Something that meters better than Unique

[ZigZagMarquis]

I've experienced some issues getting Unique to meter through a Redding 3 powder measure; I've gotten charges that come up 1.5 - 2.5 grains low throwing Unique through a Redding 3 w/ the handgun metering chamber. Kind of disconcerting.

Thoughts out there on maybe this is a powder issue? Same thing different words... Anyone out there in the verse have a thought on a powder that would meter better than Unique for use in pistol loads for .38spl, .44 spl, .45acp? I'm wondering if a ball type powder vs. a flake (like Unique) would meter better? I'm guessing the answer to that is "yes", but which one? I'm okay with measuring and trickling every charge for rifle rounds, but its a bit annoying to think to do that for lots of pistol rounds for plinking when mostly I just don't want to produce a squib load for use in revolver or pistol because my powder measure decided to throw a lite load of Unique in between every 10th load or so that I do check (weigh) when loading a couple hundred pistol rounds at a sitting.

OR

Is it a powder measure issue?

Something else? Technique using the powder measure?

[Bisley]

Hello, ZigZagMarquis. I too know the frustration of metering Unique..But I do like the stuff! It's slow, but I have been setting measure light & finish bringing charge to weight on electric scale & Redding trickler. Probably too slow for most folks. I have found Hodgdon TiteGroup to be a nice powder to meter..although you had better run an anti-static wipe over measure as this stuff is fine. TrailBoss is just as bad if not worse than unique..but again..I like it. I haven't loaded H110 in years since I got out of IHMSA, but that ball powder was nice to work with. Best of luck!

[haggis]

Universal Clays is about equivalent to Unique, meters better, and is slightly cleaner (a lot cleaner than the old Unique). Good medium speed powder for most pistol loads.

Buck

[nightshade2x]

Win. 231?

Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x

[brokedave]

Win. 231?

Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x

I have always used Win231 and Win WST for all my 38, 357, and 44sp loads. I find both meter extremely accurately through my RCBS powder thrower and give consistant results re velocity and accuracy for the matches I shoot, although both powders do leave some residue.
Just my 0.02AUD cents...

[WIL TERRY]

IT IS MY OPINION YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. I have had two REDDING-HUNTER NUMBER 3 POWDER MEASURES in continuous service since January 1968. BOTH will hold powder charges of UNIQUE to 1/10GRAIN. We bought UNIQUE by the 15LB kegs then and went through many. After they were discontinued we bought two 8LB kegs at a time. BOTH of those measures have the baffles in them and these are highly importent to uniformity. PUT BAFFLES IN YOUR MEASURES...MAYBE TWO...think about it WHY for a moment....
BUT...BUT...the most importent thing to uniformity is HOW you operate the measure. IT must be identically the same every time forever; it must be firmly with some deliberate feel[force] to it and the must be the SAME click at each end of the powerstroke of the operating handle.
ALSO...take the handle off and reposition it standing UP not down. You want to be PUSHING the handle AWAY from you, not pulling up on it which is an unnatural motion using the wrong muscles [ as it were...]
OH....and one other thing....always...ALWAYS measure and weigh powder charges ten at a time and divide by ten for average.
ALSO remember...when I say I can hold it to 1/10GR that means 1/10 on either side which is 2/10's total. THIS IS WHY YOU AVERAGE TEN POWDER CHARGES AT A TIME or you will drive yourself crazy !!!!
AND lastly I must note here I have not bought any UNIQUE since the advent of HODGDON's UNIVERSAL Clays propellent. I wrote the FIRST article ever on UNIVERSAL and just never went back to UNIQUE. The new UNIVERSAL was advertised as " cleaner burning ", an ABSOLUTELY MEANINGLESS attribute that sold tons of propellent because the public thought that was ' importent '. The UNIVERSAL propellent did indeed go through powder measures more 'smoothly' but that too is of little REAL importance. BUT, this new foomfodder did shoot up a storm and was no where as finicky as UNIQUE in developing accurate loads; NOW THIS IS IMPORTENT !!!!
And so it goes...

[ColtSnakes]

The powder measure on my Hornady L-N-L press throws Unique within a tenth either way. Plenty close enough for me. Matter of fact FedEx just dropped off 4 lbs of Unique a coupe of days ago....I've got plans to load 1k lead RN .45 ACP rounds tomorrow.

[used2x4]

I use Red Dot for just about anything...

[dickttx]

Quote by Will Terry:
OH....and one other thing....always...ALWAYS measure and weigh powder charges ten at a time and divide by ten for average.

Please explain what you mean?

[ChuckS1]

I use a lot of Unique in my RCBS Uniflow. Three things I've learned that might help. First, use the baffle. Second, I always keep it 3/4 full. Third, I focus on trying to keep my technique for operating the handle the same each time, since consistent operation will (I think) make for more consistent results.

That being said, in my Square Deal, I use AA #5 for my .45 ACP 230 grain LRN loads.