Home Forums Reloading Reloading Software 357 Magnum and Unique

I just loaded some 38spl. and 158gr.xtp with 5gr.unique and just noticed in my books that the 357 magnum will take 10gr.unique with a 158gr.JSP sierra,,,,WOW,,,has anyone else used unique with the 357 magnum and what is your favorite load?

I've used it with 158gr SWCs, 8 or 9 grains and also used 10.0gr with a 255 SWC in the .45 Colt. The only problem I have with it is it burns so dirty. I now use Univ Clays which loads about the same but is cleaner.

Thanks for the help!
10gr. was a little too hot,i found more loads and 8gr, should be max with the 158gr.bullets,10gr.was more for a 110gr....

I use Unique in my 44 mag , 357 and 38 Spl . This is my go to powder for Mid Range Loads. Unique has been changed or improved on and doesn't burn as dirty as it used to . Great Powder. Unique isn't the same old dirty burning powder it used to be.

I have always loaded 6.6 grains with 150-158 grain cast SWCs for a fun load.

Unique always burned cleaner when loaded hot, even the old stuff. Slower you go, the nastier it gets.

Good powder in the .44 Mag and .45 Colt. Just don't double charge it.

Many years ago, my brother had one of the first Ruger Blackhawks in .41 Mag. He double charged Unique and it locked up the gun, splitting the chamber, but not bulging the frame. He sent it to Ruger, stating exactly what he did, amazed that the gun held together as well as it did. They fixed it, no cost. Years later, I was at the NRA annual meeting in New Orleans, 1970, IIRC. I was at the Ruger booth and told the story to a Mr. Vogel. He said he remembered that case. He related that it was the first time anyone had not blamed the gun. That old model Blackhawk, rebuilt by Ruger, is the slickest Blackhawk I've handled. My brother still has it. I learned later than Mr. Vogel was Bill Ruger's son in law. A read gentleman, for sure.

DF

I always try to use a powder that pretty much fills the case so if there was a double charge it would overflow...but unique will double charge a 45 case easy so i watch it like a hawk and seat my bullet as soon as the powder goes in the case...the higher charge i had loaded in the 357 was stout and flattened the primer bigtime,i pulled all my loads and lowered the charge,my bullets are scratched from pulling with pliers,it's ok to shoot pulled semi-scratched up bullets right?they will shoot just fine right just ugly?bullets are sierra 158JSP...
I pulled a federal 158JSP round for kicks and it weighed a full listed max charge of what looked like IMR-4227...but the bullet and case mouth had a black tar looking stuff i guess in it to keep the bullet seated or watertight?anyways it was weird to see the tar on the case mouth inside and the bullet base...imr-4227 looks as fine as pixy dust or fire cracker powder...super fine stuff

H4227 is my go to powder for the .45 Colt. Smooth pressure curve and fills the case.

DF

I shot some of my reloads today,they all shot good with good accuracy but the nickle cased rounds did'nt want to eject and were very hard to get out of the cyclinder ...but all my yellow brass rounds fell out with ease ....both cases had the same powder charge,what you guess is up with the nickle's?