|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,329
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,329 |
I load about 90% TiteGroup and Universal, and have been doing it for over a decade. The remainder of my loading for pistols and PCR's is H110.
Overall, I like Titegroup for being clean burning and efficient. I use less powder to get the same bang as Unique. What does not get Titegroup gets Universal. It's much cleaner than Unique.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301 |
Unique vs AA5: I like the way the AA pistol powders burn so clean. I also like the way the meter, way more consistent in any of my three powder measures. I use AA 5, 7, and 9. All have worked well for me. Better? For me yes, for you...
The first time I shot myself in the head...
Meniere's Sucks Big Time!!!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269 |
Gibby, is BE-86 a flake powder? It is hard to tell. If it is, they are very small. More like a ball powder that has been flattened more than usual. Black in color. It might be the flash suppressant coating.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269 |
Unique vs AA5: I like the way the AA pistol powders burn so clean. I also like the way the meter, way more consistent in any of my three powder measures. I use AA 5, 7, and 9. All have worked well for me. Better? For me yes, for you... AA5 is the ball powder equivalent of Unique (not in burn rate). But clean. Very versatile from starting loads to max loads. Their data is second to none. I use a lot of it.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,669
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,669 |
Gibby, is BE-86 a flake powder? It is hard to tell. If it is, they are very small. More like a ball powder that has been flattened more than usual. Black in color. It might be the flash suppressant coating. OK, thanks. I see it is available locally (3rd Gen), I just might drive out to El Reno and pick up a lb. to try.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269 |
One very good quality I like is it's ignitability. The BE formulation.
Works well with small cases with taper crimps and short bullets like .380 and 9mm.
No heavy "bullet pull" needed. That is good in those small cases since the primer is powerful enough to expand the brass and release the bullet quickly. Some powders need more resistance in the beginning.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073 |
I still use unique but I also use Accurate #5, Power Pistol and CFE-P. They meter a lot better in my powder measure. The nick name for unique is flaming dirt. Hasbeen
hasbeen (Better a has been than a never was!)
NRA Patron member Try to live your life where the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,269 |
I still use unique but I also use Accurate #5, Power Pistol and CFE-P. They meter a lot better in my powder measure. The nick name for unique is flaming dirt. Hasbeen I have call it Kingsford. I still like it.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755 |
AA5 is the ball powder equivalent of Unique (not in burn rate). But clean. Very versatile from starting loads to max loads. Their data is second to none. I use a lot of it.
I like AA powders too, but suggest WSF may be the closest ball powder equivalent to Unique you'll find. There isn't much load data published for it, but velocity in 9mm, .40, and .45 all match Unique grain for grain in every load I've tested, to the point I'm comfortable starting with Unique data for WSF when working up a new load. WSF and AA5 may be very similar though - I don't know. I use lots of #7 and #9 but haven't used much #5.
Last edited by Yondering; 03/15/17.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 679
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 679 |
Cartridges that Alliant shows load data 10mm Auto 32 Auto 327 Federal Magnum 357 Magnum 357 Sig. 38 Special 38 Special +P 380 Auto 40 S&W 44 Rem. Magnum 44 S&W Special 45 Colt 45 Auto 45 G.A.P 454 Casull 460 S&W Magnum 480 Ruger 500 S&W Magnum 9mm Luger 32-20 Win. (Cowboy Action) http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=8 In my opinion Power Pistol can do snything Unique can and do it cleaner. I agree with this 100%, bought a 1 lb jug of power pistol to try in my wife's 380 as I was not having a good results with unique. So far I really like what I am experiencing with power pistol. When my 8 lb jug of unique is gone not buying any more. I have also heard good things about be-86 but have not found any to try .
Last edited by colvin; 03/16/17.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,668
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,668 |
In all fairness, the latest version of Unique is reported to be cleaner, etc. But, for overall versitility, Ramshot's True Blue does it all. Ramshot show very mild Cowboy Action loads at between 600-700 fps with the standard CAS cartriages. It is the recommended powder for the 5.7X28 which can go critical very easily, and it does a good job with almost anything else. As has been said, it won't replace H110 or WW296. But it does get close. I've used it in the 5.7X28, the .357 magnum, the .44 Magnum and the .45 ACP. Never had any grips. E
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,827
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,827 |
Thanks for all of the replies. I get best accuracy in the .45 ACP with AA5. The 44special perks with 7.5 grs. Universal, the .44 Magnum with 8.8 grs. Power Pistol and the 45 Colt and .357 Magnum need 2400 for best accuracy.
I haven't found Universal to be as versatile as Unique and since I use a bunch in cast bullet loads I guess it will remain my goto.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468 |
I have tried many, (Power Pistol, Universal, WST, Titegroup, and others) Unique is a bit dirty, but I still have some and use it regularly. Others are perhaps a bit better in some loading's but overall Unique is indeed Unique.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Unique burns dirty when using powder puff loads. But IMHO when loaded up where it should be, the loads clean up and the groups tighten up. I think it needs to be run at 20-30 kpsi to do it's thing, but it does it's thing very well. And I don't think there is a more versatile powder out there. If it hadn't been unavailable when I stocked up I'd have 32#'s of unique, instead I have 32#'s of Universal.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 631
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 631 |
I have used Universal and Unique in my .38 special and .45 LC loads. Both powders are accurate in my 2 Ruger revolvers. I tried Universal as I got tired of the soot that Unique does to my guns,but the recoil of the Unique is less, seems smoother. The Universal is cleaner burning.
Not sure which I will go back to when I run out. Could try something different as I have used Unique since 1979.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,645 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,645 Likes: 1 |
Power Pistol burns much cleaner and close to same burn rate
This. Very flexible & versatile powder & my most used. MM
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,376
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,376 |
Unique is popular with uneducated noobs and nursing home escapees.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,731
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,731 |
No. Cleaner maybe, but no better.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,731
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,731 |
No. Cleaner maybe, but no better.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 944
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 944 |
The newer powders measure better, burn cleaner, and are more versatile.
Aside from that, I don't see that it makes much difference in sending lead downrange.
"Supernatural divinities are the primitive's answer to why the sun goes down at night..."
|
|
|
|
677 members (1beaver_shooter, 10gaugemag, 22250rem, 160user, 06hunter59, 204guy, 70 invisible),
2,687
guests, and
1,506
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,610
Posts18,492,478
Members73,972
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|