Has any one tested older Unique againest a newer lot?

grubbylabs · March 5, 2013, 09:41 PM

I just picked up a 15lb can of Unique and the closest I can tell is it was made in 1989 It has a Hercules label and was made in Wilmington Delaware.

I put a little from a new can that I have and put a lit match to it, and then did the same with the older can, it seemed to burn a little more intensely. I am about 100% sure I need to work up my load again, but with 15lbs and gobs of free led, that should not be a problem.

highrolls · March 6, 2013, 03:24 AM

I have been wondering that myself. Haven't found much in the way of data but here is a post that seems to indicate that the older Hercules Unique may be slightly less than the modern Alliant Unique. The opposite of what you were saying ? You may have to go back to the prior page to see what the poster is doing. The poster also indicates that he will be doing more testing to confirm his findings. I also remember he said something about the Alliant site reformulating Unique, which means it has changed.

http://www.concealcarrychat.com/foru...?t=507&page=15

Definitely do the load testing.

Sport45 · March 6, 2013, 04:11 AM

Quote:

I put a little from a new can that I have and put a lit match to it, and then did the same with the older can, it seemed to burn a little more intensely.

That really doesn't tell you anything except that both powders burn.

I'd load it with current data starting at the "start" load and working up as necessary. Stop as soon as you have acceptable accuracy or see a pressure sign such as sticking cases in a revolver.

Unless it has red dust or a funny smell I'd trust it.

rebs · March 6, 2013, 08:00 AM

I have 1lb of unique and 1lb of bullseye that I bought back in the early 70's, they both still shoot the same as they did back then. I am thinking when I buy a new jug I will work up a load again just in case there is a difference between the old powder and the new powder.

Live45 · March 6, 2013, 08:43 AM

I had about 1/4# of 2400 left from the mid 80's that I loaded for .357s recently and they all went bang with no ill effects. It had been stored on a shelf in my den all that time, i.e. climate controled.

kraigwy · March 6, 2013, 08:50 AM

I load most of my bullets on a progressive press (the older Dillon RL 1000) and load a thousand or better at a time.

A few years ago I had a lot of Unique (from the 70-80s) and ran out in the process of loading a bunch of 38s. So I finished up the batch with new unique.

I couldn't tell the difference, either i recoil, over a chronograph, or the target.

The only difference I could see was they change the outside of the can.

JHLL · March 6, 2013, 10:00 AM

I think its been reformulated to burn cleaner, but all other characteristics are exactly the same as before

chiefr · March 6, 2013, 10:09 AM

I have been using Unigue since it was sold in square steel cans. The last can I bought was 1 year ago. Been using the same loads of Unique in both 9mm & 357 mag for many years. Unique is probably my all time favorite powder.

As far as accuracy, I have not noticed any difference between old & new.
Alliant says the newer stuff burns cleaner. If it does burn cleaner, I have not noticed any difference.

KenL · March 6, 2013, 10:42 AM

I had a can of Unique from the 80s that I loaded up some .40 S&W, when I ran out I bought a can of "new" Unique. I worked up the load, but I didn't need to as I settled on the same load with the new stuff as the old stuff.

Brian Pfleuger · March 6, 2013, 11:13 AM

I haven't done a direct comparison test but I do have a ~50yr old can of Unique that I used for case forming loads in 7mm-08. Compared to QuickLoad predictions, which are obviously based on the new stuff and are generally scary-accurate in bottleneck cartridges, the old stuff was considerably slower fps than expected.

That, and the gun looked like I dragged it through an ash bin.

WIL TERRY · March 6, 2013, 12:19 PM

YES !!! In the ballistics lab. They were within five feet per second of each other and PSI levels were all but identical.
By the way, it was the same with the old and " new " ALLIANT 2400 propellent.

5R milspec · March 6, 2013, 01:53 PM

As a reloader you should always use caution with powder.The maker and many others will say to check each lot of powder for they allow a +/- 10% change from lot to lot. ( new or old )

So I would just do a load test again starting from the low side and work up.

Salmoneye · March 6, 2013, 05:37 PM

I have (and still do) used Red Dot from the late 50's to today, and other than what I consider normal statistical lot to lot variations, I have not seen a major spread in velocities...

You are correct that any time you change lots or a component, work the load back up...

March 5, 2013, 09:41 PM	#1
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,465	Has any one tested older Unique againest a newer lot? I just picked up a 15lb can of Unique and the closest I can tell is it was made in 1989 It has a Hercules label and was made in Wilmington Delaware. I put a little from a new can that I have and put a lit match to it, and then did the same with the older can, it seemed to burn a little more intensely. I am about 100% sure I need to work up my load again, but with 15lbs and gobs of free led, that should not be a problem. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)

March 6, 2013, 08:50 AM	#6
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I load most of my bullets on a progressive press (the older Dillon RL 1000) and load a thousand or better at a time. A few years ago I had a lot of Unique (from the 70-80s) and ran out in the process of loading a bunch of 38s. So I finished up the batch with new unique. I couldn't tell the difference, either i recoil, over a chronograph, or the target. The only difference I could see was they change the outside of the can. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

March 6, 2013, 11:13 AM	#10
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I haven't done a direct comparison test but I do have a ~50yr old can of Unique that I used for case forming loads in 7mm-08. Compared to QuickLoad predictions, which are obviously based on the new stuff and are generally scary-accurate in bottleneck cartridges, the old stuff was considerably slower fps than expected. That, and the gun looked like I dragged it through an ash bin. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

March 6, 2013, 01:53 PM	#12
5R milspec Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 360	As a reloader you should always use caution with powder.The maker and many others will say to check each lot of powder for they allow a +/- 10% change from lot to lot. ( new or old ) So I would just do a load test again starting from the low side and work up. __________________ life is great but its better when you can own as many guns you wish to own.for me I haven't bought enough yet.

March 6, 2013, 03:24 AM	#2
highrolls Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: already given Posts: 115	I have been wondering that myself. Haven't found much in the way of data but here is a post that seems to indicate that the older Hercules Unique may be slightly less than the modern Alliant Unique. The opposite of what you were saying ? You may have to go back to the prior page to see what the poster is doing. The poster also indicates that he will be doing more testing to confirm his findings. I also remember he said something about the Alliant site reformulating Unique, which means it has changed. http://www.concealcarrychat.com/foru...?t=507&page=15 Definitely do the load testing.

March 6, 2013, 08:00 AM	#4
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I have 1lb of unique and 1lb of bullseye that I bought back in the early 70's, they both still shoot the same as they did back then. I am thinking when I buy a new jug I will work up a load again just in case there is a difference between the old powder and the new powder.

March 6, 2013, 08:43 AM	#5
Live45 Member Join Date: January 23, 2013 Location: Central Florida Posts: 46	I had about 1/4# of 2400 left from the mid 80's that I loaded for .357s recently and they all went bang with no ill effects. It had been stored on a shelf in my den all that time, i.e. climate controled.

March 6, 2013, 10:00 AM	#7
JHLL Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 50	I think its been reformulated to burn cleaner, but all other characteristics are exactly the same as before

March 6, 2013, 10:09 AM	#8
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I have been using Unigue since it was sold in square steel cans. The last can I bought was 1 year ago. Been using the same loads of Unique in both 9mm & 357 mag for many years. Unique is probably my all time favorite powder. As far as accuracy, I have not noticed any difference between old & new. Alliant says the newer stuff burns cleaner. If it does burn cleaner, I have not noticed any difference.

March 6, 2013, 10:42 AM	#9
KenL Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 218	I had a can of Unique from the 80s that I loaded up some .40 S&W, when I ran out I bought a can of "new" Unique. I worked up the load, but I didn't need to as I settled on the same load with the new stuff as the old stuff.

March 6, 2013, 12:19 PM	#11
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	YES !!! In the ballistics lab. They were within five feet per second of each other and PSI levels were all but identical. By the way, it was the same with the old and " new " ALLIANT 2400 propellent.

March 6, 2013, 05:37 PM	#13
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	I have (and still do) used Red Dot from the late 50's to today, and other than what I consider normal statistical lot to lot variations, I have not seen a major spread in velocities... You are correct that any time you change lots or a component, work the load back up...