Unique

[Petrol & Powder]

I have a bad relationship with Unique powder. I prefer other powders for handgun cartridges, but I reluctantly keep a pound of Unique on the shelf for a few specific applications. I use it for 44 Special “Skeeter” loads and the occasional upper end 38 Special +P load. For the most part, I really don’t care for Unique powder. It doesn’t like reduced charge weights and it doesn’t meter very well in a powder measure. (at least not for me)

I do not trust Unique in the powder measure on my Dillon 550, and I will not use it in that machine. Even in a stand-alone powder measure, it just doesn’t meter well enough to make me comfortable. When I do run it in a powder measure, I set the measure to throw a reduced charge and use a powder trickler to bring each charge up to the desired weight. Not terribly efficient but accurate.

I’ve had excellent results with the RCBS Little Dandy powder measure for small charge weights of Bullseye powder. Of course, Bullseye meters beautifully, so that’s not super encouraging.

Based on the good results with small charge weights of Bullseye and the Little Dandy fixed rotor system, I’m contemplating buying a couple of rotors for my RCBS Lil’ Dandy powder measure for specific loads using Unique.

Can anyone share their experience with Unique and the RCBS Little Dandy system?

 

[Jeff H]

....

Can anyone share their experience with Unique and the RCBS Little Dandy system?

No, but I can share some possibly helpful information about the Hornady/Pacific pistol powder measure with the slide bar and bushings related to your question. Unfortunately, it is defunct.

Specifically addressing the unique annoyance of Unique - that it doesn't always meter well, the slide-bar setup seems to be an exception. I've tested mine with each bushing repeatedly and get very consistent results from charge to charge. I need to find a few more bushings and I'll use the Pacific pistol powder measure whenever I use Unique,... which i most of the time.

In my RCBS Uniflow, with the rotary drum, sometimes Unique meters OK and sometimes it will drive me up a wall - throwing weights all over the place. Sometimes it starts creeping up and up and I have to readjust the stem in the drum. I've used this measure since 1982 and have never figured out WHY it works sometimes and other times not - with Unique. With other powders, the Uniflow has been a gem.

I am a big fan of Unique too though, because it' so versatile. No matter what powders I have or want, Unique is always on top of the list to have on hand. It's the one powder I've never let myself run out of.

 

[RicinYakima]

My experience with loading Unique since 1970, FWIW. For me there are two issues flake size and compacting in the hopper.

My experience with any Lee powder measure is that they will not dispense flake powder very well. Since I am an antique tool collector and have more powder measures than anyone needs, none of them are perfect, mostly due to tolerance in the drum to slide to fixture. RCBS was next worse to Lee and Redding was next to best besides Harrell Brothers.

Compacting in the hopper: it seems to vary with humidity and technique. Here in the desert with an old Lyman with powder knocker, I could get consistent drops after 10 reps into the pan. Loading in the summer with 10% humidity the Redding would work after about 30 cycles. The RCBS would take about 50 cycles.

One other hint is to take the baffles out of the hopper when using flake powders. While baffles work great for ball powders, they have no consistency with flake or tubular powders.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Ball powders meter beautifully, and I get outstanding consistency from my measures. Even the IMR rifle stick powders will be consistent from my Redding, but I still set it to throw a lower weight and then work up to the final with a powder trickler. Unique and I just don’t get along.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Missionary]

I like and use Unique for many applications in the mid-power area. But then I like to "dipper" Unique. We get good consistent results. Having charged cases for years with dippers (40+), I do think I can charge with dippers as fast as with Lymans or RCBS measures.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I like and use Unique for many applications in the mid-power area. But then I like to "dipper" Unique. We get good consistent results. Having charged cases for years with dippers (40+), I do think I can charge with dippers as fast as with Lymans or RCBS measures.

I thought about making a couple of dippers. That may be an option. Thanks

 

[300BLK]

Unique has become one of my "must have" powders because of its bulk and flexibility. Like Ric, I've owned a multitude of measures, and still have more than I use. Contrary to Ric, I prefer to have the baffles in place, but I also live in an area of much higher humidity.

As for the bushing measures, the Dillon measure works the same way except its metering chamber isn't cylindrical.

While ball powders generally "flow like water", I haven't had an issue with slight charge weight variation (flake and stick) translating to unacceptable results on targets . More short stick, extruded powder flows through my measures than the others combined. The ONLY one that has proven problematic is 5744 as it too often bridges as its being dropped.

My most often used measure is a Redding Benchrest. I still have my first measure, a Redding Master, from almost 45 years ago, and it has thrown hundreds of pounds of blackpowder. It never had a baffle, but I fill it with a funnel, leave the funnel in place, and keep powder in the funnel to keep a consistent weight powder column in the measure. Redding's pistol chamber works well for tiny charges when not loading on the Dillon.

 

[Jeff H]

Very insightful, @RicinYakima . I've suspected humidity and and compaction, but never tracked it closely enough to make an assertion.

When the charges start getting heavier as you go, compaction seems to make a lot of sense. I started filling the hopper of the Uniflow only 1/3 deep and it seemed to help.

Dippers, for the portable reloading kit, are next on my long list of fun stuff to do, but then the Pacific pistol powder measure is small and fits into the kit bag and works so well,... Yeah, still need to do the dipper thing.

Making me wonder now if the slide-bar, in lieu of a rotary drum is the magic in the Pacific now. Smaller hopper on the Pacific, but I only fill it half half way giving the same depth, or column (inches of Unique, like inches of mercury) in terms of head pressure, BUT the size of the flakes, and maybe even the specific shape of the flakes affect the natural angle of repose differently than other powders. I'm thinking that the suggestion to leave out the baffle points in back to this size (and maybe shape) and compaction.

Maybe the linear striking-off action in the Pacific works better with the above-mentioned characteristics of the powder than the radial striking-off action of the rotary drums? I don't know, but I DO know that I had a very long stretch where the Uniflow did just fine and a week or so ago, BAM! Back to the crazy charges. And, yes, it's been VERY humid here lately.

My recent tests have e convinced the slide bar makes a difference, but will keep using/observing. Last time the Uniflow went nuts, I switched and all was well again.

 

[Winelover]

I've loaded plenty of Unique, over the years, in a Uniflow............I purchase it in 8 # jugs.

I might suggest an RCBS Chargemaster for hard to dispense stick powders. I purchased it 20+ years ago for that purpose. Since then, I've pretty much use it for everything. I do have one Hollywood powder dispenser dedicated to throwing 6.5 grains of Unique. Another Hollywood and the Uniflow (large drum with micrometer adjustment) are set for dispensing small charges of BE. Hollywoods both have micrometer adjustment with set screws for locking the setting.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

There’s no doubt that Unique is a versatile powder. And its relative bulk seems to be a plus in some loadings. I keep it around because it is useful. However, it doesn’t always play well with powder measures.

I don’t load large quantities of cartridges using Unique, so this isn’t a major problem, more of an annoyance.

I turned to the RCBS Little Dandy to dispense small volumes of Bullseye powder. I wouldn’t recommend that fixed volume rotor system as a primary powder measure. But as a supplement to an adjustable powder measure, it’s very handy.

I might spend the $13 for another rotor and see what level of consistency I can get with Unique.

 

[hporter]

For dropping power with dippers using your Dillon 550 setup, the Dillon AT 500 powder die works pretty well. I bought one to use with my 550 when using the RCBS Charge Master.


My problem with Unique is trying to drop less than around 5 grains while loading with my Dillons. The dropped charges are too erratic to trust them.

I don't hesitate using it in with my 45 Colt and 44 Specials. The larger charges seem to drop more consistently.

 

[Winelover]

For many years and thousands of rounds, I loaded 5.0 grains of Unique for both 38 Spl & 9mm with the Uniflow. Only measure I had back then. I checked every tenth throw with a RCBS beam scale. Always spot on. IMO, it's all about consistency of operation of the dispensing handle.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

..............My problem with Unique is trying to drop less than around 5 grains while loading with my Dillons. The dropped charges are too erratic to trust them.

I don't hesitate using it in with my 45 Colt and 44 Specials. The larger charges seem to drop more consistently.

That mirrors my experience.

The Dillon powder measures have proven to be very reliable. With Bullseye, WW231, WSF, etc., the Dillon is trustworthy. In fact, when I setup the machine for a particulat load, I only check the first few casings for the correct charge weight. Once I'm satisfied it is working correctly, I don't even bother to check it again during that batch. I can pull a casing out anytime during a session and when I weight the powder - it is spot on.

I agree the larger charges of Unique seem to meter better and I can see that with my Redding measure and Unique. I just cannot trust Unique with small charge weights in my current measures.

 

[Winelover]

I might add that I never used a baffle, back then. I do have one, now. Don't know if it made any difference. Don't have baffles for the Hollywoods. However, I never ever leave powder in any of my measures for longer than it take to finish my loading for the day.

 

[L Ross]

I have a bad relationship with Unique powder. I prefer other powders for handgun cartridges, but I reluctantly keep a pound of Unique on the shelf for a few specific applications. I use it for 44 Special “Skeeter” loads and the occasional upper end 38 Special +P load. For the most part, I really don’t care for Unique powder. It doesn’t like reduced charge weights and it doesn’t meter very well in a powder measure. (at least not for me)

I do not trust Unique in the powder measure on my Dillon 550, and I will not use it in that machine. Even in a stand-alone powder measure, it just doesn’t meter well enough to make me comfortable. When I do run it in a powder measure, I set the measure to throw a reduced charge and use a powder trickler to bring each charge up to the desired weight. Not terribly efficient but accurate.

I’ve had excellent results with the RCBS Little Dandy powder measure for small charge weights of Bullseye powder. Of course, Bullseye meters beautifully, so that’s not super encouraging.

Based on the good results with small charge weights of Bullseye and the Little Dandy fixed rotor system, I’m contemplating buying a couple of rotors for my RCBS Lil’ Dandy powder measure for specific loads using Unique.

Can anyone share their experience with Unique and the RCBS Little Dandy system?

Yes yes yes! Little Dandy and a consistent method of rotation. I fill the hopper and run about ten dumps right back into the hopper. I carefully rotate it back against the stop with a gentle bump once I start "goin' for score". The same as possible every time. I almost never drop a charge back into the hopper once the powder has settled. I frequently check the charges on a RCBS digital and unless I felt a hitch in my gittalong there is almost never a variation and if there is it will be a tenth of a grain. So if I'm looking to get about 8 to 8 and a half grains for a .44 mag mid range load and my #17 rotor, (goin' by memory here), drops 8.2 grains with an occasional 8.3 if I bump a little too firmly, I just let it go.
Edited. One other thing. The chart RCBS supplies with the rotors tend to be conservative, especially with Red Dot, Promo, 700-x, and Unique. I often find I need to go up one rotor number to get the desired weight I want. I have all of the rotors.

 

[Thumbcocker]

I much prefer power pistol in .44 special, more speed at lower pressure. I use Unique in .45 Colt and .32 H&R but would gladly send it down the road for something better. I have recently tried Br5 in 9mm and have been pleased with it. It uses Unique data but is supposed to be a bit slower.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

I use a uniflow & same as Duke , after 10 or so dumps and checking , I throw 50 & check every 10th one....usually good to go.

I do use Unique in my ol bench rifle-- 1917 remchester 30-06 favorite load is a whopping 12 gr. that I scoop & trickle if needed & always check on my beams. But I am not loading them fast or a big pile.


But if I only had one powder to use......
It would probably be Unique

 

[L Ross]

As a dyed in the wool, (not polar fleece), curmudgeon, I could live out my days with Bullseye, Unique, 2400, and 4895 for all of my smokeless rifle and pistol/revolver shooting. Throw in a bunch of black and Alliant Steel for my waterfowl loads and I'd be good to go.
Take away Bullseye, and 2400 and I could still get by with just Unique.

 

[Winelover]

As a dyed in the wool, (not polar fleece), curmudgeon, I could live out my days with Bullseye, Unique, 2400, and 4895 for all of my smokeless rifle and pistol/revolver shooting. Throw in a bunch of black and Alliant Steel for my waterfowl loads and I'd be good to go.
Take away Bullseye, and 2400 and I could still get by with just Unique.

Bite your tongue.

My two preferred pistol powders are Unique & 2400.

I can load the magnums (357, 44 and 45 LC) with just 2400 and the non magnums (9mm, 38 & 44 Spl) with Unique.

 

[300BLK]

For many years and thousands of rounds, I loaded 5.0 grains of Unique for both 38 Spl & 9mm with the Uniflow. Only measure I had back then. I checked every tenth throw with a RCBS beam scale. Always spot on. IMO, it's all about consistency of operation of the dispensing handle.

I also believe consistency is related to the operator.

As for baffles, I still use a funnel in Redding measures even if they have a baffle in place. The funnel limits the cylindrical height, therfore weight, in the hopper, so may well be adding consistency. As soon as I'm finished loading, the powder gets dumped back into its container.