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Joined: 12 Jul 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Manchester TN

Today I went to get more powder(universal) and I found out its no longer available. Crying or Very sad

So now I've got to come up with a replacement recipe. I normally shoot a 1 oz load @ 1280-1300 FPS. The Universal burned clean and I'd like another powder with like characteristics.

Can that be had? And if so what would it be?

I know that Unique is very close to Universal in burn rate and similar in powder charge amounts to get the same amount of work done, but it is a bit dirty.

Longshot, in my opinion does burn cleaner but I don't need the velocity that it produces, especially in target loads.

20/28 is probably the next best thing to Universal but there isn't much data for it.

If I am buying the Universal replacement, I will put up with a little debris in the barrel and use Unique.

see if 700-x can give you the same stats
If you want speed like 1300fps Long Shot is perfect.

Joined: 12 Jul 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Manchester TN

That was easy enough as I've got some long shot on hand. I'll start my research now.

Thanks everyone

Unique is a double base, gray flake canister grade powder first introduced by Laflin & Rand in 1900. It has been continually manufactured and marketed by Hercules followed by Alliant ever since.

Hodgdon Universal canister grade was a single base smokeless powder first marketed in the early 1990's. It was introduced as a more clean burning alternative and direct competator of Unique.

The burning rate of the two powders are close enough to be considered just about indentical if charge weights are thrown volumetrically rather than weighed and all else is equal. So perhaps it is best to first refer to the various manufacturer's volumetric powder bushing charts in order to compare the resulting weights of thrown charges of these two powders.

I've found Unique to be an excellent choice for mid-range, mid-weight hunting loads. It produces very predictable average peak pressures and velocities with little evidence of unexpected pressure spikes as charge weights are incrimentally increased all the way up to maximum. I've also found Unique to produce very useful shot patterns with relatively well distributed pellets in the outer areas and reasonably dense, very lethal pattern cores at 30 to 40 yards yards for 1200 to 1300 FPS one ounce 16 ga and 1-1/4 ounce 12 gauge hunting loads. It is also one of the very best choices for 28 ga., 3/4 ounce skeet and hunting loads in my experience.

Unique also tends to be acceptably clean burning as long as a given reloading recipe produces at least 9200 PSI average peak load pressures. Progressively lower average peak load pressures tend to produce progressively more unburned powder residue in my exerience.

Less than firm crimps are also a major cause of dirty loads. However, this is true for any of the moderate to slower burning progressive smokeless shot shell powders. Best keep this in mind when selecting Unique as a possible powder choice.

Joined: 12 Jul 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Manchester TN

I enjoy reloading somewhat and liked the fact I could get the load I wanted with less expense than factory but now it seems it's becoming more of a border line deal price wise.
What are most people seeing Unique priced at?
With lead in the $50.00 range for 25 ibs it's getting a bit more difficult to be price conservative

one supplier got me a # for 20 bucks , the other for 19 bucks . Just got 8# 700x for 129 bucks .

I load shotshells to have the load I want. I only reload target loads and when I can buy target ammo for less than $4.00 a box I shoot that. I might use 20 rounds on a hunting day. So I buy new primed hulls and load them once, then the get used for targets only. Except for dove shooting, but thats shooting not hunting.