Freaking unique is driving me CRAZY!!!!!!

[sofbak]

Still trying to get consisten throws through a Lee Pro auto-disk. Based on a lot of user recommendations, I put the adjustable powder bar in it today and tried some more unique. Also tried a dryer sheet. Still getting inconsistent throws that vary by as much as 0.4 grains... Here are the details

1. I adjusted the bar to the approximate size, then make 10 throws before I even bother to measure them.

2. I measure at least six throws to get it dialed into the target weight, and I dry cycle the turret through a complete rotation for each throw.

3. Once I think I get it dialed in, I make ten throws and weight them to see what the variance is-still dry cycling the turret through a complete rotation for each throw.

4. Trying to hit 9.4 grains, I threw ten charges ,the lowest was 9.35 and the highest was 9.6, with an average of 9.45.

5. So I loaded up 12 cartridges. Then I made four more "check throws" and they came out 9.75, 9.75, 9.6 and 9.6!!!! WTF??? With no changes to the bar, and no changes in the number of lever cycles or rotations per thrown charge, why the heck so much variance?

6. I checked the scale zero, and it was still good.

So now I have some "mystery loads" that are greater than 9.3 and less than 9.8. Glad I'm shooting a ruger.

Anybody got any ideas on why this lee auto-disk is all over the map? I'ts not leaking, everything is tight, and I'm giving as consistent a pull motion as I possibly can. But it just won't do more than three or four throws in a row at the same weight.

[Bill Steele]

Still trying to get consisten throws through a Lee Pro auto-disk. Based on a lot of user recommendations, I put the adjustable powder bar in it today and tried some more unique. Also tried a dryer sheet. Still getting inconsistent throws that vary by as much as 0.4 grains... Here are the details

1. I adjusted the bar to the approximate size, then make 10 throws before I even bother to measure them.

2. I measure at least six throws to get it dialed into the target weight, and I dry cycle the turret through a complete rotation for each throw.

3. Once I think I get it dialed in, I make ten throws and weight them to see what the variance is-still dry cycling the turret through a complete rotation for each throw.

4. Trying to hit 9.4 grains, I threw ten charges ,the lowest was 9.35 and the highest was 9.6, with an average of 9.45.

5. So I loaded up 12 cartridges. Then I made four more "check throws" and they came out 9.75, 9.75, 9.6 and 9.6!!!! WTF??? With no changes to the bar, and no changes in the number of lever cycles or rotations per thrown charge, why the heck so much variance?

6. I checked the scale zero, and it was still good.

So now I have some "mystery loads" that are greater than 9.3 and less than 9.8. Glad I'm shooting a ruger.

Anybody got any ideas on why this lee auto-disk is all over the map? I'ts not leaking, everything is tight, and I'm giving as consistent a pull motion as I possibly can. But it just won't do more than three or four throws in a row at the same weight.

The adjustable charge bar will not affect your charge to charge consistency, at all. Well, that is not entirely true, if you are dropping small charges the adjustable bar will make your drop to drop consistency much worse than the fixed holes in the disks.

There are a few people on these threads that have said they get very accurate drops with Unique, hopefully one of them will be along to suggest a few ideas. I have never gotten very good consistency with Unique. That is one of a few reasons why I don't like the powder and don't use it anymore.

The good news is Unique is not very sensitive to variations in powder drops, so if you are not loading max loads, it may not matter all that much. Just make sure your largest drops are no more than Alliant's max for the weight and type of bullet and you should be good to go.

[XDRoX]

Like usual I agree with Bill. I've never had good luck with Unique metering well, but then again it never mattered much. Unique is unique in that it doesn't need super accurate drops to be effective.

So many other factors are more important than powder drop for accuracy I woundn't loose sleep over Unique not metering well. When Unique was first invented most guys were loading with a powder scoop not a fancy powder measure. It's one of the most forgiving powders out there.

[Fjold]

I tend to throw by ear, which means that I listen to how hard I hit the stops at the top and bottom of the stroke to make it sound as consistent as possible. This seems to help a lot with consistency.

[sofbak]

........

The good news is Unique is not very sensitive to variations in powder drops, so if you are not loading max loads, it may not matter all that much. Just make sure your largest drops are no more than Alliant's max for the weight and type of bullet and you should be good to go.

... Unique is unique in that it doesn't need super accurate drops to be effective.

...It's one of the most forgiving powders out there.

Thankyou for the shared experience.

I think I'm ok here, but never hurts to check. In the "standard" long colt section, the max load for a 250 gr LRNFP is 9.5 gr. I'm over that by about 0.25 gr (maybe), but as I mentioned I'm running this through a Ruger new Vaqeuro. Two different things tell me I'm not in any trouble here:

1. I e-mailed Lee and asked if the "Ruger and T/C" load tables applied to a new Vaquero. Their response was "yes, if it's ruger revolver, you can use the Ruger & T/C tables".

2. I looked in the chapter in the Lee manual about pressure, and according to their testing, a 1% change in charge has a 2.5% average change in pressure, and a 6.1% max. My charge overage is 2.6% max which would give me a max pressure difference of 6.5%.

The Lee manual doesn't show the pressure for the 9.5 gr load, but I have to assume that if it's in the standard long colt table, it has to be the range of 14000psi or less. So a 6.5% increase would put me at 14,910 psi which is well within the capability of the ruger, and way below the pressures in the Ruger & T/C tables.

Also, the bullet has a BHN of 16 which is pretty hard, so I don't think I'll have any issues with gas cutting.

Did I miss anything?

[mjmagee67]

I love Unique, but I could never get a consistent charge with my powder thrower. Thats why I changed to Bullseye and I know many have moved to 231 for the same reason.

[Bill Steele]

If Lee said you could use the Ruger/Thompson Center loads in your Vaquero then your logic sounds right. Frankly I am surprised as I always thought those guns were to be kept at normal .45LC pressures.

I will tell you one of the other things I didn't like about Unique was the way it worked around max loads. For me it was a very docile powder up until you got to max where it goes around the knee of the curve right smartly. This phenomenon seemed most pronounced in the higher pressure rounds like .44RM. I don't load .45LC, but some of those Ruger-TC loads look a lot like a .44RM, so all I would say it take it slow and go easy.

One of the best pieces of reloading advice I think I ever read on these threads was, "if in doubt, there is no doubt, pull them". I wish I could remember who said that so I could give them credit.

[kurac]

I quite using Unique years ago, I think I might even have the remainder of a container laying around here somewhere. Now I just use W231 which meters like a dream.

[VooDooV]

Im not formiliar with any of the auto droppers so I dont if they have a tapper or aggitator.

Does yours.

[Cheep]

I always keep the powder measure more than 3/4 full and I haven't had that problem with Unique...

[sofbak]

I always keep the powder measure more than 3/4 full and I haven't had that problem with Unique...

Yeah, I had mine full to about 3/4 too, but didn't help.

Looks like the best answer is to move on to another powder.

Anybody in the San Diego area want a steal of a deal on nearly a lb. of unique?? Loaded 100 cartridges out of this bottle, and I'm done with it.

[22popnsplat]

Unique is dirty and does not meter well in most powder measures , The lee powder measures has its faults but throws ok in consistancy . I use a uniflow and if it wont meter through there i get out the belding and Mull , its a little difficult to use but will meter anything

[bandook]

It's tough to hit exact weights on Unique with most powder dispensers. But as others have already mentioned, it's fairly insensitive to charge variation.
Also, the current SAAMI secs are watered/lawyered down so an occasional .25 grain over max in a LOW PRESSURE cartridge is a non-event

[bandook]

...I will tell you one of the other things I didn't like about Unique was the way it worked around max loads. For me it was a very docile powder up until you got to max where it goes around the knee of the curve right smartly. This phenomenon seemed most pronounced in the higher pressure rounds like .44RM...

Interesting... Will need to experiment in a GP100.

[sofbak]

...
I will tell you one of the other things I didn't like about Unique was the way it worked around max loads. For me it was a very docile powder up until you got to max where it goes around the knee of the curve right smartly. This phenomenon seemed most pronounced in the higher pressure rounds like .44RM. I don't load .45LC, but some of those Ruger-TC loads look a lot like a .44RM, so all I would say it take it slow and go easy

I experienced a mild version of this with my first series of unique test loads. I had 8.55, 8.7, 8.9, and 9.15 grains loaded (all averages of 10 test throws before loading). With 12 of each, as I worked my way up, I could feel a slight increase in recoil with each, but the highest load was substantially "zippier" than the 8.9. Still nothing close to hand cannon status, but that last increase was definitely noticable. 9.2 gr. must be getting close to the knee in the curve.