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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 69
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 69 |
I haven't been able to find any Unique for quite a while now, but I think I may have found a substitute for a while. I found some Hodgdon cfe pistol powder and decided to give it a try. I looked up data from the Hodgdon website. In the 44 mag with 240 lee cast bullets I worked up to 11.5 grains of powder. This gave me just under 1300 fps out of a 7.5 inch Ruger super blackhawk and just over 1200 fps out of a 4 inch 629.
Accuracy was good out of both handguns. I really like the efficiency with this powder.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,990
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,990 |
I picked up a few pounds the other day. None of the data I've found looks that great but I'll have to give it a try in something .
Bb
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Joined: Feb 2012
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,450 |
I have some CFE223 and its done wonderful in my .223 loads....I want to grab some of the pistol powder when I see it
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
-Thomas Jefferson
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373 |
I haven't been able to find any Unique for quite a while now, but I think I may have found a substitute for a while. I found some Hodgdon cfe pistol powder and decided to give it a try. I looked up data from the Hodgdon website. In the 44 mag with 240 lee cast bullets I worked up to 11.5 grains of powder. This gave me just under 1300 fps out of a 7.5 inch Ruger super blackhawk and just over 1200 fps out of a 4 inch 629.
Accuracy was good out of both handguns. I really like the efficiency with this powder. Assuming that you followed the load data, then that is excellent loading range for that powder - why on earth would you want to go back to Unique?
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261 |
I just went and looked up this CFE pistol powder for the .45 Auto and low and behold Hodgdon has a load for the .45 Auto.
I'm glad I opened up this thread.
Don't vote knothead, it only encourages them. Anonymous
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." Anonymous
"Self-reliance, free thinking, and wealth is anathema to both the power of the State and the Church." Derby Dude
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518 |
"Why on earth would you want to go back to Unique?"
Because it works!
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373 |
"Why on earth would you want to go back to Unique?"
Because it works! And sooooooooo many powders work better. Much better.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518 |
Yeah, I know. And I've used several of them including Power Pistol, Universal (when I can find it), Blue Dot and a few others, but Unique is like an old pair of boots; it just feels right. I guess that is because I have used it for so many years.
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 69
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 69 |
I haven't been able to find any Unique for quite a while now, but I think I may have found a substitute for a while. I found some Hodgdon cfe pistol powder and decided to give it a try. I looked up data from the Hodgdon website. In the 44 mag with 240 lee cast bullets I worked up to 11.5 grains of powder. This gave me just under 1300 fps out of a 7.5 inch Ruger super blackhawk and just over 1200 fps out of a 4 inch 629.
Accuracy was good out of both handguns. I really like the efficiency with this powder. Assuming that you followed the load data, then that is excellent loading range for that powder - why on earth would you want to go back to Unique? I encourage everyone to double check my loads. The data is availabe on the Hodgdon website. I didn't even work up all the way to the published max load, I like to leave a little breathing room. I still really like Unique for the 44 Magnum. 10 grains of the stuff will push a 240 grain slug between 1000 and 1100 fps out of my Mountain gun, which is plenty of recoil for me and it will still kill anything I can hit with it. I paid 25 bucks for the cfe pistol. I used to pay 18 bucks for Unique. When this powder shortage ends I will probably buy whichever is cheaper. I don't care about the copper erasing qualities of cfe because I'm shooting cast lead.
Last edited by Amos; 05/15/14.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 27,500
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 27,500 |
Does the CFE pistol powder shoot cleaner, overall than Unique? Do you know if they list data for a 260gr Hard cast at about 1,000fps? I am another who is using 10gr of Unique, but behind a 260gr bullet in my 329PD the recoil is still pretty stout or harsh. My guess is (and I need to chronograph these loads) is that I am pushing those 260's at a bit more than my goal of 1,000. It could, also, be that a 260gr bullet at 1,000 is just going to be a mean SOB out of a 23 ounce handgun.
LOVE God, LOVE your family, LOVE your country, LIKE guns and sports.
About 2016 team "R" candidates "We definitely need a crew with a sack of balls the size of hot water bottles, bloviated estrogen leaking feel-gooders need not apply." Gunner 500
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,450
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,450 |
CFE is some of the cleanest powder I have seen.....I have yet to get the pistol powder but have the CFE 223 and my AR stays much cleaner than factory loads.....also the stuff meters great. I will buy the pistol powder as soon as I see it
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
-Thomas Jefferson
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,124
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,124 |
"Why on earth would you want to go back to Unique?"
Because it works! And sooooooooo many powders work better. Much better. Define better? Good load density, 2" groups at 50yds, why would one look for "better"?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373 |
I haven't been able to find any Unique for quite a while now, but I think I may have found a substitute for a while. I found some Hodgdon cfe pistol powder and decided to give it a try. I looked up data from the Hodgdon website. In the 44 mag with 240 lee cast bullets I worked up to 11.5 grains of powder. This gave me just under 1300 fps out of a 7.5 inch Ruger super blackhawk and just over 1200 fps out of a 4 inch 629.
Accuracy was good out of both handguns. I really like the efficiency with this powder. Assuming that you followed the load data, then that is excellent loading range for that powder - why on earth would you want to go back to Unique? I encourage everyone to double check my loads. The data is availabe on the Hodgdon website. I didn't even work up all the way to the published max load, I like to leave a little breathing room. I still really like Unique for the 44 Magnum. 10 grains of the stuff will push a 240 grain slug between 1000 and 1100 fps out of my Mountain gun, which is plenty of recoil for me and it will still kill anything I can hit with it. I paid 25 bucks for the cfe pistol. I used to pay 18 bucks for Unique. When this powder shortage ends I will probably buy whichever is cheaper. I don't care about the copper erasing qualities of cfe because I'm shooting cast lead. I've been assuming you Chronographed your loads - right?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 69
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 69 |
I haven't been able to find any Unique for quite a while now, but I think I may have found a substitute for a while. I found some Hodgdon cfe pistol powder and decided to give it a try. I looked up data from the Hodgdon website. In the 44 mag with 240 lee cast bullets I worked up to 11.5 grains of powder. This gave me just under 1300 fps out of a 7.5 inch Ruger super blackhawk and just over 1200 fps out of a 4 inch 629.
Accuracy was good out of both handguns. I really like the efficiency with this powder. Assuming that you followed the load data, then that is excellent loading range for that powder - why on earth would you want to go back to Unique? I encourage everyone to double check my loads. The data is availabe on the Hodgdon website. I didn't even work up all the way to the published max load, I like to leave a little breathing room. I still really like Unique for the 44 Magnum. 10 grains of the stuff will push a 240 grain slug between 1000 and 1100 fps out of my Mountain gun, which is plenty of recoil for me and it will still kill anything I can hit with it. I paid 25 bucks for the cfe pistol. I used to pay 18 bucks for Unique. When this powder shortage ends I will probably buy whichever is cheaper. I don't care about the copper erasing qualities of cfe because I'm shooting cast lead. I've been assuming you Chronographed your loads - right? Yes, I chronographed my loads and I am getting velocities that are predicted in my reloading manuals. No magic here.
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