Eventually I've be loading for .45ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W but for now I'm limited to .357 and .44mag because that is the only die sets I have on hand. I still have a good supply of Hercules Unique but all my reloading manuals were sold long ago. Does anybody have an older loading manual that had the information for powder charge range of Hercules Unique for a .357 with lead 158gr SWC and the .44 mag with 240-250gr lead SWC? I didn't know how much different the Alliant Unique was from the older Hercules powder and didn't want to just use the loading specs for the newer version of Unique. Thanks for any help.
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Getting back into re-loading after 30yrs....
- Thread starter PhilB
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sloughfoot
Grandmaster
Unique has not changed over the years.
Lee Second Edition of Modern reloading shows start of 6.2 gr and max of 6.8 gr for 1295 fps for 158 lead bullet.
For the 44 mag and 240 lead bullet, start at 10.7 gr and max of 11.8 gr for 1255 fps.
I highly recommend Richard Lee's book for reloaders, no matter their experience.
Lee Second Edition of Modern reloading shows start of 6.2 gr and max of 6.8 gr for 1295 fps for 158 lead bullet.
For the 44 mag and 240 lead bullet, start at 10.7 gr and max of 11.8 gr for 1255 fps.
I highly recommend Richard Lee's book for reloaders, no matter their experience.
Thanks for the info. For some reason I thought the loads I used were lighter powder charges than that. I guess it's a good thing I asked.
Thanks but the main reason I've not bought my other dies is a buddy of mine has a fantastic reloading shop and he keeps Dillion multi-stage presses set up for those calibers. It's kinda nice to just add bullets, primers and powder into the measure and get a loaded round for every pull of the press handle.
I really haven't decided if I want to bother buying dies for the single stage press I have if I can use a set-up that puts out hundreds of rounds per hour.
From the Speer Reloading manual # 10 published in 1979, one of the first manuals I got, lists a beginning charge weight of 5.5 grs of Unique and max of 6.0 grs using a lead SWC for the .357 mag giving 970 & 1034 FPS respectively.
Charge weight for the 240 gr lead SWC .44 mag is listed as a start weight of 5.7 grs. and a max of 6.3 grs. with 739 & 809 FPS respectively.
Unique has changed since Alliant took over, they changed the formula a little. It's a lot cleaner burning than the old Hercules was but to be truthful I never looked to see if the charge weights have changed, I'll have to go look and if they have I'll edit this post.
Just checked in the new Speer manual the load is the same for the .357 mag but they list charge weights for the .44 mag of 9.0 to start and max of 11.0 grs giving 1029 & 1211 respectively. The charge weights in the 2nd edition of the Lee manual are slightly higher the those in the Speer # 14 manual.
I think if I were you and it's just target ammo I would go with the load data from the Speer #10, ie the lower charge weights listed and work up from there. Like I said I know Allian changed the formula for Unique to make it cleaner burning so it may have changed the burn rate too.
Charge weight for the 240 gr lead SWC .44 mag is listed as a start weight of 5.7 grs. and a max of 6.3 grs. with 739 & 809 FPS respectively.
Unique has changed since Alliant took over, they changed the formula a little. It's a lot cleaner burning than the old Hercules was but to be truthful I never looked to see if the charge weights have changed, I'll have to go look and if they have I'll edit this post.
Just checked in the new Speer manual the load is the same for the .357 mag but they list charge weights for the .44 mag of 9.0 to start and max of 11.0 grs giving 1029 & 1211 respectively. The charge weights in the 2nd edition of the Lee manual are slightly higher the those in the Speer # 14 manual.
I think if I were you and it's just target ammo I would go with the load data from the Speer #10, ie the lower charge weights listed and work up from there. Like I said I know Allian changed the formula for Unique to make it cleaner burning so it may have changed the burn rate too.
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Thankyou very much! Those charge weights are more in line with what I remember. The Speer manuals were what I used most of the time although I also had Hornady and Lyman manuals. I was looking for plinking loads more like .38 special and .44 special. For magnum loads I'm pretty sure I used 2400, Blue dot, WW296 and Dupont 4756.
Be sure to use up that old unique ! When you go and buy the " new improved and cleaner burning ", you will find it's still dirty ! Dirty, but very varsatile and consistent.
Data for unique has not changed, but other powders now in the Alliant line such as Blue Dot and 2400 has had the date backed off a bit.
Data for unique has not changed, but other powders now in the Alliant line such as Blue Dot and 2400 has had the date backed off a bit.
There is a disclaimer on Alliant's page that the load data should only be used with powders made by Alliant. The OP is talking about the old Hercules made Unique.
Out of curiosity I emailed Alliant and asked. If I receive a reply I'll let you know.
I saw that after I posted the link. Pleas post what they send you I have some of the old powders also but just refer back to my log book for old loads. The 9.0 Unique in 357 is a fairly hot load. I ran that behind a 125 JHP. I think I may have a old Hercules book I will dig around in the loading room and see if I can find it.
This is from a Hornady manual 3rd edition 1980.
38spl
148 gr Wadcutter overal length 1.165
unique 3.2 @ 700fps - max 4.1 @ 900
158 gr Round nose OVL 1.475
Unique 3.4 @ 650fps - 4.8 @900fps
357 Mag
158 gr lead RN ovl 1.590
Unique 4.7 @ 850fps - 6.5 @ 1100fps
44SPL
240 gr SWC ovl 1.500
unique 4.7 @ 650fps - 6.4 @ 800 fps
44Mag 240 gr SWC ovl 1.630
unique 6.7 @ 800fps - 8.5 @ 1000fps
240 gr Jacketed HP ovl 1.161
unique 11.2 @1100fps - 13.1 @ 1300fps
They do not have Unique listed for jacketed bullets in 357. I hope this is what you are looking for.
38spl
148 gr Wadcutter overal length 1.165
unique 3.2 @ 700fps - max 4.1 @ 900
158 gr Round nose OVL 1.475
Unique 3.4 @ 650fps - 4.8 @900fps
357 Mag
158 gr lead RN ovl 1.590
Unique 4.7 @ 850fps - 6.5 @ 1100fps
44SPL
240 gr SWC ovl 1.500
unique 4.7 @ 650fps - 6.4 @ 800 fps
44Mag 240 gr SWC ovl 1.630
unique 6.7 @ 800fps - 8.5 @ 1000fps
240 gr Jacketed HP ovl 1.161
unique 11.2 @1100fps - 13.1 @ 1300fps
They do not have Unique listed for jacketed bullets in 357. I hope this is what you are looking for.
Thanks a bunch! That's exactly what I'm looking for. I just wanted some nice plinking loads for those rounds. If I shoot any jacketed bullets I have 296 Winchester ball powder to use.
Heard back From Alliant today, here's the email response I received to my question.
"Yes. Even if you have Hercules Unique, we recommend using Alliant Unique data. Thanks for your note."
Ben Amonette
Consumer Service Manager
Alliant Powder Company
I guess that answers that question.
"Yes. Even if you have Hercules Unique, we recommend using Alliant Unique data. Thanks for your note."
Ben Amonette
Consumer Service Manager
Alliant Powder Company
I guess that answers that question.
Heard back From Alliant today, here's the email response I received to my question.
"Yes. Even if you have Hercules Unique, we recommend using Alliant Unique data. Thanks for your note."
Ben Amonette
Consumer Service Manager
Alliant Powder Company
I guess that answers that question.
Thanks good info to have.
Cowboy1629
Expert
30 years is a long time. I was out for 15 years and couldn't believe the price changes. Look at the price sticker on your old primers and powder compared to today’s prices. Makes you wish you had more of that OLD stuff.
I was thinking a lot of my old favorite loads were too hot in the newer manuals. Not sure if the formulas changed or lawyers got involved. Anyway, I kept notes for my old loads and continued with that until I ran out of the old powder and started using the modern load data with the new powder.
I was thinking a lot of my old favorite loads were too hot in the newer manuals. Not sure if the formulas changed or lawyers got involved. Anyway, I kept notes for my old loads and continued with that until I ran out of the old powder and started using the modern load data with the new powder.
I have just started reloading and casting bullets after almost 30 years. Only took me a few days to get back in the saddle again. Feels good to be able to have ammo that I have made. And the prices on factory ammo has gone thru the roof. Too much for me to shoot without reloading my own.
I have an old Speer Manual and would be happy to copy any pages thay you might need.
I have an old Speer Manual and would be happy to copy any pages thay you might need.
