Unique doesn’t meter well?

[Scott Tschirhart]

I have read over and over that Unique doesn’t meter well. But my experience is quite different.

My Dillon 550 seems to throw nearly identical charges regardless of how much unique is in the hopper. I’ve been periodically measuring charges at random for the last few months and I haven’t found any variation through three pounds of Unique.

Have any of you actually tested to see if your powder measure throws varying charges of Unique?

[GunnyMack]

Many years ago an old timer told me that powder throw type measures were not consistent and recommended some sort of baffle inside the hopper. I made one from a soup can lid cut to fit inside. Just bend it some and cut a few notches around the perimeter so powder can't ' compress ' in the tube. Has it made a difference for me? - I can't really say as I always trickled to final weight for rifle charges.
As for small charges from my powder measure I always checked and rechecked as I was adjusting to final weight.
Then I found ball powders and use those more nowadays.

[JimT]

There can be variations.
But for shooting other than Bench Rest Super Accurate trying to put all the bullets through one hole at 100 yards type shooting, the small variations won't make any difference in most all handgun shooting.
I once ran a bunch of ammo in the .45 Linebaugh Ruger ... weighing the bullets ... weighing carefully each powder charge .. keeping everything at + or - 1/10 of a grain.
Then I loaded the same number of rounds just using bullets without weighing them and throwing the powder charges with a Lee Powder Dipper.
I shot them all and recorded all groups.
The averages of the unmeasured ammo beat the ammo that was carefully weighed and checked.
Then later I read Richard Lee's article on loading the .30-06 and how much you can vary the powder charge and still shoot very accurate groups. And I gave up worrying about it.
And figured out if I hold the sights correctly and squeeze the trigger properly and follow through the shots go pretty much where I want them.
I am NOT advocating getting sloppy in reloading!

It's just that some things we worry about are really not an issue.

[AJMD429]

.
My Ruger M77V 6mm shoots great groups if I just dip the CASES in a bowl full of 4831 IMR, and dump out enough so it is 'about even with the bottom of the neck of the cartridge'. Now the cases were inside-neck-reamed, and bullets micrometer-seated, so maybe THOSE things matter, but I think the powder was so slow burning, judging by the muzzle fireball, that it was 'metered' by the barrel and how much would burn before the bullet exited. In any case, I really didn't need to weigh charges, or even use a 'dipper' other than the case itself (hard to fill a bottle-neck case but if the powder bowl is deep it can be done).

[marlinman93]

I've read this same info about Unique for many years, and it always baffles me? I've loaded using Unique for about 50 years now and never found Unique to drop variations in charges. I've used it with RCBS Uniflow, Lyman 55, Pacific, and currently my Harrell's Precision powder measure, and on occasion I checked charges on my scale to look for discrepancies, but never found any. I gave up checking years ago, as it just isn't an issue for me.
I've loaded a lot of pistol and rifle charges using Unique, and never a problem. I was told by my late friend that Unique was likely the oldest powder still on the market, and his saying was, "Heck, Moses loaded with Unique!"

[Walt]

I found that with the RCBS Uniflow powder measure, I had variations of as much as two to three tenths of a grain when using Unique. I must have thought it was a problem back then because I ordered an aftermarket baffle from Midway. The Dillon powder measures have an integral baffle so that the weight of the powder column in the measure remains equal. The operating systems are also different in that the Uniflow has a rotary drum and the Dillon uses a sliding bar to dispense powder. I think the Dillon is more consistent: I don't use the RCBS measure for Unique any more because I do all my handgun loading on one of my Dillons.

I have read that bench rest shooters of years ago frequently used dippers or cut-down cases to measure out their powders and obviously did very well with this system.

As Jim says, variations of a few tenths of a grain don't make a whole lot of difference in accuracy, particularly in handgun shooting where shooter consistency is most critical.

[jnyork]

Millions and millions of rounds have been loaded with the little Lee dippers over the decades, a case of "close enough" actually being close enough.

[GunnyMack]

[quote=marlinman93 post_id=979945 time=1697298361 user_id=
"Heck, Moses loaded with Unique!"
[/quote]
Yes he did, I have his can in my collection!

20231014_121837.jpg

And it's still good!

[samsi]

I started out reloading with Unique and dippers then moved to a Dillon. The Dillon slide-bar measure never gave me any problems either, although I only checked the charge against a scale every 100 rounds once I was comfortable with the machine. I do get variations of .3-.4 with a Uniflow and Unique but it seems more prevalent throwing charges in the 5-7 grain range than if I'm doing 10 grains for medium .44 loads.

[44shooter]

I had a thread here about it. I was having inconsistent throws with my Hornady measure. Bought a pistol drum and had Hornady sent me a free metal baffle. Throwing much more precise charges now.

My objective was 6.0 grains Unique. Got to 5.9 +/- 0.1 and called it good and loaded 45 acp. Aim to use this charge in multiple calibers.

[TomF]

I use a RCBS powder measure to throw 8-10 grs. Tests have indicated disparity between throws. But...........with this load I break clays at 110 yards, collected a turkey at 85 yards, many axis and wtd. My combination, boolit, powder and rifle, has revealed accuracy with thrown charges of Unique, consistent or not.
I've found this to be true with the guns I load with Unique. Two 24" Marlin Cowboys and a GP100. Lee 452255RF and 358125RF with Unique have proven to be accurate combinations.

[marlinman93]

[quote=marlinman93 post_id=979945 time=1697298361 user_id=
"Heck, Moses loaded with Unique!"

Yes he did, I have his can in my collection!20231014_121837.jpg
And it's still good!
[/quote]

That's not Moses' can! His can is 3rd row back on the left end in this picture:

[Griff]

I think that was a hold over from the last powder shortage so folks would buy all there was on the shelf! I've never had a problem using Unique on my either my RCBS Uniflow or either Dillon. But, I've never tried loading it in very small (under 6 grain) charges.

[GunnyMack]

[quote=marlinman93 post_id=979945 time=1697298361 user_id=
"Heck, Moses loaded with Unique!"

Yes he did, I have his can in my collection!20231014_121837.jpg
And it's still good!

That's not Moses' can! His can is 3rd row back on the left end in this picture:




[/quote]
Lousey lying salesman -I was hornswaggeled!

[Sarge]

I've used flake & IMR powders quite a bit and my best top end rifle loads are still fueled by H4895. But ball powders meter much more consistently through my old Hornady Deluxe and I use them almost exclusively for handgun loads.

[Nath]

Just out of interest...I've just acquired some Unique but use Herco in a small game load for the 30-30. How does Unique differ from Herco please?

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m fixing to open this can.

[Griff]

Just out of interest...I've just acquired some Unique but use Herco in a small game load for the 30-30. How does Unique differ from Herco please?

Unique is #45 on the LoadData.com burn rate chart and Herco is #51. Whereas on the Hodgdon chart published by LA Silhouette Club webpage, Unique is #31 & Herco is #35. Unique has many more cartridges that load data is available for. I can't describe them physically as I've never had any Herco.

[Nath]

Just out of interest...I've just acquired some Unique but use Herco in a small game load for the 30-30. How does Unique differ from Herco please?

Unique is #45 on the LoadData.com burn rate chart and Herco is #51. Whereas on the Hodgdon chart published by LA Silhouette Club webpage, Unique is #31 & Herco is #35. Unique has many more cartridges that load data is available for. I can't describe them physically as I've never had any Herco.

Thanks Griff. A hint faster than Herco then.
Good to know

[GunnyMack]

Nath, here is a burn chart I have saved on my phone.

Screenshot_20230128-071753_PRINT.jpg

[OldWin]

I load my pistol ammo on an old 550 Dillon. I'm pretty sure Unique is the ONLY power I've used with it. I also use a ton of it through an old Lyman 55 for many old Winchester cartridges I don't load on the Dillon.
I've never had an issue with metering. The Dillon does a better job than the Lyman, however. I've tested it extensively and once in an even rhythm of cycling the press, it will hold to within a tenth of a grain.
My stuff is old, but the only time I start to get inconsistent throws on a Dillon measure is if the Allen screw that holds the throw plate to the measure works loose. A drop of blue locktite will prevent this.

[Nath]

Nath, here is a burn chart I have saved on my phone.Screenshot_20230128-071753_PRINT.jpg

Thank you

[Scott Tschirhart]

I load my pistol ammo on an old 550 Dillon. I'm pretty sure Unique is the ONLY power I've used with it. I also use a ton of it through an old Lyman 55 for many old Winchester cartridges I don't load on the Dillon.
I've never had an issue with metering. The Dillon does a better job than the Lyman, however. I've tested it extensively and once in an even rhythm of cycling the press, it will hold to within a tenth of a grain.
My stuff is old, but the only time I start to get inconsistent throws on a Dillon measure is if the Allen screw that holds the throw plate to the measure works loose. A drop of blue locktite will prevent this.

This mirrors my experience but I have never detected any variation. 1/10 of a grain sounds like not much in Unique charges that I use anyway.

[J Miller]

I use a Redding #3 powder measure and Unique gives it fits. However, it has the large rifle charge drum in it and I've been told that is the problem.
If and when I escape this part of the world and can shoot again, I plan on getting the pistol size drum and trying that. Should be interesting.

Joe

[OldWin]

I load my pistol ammo on an old 550 Dillon. I'm pretty sure Unique is the ONLY power I've used with it. I also use a ton of it through an old Lyman 55 for many old Winchester cartridges I don't load on the Dillon.
I've never had an issue with metering. The Dillon does a better job than the Lyman, however. I've tested it extensively and once in an even rhythm of cycling the press, it will hold to within a tenth of a grain.
My stuff is old, but the only time I start to get inconsistent throws on a Dillon measure is if the Allen screw that holds the throw plate to the measure works loose. A drop of blue locktite will prevent this.

This mirrors my experience but I have never detected any variation. 1/10 of a grain sounds like not much in Unique charges that I use anyway.

Same here Scott. Most of the cartridges I load on the Dillon are using between a 5 and 6gr charge. Most anything with a larger charge I'm loading on an old Rockchucker. Don't think I use more than 8gr on any handgun cartridges. It's one of my favorite powders. I've loaded with it since I was in high school, and for all that time I've heard how dirty it burns and how bad it meters. Let em' complain. I love the old stuff. I think it's the only powder I buy by the 8lb can.

[Keith D]

I have an old can, too. How old is this thing? Still is mostly full.

[marlinman93]

I have an old can, too. How old is this thing? Still is mostly full.

Those little squarish cans are likely 1960's vintage.

[Scrumbag]

I don't like Unique through a Lee Perfect but works better through a MEC shotgun press. (Wonder if there is something to do with ratio of diameter of flakes to diameter of hole...?)

Scrummy

[buckeyeshooter]

You will not like hearing this, but my take is it is the Dillon product not the Unique. I had a real nasty Dillon 650 that would not seat primers, had trouble metering unique and the overcharged powder station also came out of adjustment after about every 10 rounds. I sent it back to Dillon and they sent it back still not working. I frankly do not think they even tried to fix the problems. I went round and round with them on returning it and finally got rid of that boat anchor.
My Lyman Spar-T kit from 1975 meters unique just fine and the Hornady lock and load I got to replace the boat anchor has worked great for about 12 years now. No problems metering Unique.

[COSteve]

Just goes to show that much of what you read on the interweb needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

As to the above comment on the Dillon press, I've had a 550B, 650, and now a 750 for a total of 25 years and over 300K rds and Unique meters quite well, primers seat correctly, and all three have preformed without issue as long as one keeps the machines clean, lubed correctly, and in good operating order. Just like any other piece of precision machinery.

And for what it's worth, you are the first person I've ever heard say anything bad about Dillon's CS. Hundreds of reports of Dillon going beyond their lifetime warranty responsibilities, even if the operator says that he was the cause of the problem, they came through.

And then there is you.