Too Much Unique for 9mm?

Mikul · September 20, 2000, 11:08 AM

I just started using Unique for 9mm. I'm loading a 115gr TMJ bullet from Hornady. The load books are all over the place as to what the maximum load should be, but most of them put the max at around 6gr. At 5.5 grains the powder is 3-4mm below the mouth of the case. It's certainly sitting high enough for the bullet to have to compress it a little.

Can anyone else reloading 9mm with Unique tell me if this is normal?

**Mike Irwin** · September 20, 2000, 12:00 PM

Sounds normal to me.

Unique has pretty big flakes, meaning that when dropped into the case it tends to stack up.

Try tapping one of the cases on the table several times and see how far the powder level goes down.

This is one of the reasons why I don't like Unique. It just doesn't meter well at all.

------------------
Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.

Jack Straw · September 20, 2000, 12:42 PM

That's pretty much normal. If you are loading on a progressive be sure to operate the machine smoothly. If a case gets bumped or jarred enough, flakes will get knocked out of the case and create a small mess. That is one reason that I switched to TiteGroup (that and the fact that it meters much mo' better).

I got good results on paper with Unique, in fact I still use it in .44Mag target loads and .45Colt, but for 9mm I wanted something easier to work with.

Jack

Stephen A. Camp · September 20, 2000, 04:10 PM

Hello, Mikul. It is normal. I normally load either 6.2gr Unique under a 115 Sierra JHP or 6 gr under a 124 Hornady XTP. Both are near the top of the case and there is powder compression. Best.

karlfitt · September 20, 2000, 08:07 PM

I used to load unique for pistol ( 9mm, .40 & .45) but I don't any more.
Not for the reason you are seing, but I think you will notice it is a very dirty powder. It leaves a lot of residue.
I now use Winchster 231 for 9mm.
Karl

Robert Foote · September 20, 2000, 10:33 PM

My standard load is 6.0 gr. Unique, Remington 115 gr JHP which produces 1205 fps out of my daughter's Glock 19. She just burned up about 1000 rounds of it at Gunsite without any problems. I use the same load in my Browning High Power.

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Nukem · September 21, 2000, 06:06 AM

That's exactly why I use it, because of it's bulk. It's impossible to double with it in a 9mm.

WESHOOT2 · September 21, 2000, 08:20 AM

Suggest Universal Clays as a better Unique alternative; virtually the same 'burn rate', but MUCH better metering, and very clean.

Basically a modern "Unique".

------------------
"All my ammo is factory ammo"

Mikul · September 21, 2000, 10:31 AM

Thanks for the confirmation. I was getting concerned.

The bottom end of my rounds seems to agree with Sierra's information, so I'll use their high end as a guide.

Maybe I'll give Clays a try when my keg of Unique runs out.

I'm surprised to hear karlfitt say that 231 is clean. I found it to be quite dirty.

BMiracle · September 21, 2000, 12:33 PM

For those of you who are using Unique because it is practically impossible to double charge, try using BlueDot. This is a slower burning powder than 231, fills the case like Unique, and will give you some AWESOME velocities. It is definitely a whole lot cleaner than Unique as well.

rr41mag · September 22, 2000, 06:47 PM

what got me was one night I was switching my progressive from 9mm to .45 acp and when I checked my book for the amount of powder(unique) it was the same

yep thats sounds real good

Nukem · September 23, 2000, 05:41 AM

I use 5.6gr for a 115gr in 9mm and 6.0gr for a 230gr in .45. It seems strange to use the same amount to you, but you forget the bullet weighs twice as much in the .45.

September 20, 2000, 11:08 AM	#1
Mikul Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2000 Posts: 1,396	I just started using Unique for 9mm. I'm loading a 115gr TMJ bullet from Hornady. The load books are all over the place as to what the maximum load should be, but most of them put the max at around 6gr. At 5.5 grains the powder is 3-4mm below the mouth of the case. It's certainly sitting high enough for the bullet to have to compress it a little. Can anyone else reloading 9mm with Unique tell me if this is normal?

September 20, 2000, 12:00 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Sounds normal to me. Unique has pretty big flakes, meaning that when dropped into the case it tends to stack up. Try tapping one of the cases on the table several times and see how far the powder level goes down. This is one of the reasons why I don't like Unique. It just doesn't meter well at all. ------------------ Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag. Chances are he knows how to use it.

September 20, 2000, 12:42 PM	#3
Jack Straw Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 362	That's pretty much normal. If you are loading on a progressive be sure to operate the machine smoothly. If a case gets bumped or jarred enough, flakes will get knocked out of the case and create a small mess. That is one reason that I switched to TiteGroup (that and the fact that it meters much mo' better). I got good results on paper with Unique, in fact I still use it in .44Mag target loads and .45Colt, but for 9mm I wanted something easier to work with. Jack

September 20, 2000, 04:10 PM	#4
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 16, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Hello, Mikul. It is normal. I normally load either 6.2gr Unique under a 115 Sierra JHP or 6 gr under a 124 Hornady XTP. Both are near the top of the case and there is powder compression. Best.

September 20, 2000, 08:07 PM	#5
karlfitt Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: Loveland,CO,USA Posts: 34	I used to load unique for pistol ( 9mm, .40 & .45) but I don't any more. Not for the reason you are seing, but I think you will notice it is a very dirty powder. It leaves a lot of residue. I now use Winchster 231 for 9mm. Karl

September 20, 2000, 10:33 PM	#6
Robert Foote Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1998 Posts: 623	My standard load is 6.0 gr. Unique, Remington 115 gr JHP which produces 1205 fps out of my daughter's Glock 19. She just burned up about 1000 rounds of it at Gunsite without any problems. I use the same load in my Browning High Power. ------------------

September 21, 2000, 06:06 AM	#7
Nukem Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Posts: 709	That's exactly why I use it, because of it's bulk. It's impossible to double with it in a 9mm.

September 21, 2000, 08:20 AM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Suggest Universal Clays as a better Unique alternative; virtually the same 'burn rate', but MUCH better metering, and very clean. Basically a modern "Unique". ------------------ "All my ammo is factory ammo"

September 21, 2000, 10:31 AM	#9
Mikul Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2000 Posts: 1,396	Thanks for the confirmation. I was getting concerned. The bottom end of my rounds seems to agree with Sierra's information, so I'll use their high end as a guide. Maybe I'll give Clays a try when my keg of Unique runs out. I'm surprised to hear karlfitt say that 231 is clean. I found it to be quite dirty.

September 21, 2000, 12:33 PM	#10
BMiracle Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Posts: 159	For those of you who are using Unique because it is practically impossible to double charge, try using BlueDot. This is a slower burning powder than 231, fills the case like Unique, and will give you some AWESOME velocities. It is definitely a whole lot cleaner than Unique as well.

September 22, 2000, 06:47 PM	#11
rr41mag Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2000 Location: Biloxi, Miss. Posts: 180	what got me was one night I was switching my progressive from 9mm to .45 acp and when I checked my book for the amount of powder(unique) it was the same yep thats sounds real good

September 23, 2000, 05:41 AM	#12
Nukem Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Posts: 709	I use 5.6gr for a 115gr in 9mm and 6.0gr for a 230gr in .45. It seems strange to use the same amount to you, but you forget the bullet weighs twice as much in the .45.