Unique Powder smokin

[Guest m&pc9]

The reloader I bought used came with 1/2 lb of Unique powder. The other day at the range I noticed it was very dirty seemed to put out black smoke. The range has good ventilation and I could tell there was a fog in front of me when I would shoot the whole magazine. I never noticed it before and I am getting to the end of the powder and I am now using lead bullets. The guns dont seem to be any dirtier but its just smokier.

[leroy]

The reloader I bought used came with 1/2 lb of Unique powder. The other day at the range I noticed it was very dirty seemed to put out black smoke. The range has good ventilation and I could tell there was a fog in front of me when I would shoot the whole magazine. I never noticed it before and I am getting to the end of the powder and I am now using lead bullets. The guns dont seem to be any dirtier but its just smokier.

Unique has a tendency to be a little "dirty" (the "old" Hercules Powder formulation especially; it think the "new" alliant formulaton does better there); especially with cast ("lead") bullets. For lots of smoke, the bullet lube is the most likely culprit. There aint much you can do about it -- it is the bullet lube on cast bullets vaporizing when the round is fired. I've found that crimping pistol loads when unique (and other powders) is used is the best way to cut done on unburned powder residue and improve accuracy. The only to fix the "smoke" problem is jacketed bullets -- thats an expensive solution.

That being said, Unique is the greatest of the pistol powders from 32 s&w right up to 45 colt, including the magnum "midrange loads". Very accurate and powerful in revolvers and autos too.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

LEROY

[Guest canebreaker]

Unique is a bit dirtier than others. Shooting a revolver, we are closer to the dirt than if shooting an auto. We end the day with almost black hands and dirty guns.

I'm loading bullseye rounds for flutterby, it's cleaner. Using up the unique on my rounds.

[TNTitan]

Accurate is a nice clean powder. I use it for .45 and .38

[I_Like_Pie]

90% of Unique's bad rap for dirty comes from it being a cast bullet load. As mentioned above the lube is most of the smoke. Universal Clays is a slightly cleaner powder, but you will still be shooting lubed bullets.

[gregintenn]

Load a few with Pyrodex and shoot them, then switch back to the Unique loads. You won't notice the smoke any longer. Seriously, it probably comes from burnt bullet lube.