Unique VS Universal Test

quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
For the results see the link at the end of the write up.

So guys now that my AR is shooting 3/8" - 1/2" groups @ 100yds all day long..('cause I can now use a scope that long...thanks again Ian and the rest of my buddies).....I thought it would be a good time to follow through with another project I said I would do...

That being evaluating or comparing Unique and the new Universal...

Here's my goal..test for position senstivity by firing 5 rounds with the muzzle pointed up and 5 with the muzzle point down... PRIOR to firing that is....(ya I saw the wise guys picking up on that one)...:)

I'll then fire 5 rounds each in my normal bench rest position..

All rounds obviously will be chronied and recorded...Lo, High, SD, ES, Avg. etc.

I also plan on using components that most cast bullet shooters would use, CCI LR Primers, 50/50 lube and no BLL...

I plan on using my 1903 Rock Island as it has a pristine four groove barrel closely matching a commercial barrel..the other reason for using it is that it's a 30-06 ..a large case or the largest I have anyways..

The bullet will be a mid range bullet... weight wise ..the 311332 at 190 grs...they are from the same casting session and are weight sorted to .3 grs max spread..( I needed 30 bullets for the test so I used three different weights to get 30 bullets)

The powder charges will be 13.8 grs, all loads will be weighted...sub MOA (7/8" on average) with the 311332..so I know it's a good load to use...

There will be no accuracy testing...just looking for data...

Just to let you know one of the reasons I haven't done this is 'cause I couldn't find any new Universal, a friend of mine spotted some at our LGS so I'll shoot on up there and pick up a pound, BTW the Unique is new too..

So I posted this to get comments on my plans and to see if there was more interest in doing the experiment with a 45 Colt or 44 mag Revolver...

Please chime in guys and let me know what you would like to see happen....

Awaiting your suggestions...Dan

Here's the Data ..http://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/new-unique-vs-new-universal-with-data.2674/
 
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Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
So, a test to determine if Unique is more unique than Universal is universal?

I like that. A revolver test in the future would be interesting. More data points to let us understand how they compare in burn rate in different applications.
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Ben just reminded me that I will also be comparing the Old and New Universal..10 more bullets..boy looks like it's going to be a long range session..with a lots of exercise..
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
The big difference with Universal (old vs. Purple) will be in overall numbers, if you throw by volume instead of weight.

I also predict (based on my own '06 testing years ago) that Unique will give lower SD and ES than Universal in all tests, and also shoot better groups.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
you might want to throw the new unequal in the mix to see how it really compares to unique.
 
C

creosote

Well-Known Member
I'll be watching also, I picked up an eight pound jug of the purple stuff about a year ago when the price was about as high as it could be. Buy high and sell low, that seems to be my motto.:confused:
 
O

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
Been using some of the new Universal in the 16 ga., 38-55 and now in upper mid-range 45ACP. Works pretty well in all 3, especially the 38-55 with a 250 gr bullet at 10 gr. Universal. I bought a couple 4 lb'ers when the 16 was new and Unique was practically unavailable.
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
I will also be watching this closely.
I've got about 12 lbs. of the old Unique and 8 lbs. of Universal Clays. So old, the stickers say $69.95 for each 8 lb jug!
I use the Unique for just about every handgun I load for, but noticed it's really dirty in the 9MM (6.0 grains with a 115 Rainer HP). I don't care, but I want a cleaner load for my daughter and have been thinking about trying the Universal Clays.
I assume the Universal Clays is a pretty close match to the new Universal.
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
Well, we go with what we know and I've got a ton of old Unique.

That 6.0 grain load is probably a full power load, (it's definitely a full case load) but is also the most accurate load out in every pistol I've shot it in. One inch, 25 yard or better, five shot groups every time.
It will also serve adequately for a SHTF load. It's just so dirty in the 9MM (well, in everything actually).

The next best, accuracy wise, was 5.0 grains of Unique, but it wouldn't reliably cycle the action of my Glock 17s, which I use for initial accuracy testing.

Using the Rainer bullet because she shoots a Glock 26 and I didn't want to chance the lead build up possibility and a friend gave me a few thousand of the Rainer boolits because he said he couldn't make them shoot.

I use the MiHec 125 gr. penta point for my plinking load. I just love the look of that penta point, powder coated in black.

I'm going to try to go with a faster powder, maybe 4.0 gr. of Red Dot.
 
KHornet

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Don't forget something I already knew. I just temporarily
misplace it in the memory bank.

Paul
 
Pistolero

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
The Hodgdon's would love it if everyone took out a big black marker and blocked out the "Clays"
word on Universal and International powders. They, long ago, realized that this was a serious
marketing error and that people were mistaking various "Clays" powders and having very bad
results.

I have some Clays, a very fast, and very peaky pistol powder. Never have tried Universal, have
been using Unique since the '60s. I have a tiny sample bottle of International....never have found
any sort of a use for it, data for anything other than shotgun seems difficult to run across, so it
sits. Anyone know of a useful load for International for pistols?

Bill
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
I have some cowboy type loads.
Hodgdon put out a pamphlet only one time with the data. [I have it somewhere and would have to dig to find it]
it is pretty close to green-dot in burn speed.
but it makes a pretty nice 20ga. powder with 7/8oz loads.
 
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