40 S&W with CAMPRO 180gr RN and ALLIANT UNIQUE

At a C.O.L of 1.120" 6.5gr of Unique and a 180gr Campro gave me an avg 1015fps at ~20degC with my G35. Saying this load is "snappy" just doesn't quite cut it imo, but I typically only shoot my .40 downloaded for the range.
Seeing as you'll need to be in the 950fps range with a 180gr bullet, I'd say the powder charge will need to be 6.2gr (6.3gr to be safe) to reliably make major with a CPFN bullet like the Campro. It's still gonna be hot though.
Keep in mind that Unique can be a bit #####y when it comes to metering, and loads can vary quite a bit per batch if you're not careful.

Hopefully someone who has actually competed at Major PF will chime in to give you some more practical info.
 
That sound like a pretty hot load. My data sources indicate 5.9 grains as maximum unless i visit the Alliant web site. They list 6.7 grains for a 180 Gold Dot. I don't know why that is. Well, it's working for you so it must be safe.
So far Unique is metering fine for me. I set my Dillon powder measure to dispense 5.0 grains and threw 4 charges. It weighed in at 20 grains.
 
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thatmikeguy said:
That sound like a pretty hot load. My data sources indicate 5.9 grains as maximum unless i visit the Alliant web site. They list 6.7 grains for a 180 Gold Dot. I don't know why that is. Well, it's working for you so it must be safe.
So far Unique is metering fine for me. I set my Dillon powder measure to dispense 5.0 grains and threw 4 charges. It weighed in at 20 grains.
Click to expand...

It certainly is, and that's the reason I will probably never load anywhere near that charge weight again. 5.5gr Unique is my typical range load - when I'm loading with Unique - that runs ~760fps. 5.8gr is also a great load running ~825fps and gives only a tad more recoil. All loaded to 1.120" and all fired from my 5" Glock 35.
My Hornady L&L powder measure will throw W231 and WST pretty much bang on every time, but Unique and Bullseye vary a bit(typically within 0.1gr so nothing serious). Not nearly as bad as Universal and Clays though, I can't get those to meter at all.

PS: One thing I forgot to mention is that any load of Unique at >6gr will be slightly compressed in a .40S&W case with a 180gr bullet unless you are running a really long C.O.L. At my typical C.O.L of 1.120" even a 165gr bullet will touch the powder with a charge wt of 6.5gr Unique. Not detrimental, just food for thought.
 
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Unique is a good powder for hot .40S&W loads. Since you're planning on using it for major, I'd say it's as good a choice as any.
My personal favorite is VV N320. It's a little spendy, but definitely worth it for the way it shoots and burns.

Here's some links in case you haven't seen them.
http://forums.brianenos.com/topic/118642-anyone-use-the-new-unique-for-40-loads/
https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/unique-with-40s-w.1398697/page-2
https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/_40_Sandamp_W_Loads_for_USPSA_LTD_Major___School_Me/42-474291/
https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=416960
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-745280.html
 
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