40 S&W and Unique?

jjmorgan64 · January 23, 2002, 06:08 PM

i have to put some 40 rounds together, and all i have is unique and tite group.

I am using Lee's mold of 175 gr swc

I have load info for both of these powders, but having never loaded for a 40,

Am i wasting time with these powders?

I need a medium load, with pretty good accuracy, just a paper puncher.

thank you in advance

Cheapo · January 23, 2002, 06:24 PM

I'm thinking about going with Unique myself. The stuff works quite well in many calibers, from light to heavy loads.

Quite versatile. Sierra's book shows some pretty good velocities with Unique in .357 mag with light bullets. It should work great in the .40.

karlfitt · January 23, 2002, 08:52 PM

I quit using unique only because I thought it was too dirty.
I now use 231 in my .40 loads.

Karl

Stephen A. Camp · January 23, 2002, 09:20 PM

Hello. I only have one load for cast bullets in this caliber using Unique. It was 5.8 gr Unique behind a 180 gr CFP. This is just under 1,000 ft/sec and was very accurate out of a Browning HP and a CZ75.

Best.

WESHOOT2 · January 24, 2002, 08:03 AM

Better: Universal Clays (ballistically equivalent to Unique, but cleaner-burning and easier-metering)

Best: Power Pistol

All are safe in 40 S&W.

Khornet · January 24, 2002, 08:08 AM

I have no trouble with unique in my pistol loads...........but be sure you don't shoot lead in GLOCK FACTORY BARRELS or you'll experience Kaboom

Johnny Guest · January 24, 2002, 05:57 PM

When I first got my Browning High Power .40, Unique was the only proper powder I had on hand. I loaded a couple of thousand rounds with amounts from 5.0 to 6.0 and they all worked well. For just short range practice and getting accustomed to the pistol, I found that a cast lead truncated cone and 5.5 Unique was great. I went somewhat hotter with jacketed bullets.

Finally settled on 5.5 gr. H. Universal for jacketed loads, but wouldn't hesitate to use Unique again.

Best,
Johnny

PS--
Khornet-- I shoot with at least two guys who regularly use cast bullets in their .40 Glocks. They simply do NOT load max, and clean their pistols regularly. I don't have a .40 Glock, but I do trust these guys' judgement. the general consensus around here is that the Glock .40/lead bullet/KB problems have to do with a combination of loading too hot and allowing bullets to seat too deeply, along with infrequent cleaning.

That said, I haven't ever tried any hot loads except with jacketed bullets, paying strict attention to seating depth. Then I kinda quit messing with loading for the .40 except for practice. It is a good cartridge, but I have better hunting guns. I use factory ammo for the rare occasions when I carry my .40 HP defensively.

Best,
Johnny

jjmorgan64 · January 25, 2002, 09:04 AM

I feel better about giving it a try now

January 23, 2002, 06:08 PM	#1
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	40 S&W and Unique? i have to put some 40 rounds together, and all i have is unique and tite group. I am using Lee's mold of 175 gr swc I have load info for both of these powders, but having never loaded for a 40, Am i wasting time with these powders? I need a medium load, with pretty good accuracy, just a paper puncher. thank you in advance __________________ The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke And seventeen inches of flame. -Marty Robbins JM

January 23, 2002, 06:24 PM	#2
Cheapo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 1998 Posts: 986	I'm thinking about going with Unique myself. The stuff works quite well in many calibers, from light to heavy loads. Quite versatile. Sierra's book shows some pretty good velocities with Unique in .357 mag with light bullets. It should work great in the .40. __________________ Let us never forget that the only legitimate source of government power is the citizens. If WE cannot exercise a certain power, we cannot grant it to the state.

January 24, 2002, 08:03 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	UNIQUE GOOD Better: Universal Clays (ballistically equivalent to Unique, but cleaner-burning and easier-metering) Best: Power Pistol All are safe in 40 S&W. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 24, 2002, 08:08 AM	#6
Khornet Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: NH Posts: 585	Unique I have no trouble with unique in my pistol loads...........but be sure you don't shoot lead in GLOCK FACTORY BARRELS or you'll experience Kaboom __________________ The M1 does MY talking!

January 24, 2002, 05:57 PM	#7
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Works well for me - - - When I first got my Browning High Power .40, Unique was the only proper powder I had on hand. I loaded a couple of thousand rounds with amounts from 5.0 to 6.0 and they all worked well. For just short range practice and getting accustomed to the pistol, I found that a cast lead truncated cone and 5.5 Unique was great. I went somewhat hotter with jacketed bullets. Finally settled on 5.5 gr. H. Universal for jacketed loads, but wouldn't hesitate to use Unique again. Best, Johnny PS-- Khornet-- I shoot with at least two guys who regularly use cast bullets in their .40 Glocks. They simply do NOT load max, and clean their pistols regularly. I don't have a .40 Glock, but I do trust these guys' judgement. the general consensus around here is that the Glock .40/lead bullet/KB problems have to do with a combination of loading too hot and allowing bullets to seat too deeply, along with infrequent cleaning. That said, I haven't ever tried any hot loads except with jacketed bullets, paying strict attention to seating depth. Then I kinda quit messing with loading for the .40 except for practice. It is a good cartridge, but I have better hunting guns. I use factory ammo for the rare occasions when I carry my .40 HP defensively. Best, Johnny

January 23, 2002, 08:52 PM	#3
karlfitt Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: Loveland,CO,USA Posts: 34	I quit using unique only because I thought it was too dirty. I now use 231 in my .40 loads. Karl

January 23, 2002, 09:20 PM	#4
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 16, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Hello. I only have one load for cast bullets in this caliber using Unique. It was 5.8 gr Unique behind a 180 gr CFP. This is just under 1,000 ft/sec and was very accurate out of a Browning HP and a CZ75. Best.

January 25, 2002, 09:04 AM	#8
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	well thank you Folks I feel better about giving it a try now __________________ The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke And seventeen inches of flame. -Marty Robbins JM