Unique loads for 38 and 9mm??

[the86d]

I don't own a revolver, but for 9mm:
Testing and working up loads for 115 and 124gr plated, if I went over 5.2-5.3 I got powder flakes all over the place from the unburned(?) powder.

5-5.2gr was my happy-place w/ 124gr plated, and it works well for me(, even if Alliant states 5.7gr is the load for LRN (125gr) load on their site: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...3&bulletid=327 )

I generally cross-reference a powder MFR's site for load data... if it's available.

[BillyGoatCrawler]

4.2-4.5 is pretty good with Unique using a 158 swc. Very accurate, mild recoil/report. This is in my Ruger Blackhawk. I also run 5.0gr Unique for a +P load, same bullet, same pistol. Not nasty at all. BTW, the 5.0 load is the most accurate in my pistol. Work your load up and be safe. You really should buy a chronograph; they're a big help in load development.

That's what I end up making a lot of the time. I don't have my notes with me, but I want to say 4.3gr unique and 158gr lead SWC was getting about 770fps and very accurate. I about 150 of them Saturday. Ended up taking my 6" gp100 back 100 yards with and shooting a 12 inch gong. Was able to consistently ring the thing, so it's plenty accurate.

[bigdawg86]

I used 4 grains of unique with a 148g HBSWC pushing average of 888FPS over 10 chrono'd shots using a Colt 38 Army Special.

[pizzlemata]

So I started with 4.2 gr and 4.5 gr loads of Unique under 158 gr plated SWCs. Both shot fine but the 4.5s seems to burn a little cleaner. Recoil on them was mild even out of my 442. This will be my go to plinking load.
Will be working up 9mm loads later today!

[DougJ]

Unique does tend to leave unburned flakes behind at low pressures, shoot light unique loads over a clean surface or into a paper target at 1 yard or so and you'll see flakes left over. Won't hurt anything...

[5akman]

I used 3.6 grs of Unique under Xtreme 147gr HP's. Shot great but my Lee Pro Auto disk measure just would't throw that low charge consistently. So I'm abandoning my Unique and trying VV N320 instead.

[pizzlemata]

I used 3.6 grs of Unique under Xtreme 147gr HP's. Shot great but my Lee Pro Auto disk measure just would't throw that low charge consistently. So I'm abandoning my Unique and trying VV N320 instead.

I wish I could just abandon Unique as it does not do well in my powder measure (+ - .3 gr at times) but I have 3 more pounds of it and powder in the Sacramento area is hit or miss (Im sure it is for all of CA).
Im just paranoid with Unique but i guess that cant be a bad thing when reloading.

[5akman]

I wish I could just abandon Unique as it does not do well in my powder measure (+ - .3 gr at times) but I have 3 more pounds of it and powder in the Sacramento area is hit or miss (Im sure it is for all of CA).
Im just paranoid with Unique but i guess that cant be a bad thing when reloading.

I use a RCBS powder cop die which really works well for over/under charges, especially when throwing Unique. I wanted to use it, and it worked pretty good up in the 4.5+ grain range but I can't get it to measure decently at all down in the 3.5 gr range. Off to the N320 I go!