|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
June 17, 2007, 09:14 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: June 5, 2007
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Posts: 70
|
Unique powder question for 45acp
I just shot 100rd. of 45acp using 5.1gr. of Unique powder with 230gr. LRN and it was very dirty and smoky. I'm also noticing some unburn powder and was wondering if it was because of light crimp. Is this right or not?
I have it crimp at .4720 using Lee FCD and 1.260 oal. Last edited by actionflies; June 17, 2007 at 10:31 PM. |
June 17, 2007, 10:49 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 7, 2007
Location: The Lone Star State
Posts: 255
|
Your crimp is fine. Unique is just a very dirty powder. I get the same thing when I use it for light loads in my .44 Special.
I use Bullseye for all my .45 ACP loads. It's a lot cleaner than it was in the old days and is pretty inexpensive. Some feel it's still too dirty and use WST and similar powders.
__________________
Navy Vet, SWIFT Boat OIC, Distinguished Pistol Shot #1399 USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-36) |
June 18, 2007, 02:24 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2005
Location: Central , OR
Posts: 1,888
|
Unique does not burn efficiently at lower pressures like 12,000 psi, but at 17-18,000 psi it burns cleaner still a little sooty but Whiskey Tango Foxtrot it shoots well
I agree with cdrt, Bullseye would be a much better choice for target loads. Save the Unique for your hot rod loads. |
June 18, 2007, 09:45 AM | #4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 1, 1999
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,135
|
Quote:
Good Luck... Joe
__________________
Go NRA |
|
June 19, 2007, 01:40 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 24, 2006
Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 705
|
I am loading 45 auto with Unique and plated bullets. It doesn't seem to be too dirty, but I also load some middle of the road 38s for my wife with Unique and it is pretty dirty in her S&W.
Good post and good ideas, Thanks fellas. |
June 20, 2007, 11:34 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 3, 2006
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 998
|
I noticed that if I set the OAL right down to the minimum for a load/bullet combo. Unique is not to dirty at all. If I set the the OAL up around the max it is very dirty. This is for 9mm but I would assume that it would be the same for .45
I guess that goes along with what jibjab is saying about low pressure/ high pressure. |
June 24, 2007, 06:38 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: June 24, 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 15
|
Unique is just so versatile
There's always a couple cans of Unique around my bench, not only because it works so well in half a dozen handgun calibers I load for, but primarily because it patterns so well in reasonable shotgun loads (what folks used to call live pigeon loads). Great for .45 ACP if pressures are warm, it's even better in 3/4 throttle loads for the .44 mag (10.0 to 10.2 gr under anybody's 240 gr HP). Since I often shoot 200-250 rounds before heading home, I would worry about serious fouling...this is not the case with Unique. Accuracy is great, recoil very managable.....so what's a couple of unburned grains among friends?
|
June 24, 2007, 07:03 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 6, 2006
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 506
|
700X may give you want you are looking for and be cleaner.
__________________
5.56mm, reach out and touch something. .458 SOCOM,reach out and knock something down. M70 Web Page |
June 25, 2007, 02:12 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 26, 2000
Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear
Posts: 2,209
|
All powders burn best in the top end of their range...
Unique is best suited for upper end .45 ACP loads. When loaded to light or moderate levels, it doesn't burn correctly and leaves crud behind.
Bullseye burns cleaner because it is faster and suited to small charges; it's burning at the upper end of it's burn rate. 700X is a similar fast powder. This is why - in general - slower powders like 2400, H110, W296 and Blue Dot are not recomended for 'light' loads.
__________________
There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/ |
June 28, 2007, 11:59 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 7, 2000
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,073
|
I shoot Unique in .45acp and the others are correct. It doesn't like light loads. Its cleaner at higher pressure. And even though its sooty, the soot cleans easliy.
__________________
I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues). |
June 29, 2007, 08:57 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 4, 2007
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,943
|
Try some IMR powder, they seem to be cleaner than most, especially Unique. 700X, 800X, SR7625, and SR4756 have always been among my faves. SR 4756 is my powder of choice for most of my midrange to light heavy [oxymoron] loads. I buy it by the keg to keep my 12 gauge happy.
|
June 29, 2007, 09:37 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 514
|
I like 700X & 231. They both burn clean in my Colts, just a little shadow on the muzzle (satin nickle finish) that wipes right off.
|
June 29, 2007, 10:26 PM | #13 |
Staff
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,020
|
Ditto the above comments about Unique. The one comment about seating deeper makes it burn cleaner because pressure goes up substantially when you seat deeper into a short case.
The fact it is dirty means it isn't burning completely, so you are wasting powder in that load anyway. Rather than the other powders mentioned, I recommend you look at Hodgdon Universal Clays, a newer formulation far cleaner than the other older mixes. It has no graphite, which helps. Try about 4.8 grains for equivalent pressure. Nick
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|