 8.5 even better.

I'm a big fan of LEE's 252 SWC bullet, Alox lube, Winchester WLP primers and a heavy roll crimp over 8.0-8.5 grns Unique. In fact, that has worked so well for me, for so many years, and out of so many different guns that I'd go so far as to say that if your gun won't group with a load simular to that, that you got's some mechanical issues that needs tended to.

Can't help with the 38/40 or 44/40 though, because I've never owned one.

DGW

 

[Nowata]

In .44mag., my deer load is a 260gr. WFNGC from Montana BW and 11gr. of Unique, mv about 1050-1100fps. Kinda dirty. Guys say Universal(Clays) is much cleaner and it is right next to Unique on the burn chart. When this cannister of Unique is done, I'm trying Univeral. (I get two holes on deer, don't need anymore mv)

 

[Olsherm]

Thanks for the info guys.However,anything above 8grs in a colt type or the new Vaquero seems like about all I want to shoot.Stops being fun when you get to the "big bangers".

 

[opos]

If you are shooting lead in a SAA Clone ( have a Pietta 5 1/5" in 45 Colt) and I'm shooting 6.4 grains of Trail Boss under a 200grain RNFP from Missouri Bullett (soft bullet for cowboy action shooting)....it's clean, clean, clean...groups very well...leaves a bit of residue on the cases but the clean right up....Got the recoil of about a sick 38 special and is a terrific plinking load....and again, groups well...I like it because it would be near impossible to double charge the load.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

No experience w/ any of the calibers the OP asks about, but in .357 Mag. and .44 Mag loadings, I've had the best luck near the "top" of the recipe book's recommendations, w/ a "standard" weight bullet (158 gr in the .357, 240 gr in the .44) and a good snug crimp. Pretty much what I think DGW's sayin': Unique needs to "work" a little to perform its best...

Rick C

 

[Kanook]

Thanks for the info guys.However,anything above 8grs in a colt type or the new Vaquero seems like about all I want to shoot.Stops being fun when you get to the "big bangers".

If I remember correctly, when loading with Unique, 1 grain is 100 fps, so 8 grains is 800 fps. I would have to believe that most any modern revolver should handle 900 fps, (9 grains of Unique) with no problem. 1,000 fps could be a different story.

My wifes 44 (240) and my 45 (255) both do very well at 10 grains.

If I'm wrong, please feel free to correct.

 

[chuck]

I use 10.5 gr. behind 240 gr cast bullet in my 44 mag and its great.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Maybe it ain't the powder, just saying. :roll: :roll: :mrgreen:

 

[DGW1949]

Maybe it ain't the powder, just saying. :roll: :roll: :mrgreen:

What it is is....all powders perform best when used within the range of pressures they were designed to operate in. The 45LC load that the OP mentioned is just starting to get him there, and he aint even quite up to "factory" ballistics yet. I suspect that he was having even more problems while playing around in the 6 to 7 grn range.

So, to your point....yes, I agree.
Unique is not well suited for reduced loads in the 45LC cartridge and I'm sure he can find something else that works much better for that.

DGW

 

[Olsherm]

Thanks fellows. I think me may not be getting up there enough in the powder dept but I don't like it when it is hard on the hands ect.BTW I did not have any luck in the 6 to 7 grain mode. I do not have a crony so I don't know where I stand in the velocity area.However,the cases fell out pretty much on their own with the 8 grain loads.I was shooting the old 250 GR 454190 bullet .They come out of the mold at about 255 GRS.So I was being a little careful with the powder due to the weight of the bullets.
Also could be the shooter.HA HA

 

[volshooter]

I as given 8 pounds of Unique and have used it from .45LC to .380acp with great results. It is a little dirty but produces good groups. I recently used 4.4gr of Unique for .380. Great groups.

 

[TexasFats]

Remember that every gun can be an individual as to which load gives the best groups. Also, you might want to measure the diameter of the chamber mouths in the cylinder. Sometimes, those are not bored consistently. I would also check the measurements of the forcing cone and bore diameter. Handloader magazine has had some interesting articles about mis-matched chamber throats and bore diameters ant the effect of those on accuracy.

 

[Rclark]

In .45 Colt I also haven't marked Unique loads as especially 'accurate'. My favorite Unique load is 8.5g under 250g RNFP. and It's ok. 8.0g of Universal is marked as accurate in my load table. 6.5g of Red Dot is also accurate but only spits the bullet out at 881fps. Looking for a light load, I'd use Red Dot or Trail Boss.... Here is some tests I ran with TB.

http://rugerforum.net/reloading/27860-trail-boss-12.html


As for 255g SWC, there is 7.0g of Green Dot, 11g AA#5, 8.5g Universal, 13g of HS-6.


My favorite is 20g of IMR 4227 under either above bullet with a magnum primer. But it sounds like it would be a bit to snappy for you at around 1030fps (5 1/2" barrel) ....

Titegroup and Power Pistol also showed promising results.

Please recheck the above loads if you use them.... They all shot fine in my revolvers.... YMMV.


Here is some loads from Brian Pearce :

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%20246partial.pdf

 

[WESHOOT2]

Light loads = Titegroup (and a fairly firm crimp)

 

[volshooter]

My load is a 200gr pushed by 9.5gr Unique. I shoot a Ruger New Vaquero. Nice accurate load. I have no need to push it any faster. :D

 

[DGW1949]

Light loads = Titegroup (and a fairly firm crimp)

I suspect that you have suggested the best answer to the OP's problem.

I have little first-hand experience with loading light loads for a 45LC, but I do have enough to know that, given the perimiters that he wants to load within, it's become rather-obvious that Unique simply aint going to do.

DGW

 

[WESHOOT2]

Titegroup, Cowboy data = solution.

 

[Imissedagain]

I as given 8 pounds of Unique and have used it from .45LC to .380acp with great results. It is a little dirty but produces good groups. I recently used 4.4gr of Unique for .380. Great groups.[/quote

What bullets for the .380? Have you used any 115? Sorry for the thread twist but all that is available are 115gr and we want to plink tomorrow.

 

[volshooter]

To be honest I did not mark or remember the gr. I know what I bought was 90 - 100gr for sure. They were not anything special just the cheepest .380 fmj I could find at the gun show. Sorry.

 

[Imissedagain]

To be honest I did not mark or remember the gr. I know what I bought was 90 - 100gr for sure. They were not anything special just the cheepest .380 fmj I could find at the gun show. Sorry.

Thanks for the reply