| Posted: Thu Jul 23rd, 2009 11:14 PM |
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Ky Greg
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I shot 20 rounds of my first handloads for my SBH this evening and I still have a gun and all my fingers.. I loaded 10 rounds each of Unique and Blue Dot at starting loads with 200gr fn bullets that I cast myself, using CCI 350 primers. The Blue Dot seemed to group better than the Unique and appeared cleaner also. The Unique was almost like shooting blackpowder as much as it smoked after the shot.
I still want to try another powder or two and work up some hunting loads, but so far so good I guess. 
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 12:25 AM |
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Timberghozt
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Unique= dirt in a can
I have it and have used it.Power pistol I prefer over it for some things,but with a 38 or 357 with cast bullets,Unique is a winner in my book.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 12:50 AM |
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Ky Greg
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Timberghozt wrote: Unique= dirt in a can
I have it and have used it.Power pistol I prefer over it for some things,but with a 38 or 357 with cast bullets,Unique is a winner in my book.
I believe it!! Smoked like a freight train...lol
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My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 03:15 PM |
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Charley
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I love Unique, AKA Flammable Dirt. How old is your Unique, it was reformulated a few years back to not smoke so much. If it is older stock, that could be why you are geting a lot of smoke.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 03:33 PM |
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Bigdog57
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I have a pound of newer Unique - it fouled my Colt M1991A1 so bad it began to fail. Grouping was only so-so - so I have shelved it and switched to Bullseye. MUCH better!
Heck, I'll go back to good ol' Red Dot before I touch Unique again. 
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 08:49 PM |
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Ky Greg
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Charley wrote: I love Unique, AKA Flammable Dirt. How old is your Unique, it was reformulated a few years back to not smoke so much. If it is older stock, that could be why you are geting a lot of smoke.
It's old! Big ole red metal can.
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My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24th, 2009 09:59 PM |
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miestro_jerry
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I like 231 for most of my standard cartridges, it works great for me and meter in my measure with no problems.
You may want to give 231 a try. Plus HP38 will work well in this caliber.
I stick to 231, but have tried many powders.
Jerry
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2009 04:35 PM |
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Paul B
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Unique is a fairly decent powder when used properly. I've found that the closer you get to the max load, the cleaner it burns. Much of the filth then comes from the burnt lube used on cast bullets. I once had a compensator on one of my 1911's in .45 ACP and the fouling from the bullet lube would cause the gun to hang up after about 90 to 100 rounds. Lube was the NRA 50/50 beeswax/alox mix which is messy even in rifle cartridges. I finally just took the compensator off and I didn't it was doing much good other than it tightend up the groups a bit.
Paul B.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2009 07:59 PM |
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Bigdog57
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I was using a moderate load with jacketed bullets - used it in my .357Magnum too - same problem, very dirty and not great groups.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2009 09:30 PM |
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rat31465
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I know that I will catch some flak for saying this....But I read an article back several years ago in Guns and Ammo where the author said that Hercules Unique was like the .30-06 Rifle. Its the Jack of all Trades, but the Master of None.
I have used Unique in everything from .32 ACP up to .45 Long Colt. .22 Hornet, Reduced loads in .222 and .223 Rem. 12 Gauge and even .410 Shotshells.
And while it does a decent enough job, especially with cast lead bullet velocities...There are other powders that will give better individual performances.
It burns dirty, doesn't bring out the best performance in any one paticular cartridge...But if the day ever came where I was limited to one Pistol/Shotgun Powder...I hope to have a 50 Lb keg of it sitting in my loading room.
Last edited on Sat Jul 25th, 2009 09:31 PM by rat31465
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2009 09:58 PM |
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miestro_jerry
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I like unique for my 38 spl, 357 mag mild charge loads, 12 gauge and CB loads for some of my rifles. I use 231 in most of my 9mm and 45 ACP loads.
Where my brother really likes Bullseye in almost all of his handgun loads, but he shoots everything as a light load.
It doesn't really matter, because if it works for you, then you should be happy.
Jerry
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26th, 2009 03:03 PM |
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saddlesore
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If you want a truely clean burning powder,try Hodgon's Universal clays. It is very very close in burn rate to W231,but cleaner,W231 is cleaner than Unique by far.Universal Clays is even cleaner yet
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