Which powder to replace Unique

kingudaroad · February 17, 2006, 01:20 PM

Plinking load for 44 mag. I love the performance and light recoil of Unique for my light practice loads, but I don't like the crud it leaves all over my cylinder face.

Is their a comparable powder that cleans up a little easier?

BTW, I'm using 225 gr gold dot hp's.

Hal · February 17, 2006, 02:00 PM

Winchester 231 and/or Hodgdon Universal.

azredhawk44 · February 17, 2006, 02:41 PM

I also just got rid of my Unique. I chose Titegroup. A little faster burning than Unique, also uses less powder. Makes my redhawk into a pop-gun. Seems much cleaner, even in my snubby.

JDG · February 17, 2006, 05:11 PM

Another vote for Universal

jclaude · February 17, 2006, 06:08 PM

I think that if you will increase the pressure of your loads a little bit (OK, maybe more that just a little bit) Unique will burn considerably cleaner.

HSMITH · February 17, 2006, 11:30 PM

Universal is a near dead on substitute for Unique with jacketed bullets, much cleaner too. I don't like it with lead.

Tite-Group smokes like a steam locomotive with lead, don't like it either with lead though with Jacketed it runs well.

231 is OK.

Power Pistol is a great choice for lead and jacketed, as is Super Field.

MrGee · February 18, 2006, 02:23 AM

Ww 296

WESHOOT2 · February 18, 2006, 08:29 AM

Power Pistol

Universal Clays

HS6

jclaude · February 18, 2006, 03:13 PM

WW296 for plinking loads?

Winchester cautions against the reductions of their published loads and the potential for dangerous pressure rises with less than 90% load density with 296.

caz223 · February 18, 2006, 03:32 PM

Power pistol.
HS-6
WSF
Unique.
Those powders, (And blue dot.) pretty much cover the entire spectrum of handgun reloading.. (OK, maybe clays too.)
There was another powder I used, and had good results with. (Can't remember offhand.)
I haven't shot plinking loads in .44 mag in years. 23.0 grains H110+ CCI 350+ XTP-HP 240 gr+ starline cases= shooting nirvana. (Psst. after you shoot some REALLY hot stuff, the starting H110 loads feel mild because of the slow push.)
I really think it's much more recoil friendly than an airweight .38 or my .41 mag taurus tracker, for instance.

jsflagstad · February 18, 2006, 09:14 PM

+1 for Power Pistol the stuff is great...

JSF

AlaskaMike · February 18, 2006, 10:19 PM

Jclaude's recommendation to possibly increase the charge of Unique is a good one, although you don't say the charge you're using now. I had originally been using 7 grains of Unique with Lasercast 200 grain RNFP bullets and it was really dirty. Raising the charge to 8 grains cleaned it up considerably. I should point out that this is with older Hercules Unique, not Alliant Unique.

Mike

918v · February 18, 2006, 10:36 PM

I don't understand your thought process. You like the performance, but not the crud. Don't you think that performance is more important?

Raising the pressure will clean it up. New Unique is just as clean as Universal Clays, just shot them together so I had an opportunity to compare the two side-by-side.

kingudaroad · February 19, 2006, 10:23 AM

Performance is THE most important. I'm not looking for worse performance. If there is no equal to Unique, then I'll go buy a bunch of lead-away cloths.If there is a cleaner burning powder with equal or better performance, I figured you guys would know about it.

Thats all.

BTW....11.5 gr Unique under 225 gr GDHP. Not quite max per my manual.

1tomcat · February 19, 2006, 01:24 PM

You might see how you like 2400, it is a very clean burning powder

918v · February 19, 2006, 02:12 PM

2400 for light practice loads, clean?

Edward429451 · February 19, 2006, 02:21 PM

Heh. Not in my gun either. But the performance is there so I could care less how dirty it gets. I'll have to clean it anyway so who cares if it takes a little longer as long as it does what I want it to.
2400 rules for 44's.

1tomcat · February 19, 2006, 05:33 PM

Guess I never loaded it down enough to burn dirty but it is an excellent and versatile powder for 44 mag and 357 max loads in all bullet weights

Rico567 · February 19, 2006, 06:11 PM

+1 Universal

918v · February 19, 2006, 07:50 PM

How about this IMR Trailboss? Full load density, clean and accurate.

DonR101395 · February 19, 2006, 08:35 PM

I use H110 in my magnums it burns fast and clean and Unique in all my other pistol loads. It's dirty, but inexpensive and works well.

918v · February 19, 2006, 11:07 PM

The guy wanted a powder for target loads. 2400 and 110 are inappropriate as they will not burn completely at low pressures and will leave crap all over the gun.

1tomcat · February 20, 2006, 09:18 AM

Sorry about that 918, my vote goes to 231 for clean burning

WESHOOT2 · February 20, 2006, 10:03 AM

"pen pal' has already reported a PHFFFFT

I care about cleanliness as it relates to function, or "Why I don't use Bullseye or Unique in serious ammo".

I don't use any powder that offers the potential lack of reliability like these two....(although I know of someone running 5.5g Unique / 115g for sub-guns...."...in MY gun...", ay?)

IME Universal Clays, when used in handguns, is clearly cleaner than Unique.

---------------------------------------------------------------
CLEAN (as it relates to function in MY guns, and maybe a few others ):

9x19 = 3N37, WAP
38 Special = HS6
357 Magnum = Universal Clays
40 S&W = Power Pistol
41 Magnum = Universal Clays
44 Magnum = Universal Clays
45 ACP = N350 (and W231; I've gone over 5K in my 1911 without a strip-clean)
45 Colt = Universal Clays

shooter429 · February 22, 2006, 01:52 AM

Along with my new scale, I thought I would try a new powder since I ran out of unique. I wanted to make a lot of low-recoil/blast/flash loads for my 329PD, which is a bit brutal with full throttle loads. long story short, I am very pleased with W231. It seems to be just right for light loads in the .44 with cast bullets. So long, Unique.

Shooter429

February 17, 2006, 01:20 PM	#1
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	Which powder to replace Unique Plinking load for 44 mag. I love the performance and light recoil of Unique for my light practice loads, but I don't like the crud it leaves all over my cylinder face. Is their a comparable powder that cleans up a little easier? BTW, I'm using 225 gr gold dot hp's.

February 17, 2006, 06:08 PM	#5
jclaude Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Coastal North Carolina Posts: 157	Replace Unique? I think that if you will increase the pressure of your loads a little bit (OK, maybe more that just a little bit) Unique will burn considerably cleaner.

February 18, 2006, 08:29 AM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	ditto Power Pistol Universal Clays HS6 __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

February 18, 2006, 03:32 PM	#10
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	Power pistol. HS-6 WSF Unique. Those powders, (And blue dot.) pretty much cover the entire spectrum of handgun reloading.. (OK, maybe clays too.) There was another powder I used, and had good results with. (Can't remember offhand.) I haven't shot plinking loads in .44 mag in years. 23.0 grains H110+ CCI 350+ XTP-HP 240 gr+ starline cases= shooting nirvana. (Psst. after you shoot some REALLY hot stuff, the starting H110 loads feel mild because of the slow push.) I really think it's much more recoil friendly than an airweight .38 or my .41 mag taurus tracker, for instance. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

February 18, 2006, 09:14 PM	#11
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	+1 for PP +1 for Power Pistol the stuff is great... JSF

February 17, 2006, 02:00 PM	#2
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Winchester 231 and/or Hodgdon Universal.

February 17, 2006, 02:41 PM	#3
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	I also just got rid of my Unique. I chose Titegroup. A little faster burning than Unique, also uses less powder. Makes my redhawk into a pop-gun. Seems much cleaner, even in my snubby.

February 17, 2006, 05:11 PM	#4
JDG Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: West Michigan Posts: 673	Another vote for Universal

February 17, 2006, 11:30 PM	#6
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Universal is a near dead on substitute for Unique with jacketed bullets, much cleaner too. I don't like it with lead. Tite-Group smokes like a steam locomotive with lead, don't like it either with lead though with Jacketed it runs well. 231 is OK. Power Pistol is a great choice for lead and jacketed, as is Super Field.

February 18, 2006, 02:23 AM	#7
MrGee Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2005 Location: NC Posts: 260	Ww 296

February 18, 2006, 03:13 PM	#9
jclaude Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Coastal North Carolina Posts: 157	WW296 for plinking loads? Winchester cautions against the reductions of their published loads and the potential for dangerous pressure rises with less than 90% load density with 296.

February 18, 2006, 10:19 PM	#12
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	Jclaude's recommendation to possibly increase the charge of Unique is a good one, although you don't say the charge you're using now. I had originally been using 7 grains of Unique with Lasercast 200 grain RNFP bullets and it was really dirty. Raising the charge to 8 grains cleaned it up considerably. I should point out that this is with older Hercules Unique, not Alliant Unique. Mike

February 18, 2006, 10:36 PM	#13
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	I don't understand your thought process. You like the performance, but not the crud. Don't you think that performance is more important? Raising the pressure will clean it up. New Unique is just as clean as Universal Clays, just shot them together so I had an opportunity to compare the two side-by-side.

February 19, 2006, 10:23 AM	#14
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	918v Performance is THE most important. I'm not looking for worse performance. If there is no equal to Unique, then I'll go buy a bunch of lead-away cloths.If there is a cleaner burning powder with equal or better performance, I figured you guys would know about it. Thats all. BTW....11.5 gr Unique under 225 gr GDHP. Not quite max per my manual.

February 19, 2006, 01:24 PM	#15
1tomcat Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2005 Posts: 147	You might see how you like 2400, it is a very clean burning powder

February 19, 2006, 02:12 PM	#16
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	2400 for light practice loads, clean?

February 19, 2006, 02:21 PM	#17
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Heh. Not in my gun either. But the performance is there so I could care less how dirty it gets. I'll have to clean it anyway so who cares if it takes a little longer as long as it does what I want it to. 2400 rules for 44's.

February 19, 2006, 05:33 PM	#18
1tomcat Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2005 Posts: 147	Guess I never loaded it down enough to burn dirty but it is an excellent and versatile powder for 44 mag and 357 max loads in all bullet weights

February 19, 2006, 06:11 PM	#19
Rico567 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Posts: 162	+1 Universal __________________ "Dear reader, suppose you are a member of Congress. Now, further suppose you are an idiot. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

February 19, 2006, 07:50 PM	#20
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	How about this IMR Trailboss? Full load density, clean and accurate.

February 19, 2006, 08:35 PM	#21
DonR101395 Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: NWFL Posts: 3,031	I use H110 in my magnums it burns fast and clean and Unique in all my other pistol loads. It's dirty, but inexpensive and works well.

February 19, 2006, 11:07 PM	#22
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	The guy wanted a powder for target loads. 2400 and 110 are inappropriate as they will not burn completely at low pressures and will leave crap all over the gun.

February 20, 2006, 09:18 AM	#23
1tomcat Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2005 Posts: 147	Sorry about that 918, my vote goes to 231 for clean burning

February 20, 2006, 10:03 AM	#24
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Trail Boss "pen pal' has already reported a PHFFFFT I care about cleanliness as it relates to function, or "Why I don't use Bullseye or Unique in serious ammo". I don't use any powder that offers the potential lack of reliability like these two....(although I know of someone running 5.5g Unique / 115g for sub-guns...."...in MY gun...", ay?) IME Universal Clays, when used in handguns, is clearly cleaner than Unique. --------------------------------------------------------------- CLEAN (as it relates to function in MY guns, and maybe a few others ): 9x19 = 3N37, WAP 38 Special = HS6 357 Magnum = Universal Clays 40 S&W = Power Pistol 41 Magnum = Universal Clays 44 Magnum = Universal Clays 45 ACP = N350 (and W231; I've gone over 5K in my 1911 without a strip-clean) 45 Colt = Universal Clays __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

February 22, 2006, 01:52 AM	#25
shooter429 Junior member Join Date: July 21, 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 190	new W231 convert Along with my new scale, I thought I would try a new powder since I ran out of unique. I wanted to make a lot of low-recoil/blast/flash loads for my 329PD, which is a bit brutal with full throttle loads. long story short, I am very pleased with W231. It seems to be just right for light loads in the .44 with cast bullets. So long, Unique. Shooter429