Substitute Unique with Bullseye?

[John Y Cannuck]

If I'm working an unknown load up I prefer as you suggested above, to use a starting load listed for a case with a smaller case volume, and same bore size, and bullet weight.
One thing of note is that pressure sign we all look for in rifle ammo, is hard to see, if it's there at all with low pressure handgun ammunition, and the volume of powder needed to go max, is smaller. That means that if you get over the max load and you might just get a kaboom, instead of a flat primer, or sticky case.

Just for the new guys, please don't just jump into this with little experience or knowledge. You can get yourself into very serious trouble, if you don't know what you are doing, or worse, think that you do.

 

[chemo]

If you find a acceptable load, either way for the .400 CorBon, please pass it on. Its reloading season and I feel the need to reload some .400 CorBon!

sure im gonna load with unique and 165gr, I'll tell you how it goes
what are your current loads?

 

[H4831]

Andy said: "If you're one of the guys who believes that you should only use published loads (it's dangerous!!!), you're missing out on a lot of interesting loading experimentation."
__________________
And I say, AMEN.
I've said it on here so often, just use common sense.
Why in the world would there be any doubt, that a pistol load wouldn't be safe/safe, in your rifle!

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Unique is a wonderful general purpose powder. It works well at high preesure and at low pressure. Hence its name. It has been around since 1900 (i remember it being introduced) and is still very useful.

if you could only have one powder for all applciations, this would be a good choice.

Bullseye is very fast and not suitable for adapting to other purposes.

Agreed,for general purpose, few if any are better. The only down side to Unique, but one easy to live with, is that it is a little dirtier than most. Equating it to fighter jets, it sort of has the same reputation as the F-4 Phantom, a little 'dirty' but good in multi-role applications. I always have a good supply of it and call on it's abilities often.

 

[X-man]

Bullseye is my favorite powder for .45ACP loads for the 1911s. Unique is a close second. Both are great, extremely useful powders, but I wouldn't try swaping one for the other, even reducing amounts by 75%. Better to find a proper recipe and work up slowly.

 

[jethunter]

Don't f**k around with a powder as fast as Bullseye. Doesn't take much of this stuff to overload just about anything.
Best get some proper load data, and start with a powder intended for the cartridge.

X2. Don't use Bullseye unless you can find published load data from a reliable source. Don't attempt to "convert" from Unique data.

 

[Andy]

X2. Don't use Bullseye unless you can find published load data from a reliable source. Don't attempt to "convert" from Unique data.

Absolutely!

If you're not an intelligent, thoughtful, careful and experienced hand loader, stick to your published load tables. Someone has to do it, but let it be someone else. Just stand idly and timidly by, and let them do it.

Amen!

 

[jethunter]

Absolutely!

If you're not an intelligent, thoughtful, careful and experienced hand loader, stick to your published load tables. Someone has to do it, but let it be someone else. Just stand idly and timidly by, and let them do it.

Amen!

Amen?? You really get riled up over very little don't you? IMO the original poster was not an experienced hand loader, and probably not ready for experimentation. Why exactly would you have a problem with that?

I experiment all the time, but i do it on my dime and i don't encourage new reloaders who obviously don't have a good grasp of the basics to do so. Published data is the way to go for those who are just getting into the game.

You are welcome to your opinion and i will not try to belittle you, nor call you timid or unintelligent just because i disagree with you. I try not to get involved with name calling and that internet hero stuff because it just doesn't mean #### to anyone with a brain. Happy reloading.

 

[chemo]

whenever I ask a question everyone jumps me and say I'm an unexperienced reloader

but seriously, no offense taken. I'm not gonna go into experiment cause I have neither the time nor the money so I just stick to the data, if you like experimentation it's awesome.

 

[jethunter]

whenever I ask a question everyone jumps me and say I'm an unexperienced reloader

but seriously, no offense taken. I'm not gonna go into experiment cause I have neither the time nor the money so I just stick to the data, if you like experimentation it's awesome.

Charles E, i meant no offense. You asked a reasonable question and i did my best to give you a reasonable answer, but t it seems I have a real talent for pissing people off. Sorry bud.

 

[Ganderite]

One thing to consider is your powder throer and does it throw flake powders? I have three throwers and one of them (Redding) binds up when I put flake powder in it. I have an old Lyman jr. dedicated to flakes like 700X, Unique and Blue Dot.

before buying the Unique, have you used flake powder in your thrower before? If not, tell us what thrower you have. Dillon is OK.

 

[chemo]

yeah i use the dillon and it is consistent with bullseye, consistent when all its orifices are clogged with powder
corbon gives data for 165gr for aa#7 and #5, unique and vvn105, I'd sure enjoy a ball powder

 

[Garand]

sure im gonna load with unique and 165gr, I'll tell you how it goes
what are your current loads?

Sorry that it took so long for me to get back to you, I moved this summer and couldn't find my load data for .400 corbon. Last time I reloaded .400 was in June 2008 and my load at that time was 7.5 grain of Unique pushing a 165 grain Montana Gold CMJ. I averaged 1,124.6 fps but found that my pistol was very finiky about overall length. I hope this helps.

 

[chemo]

Sorry that it took so long for me to get back to you, I moved this summer and couldn't find my load data for .400 corbon. Last time I reloaded .400 was in June 2008 and my load at that time was 7.5 grain of Unique pushing a 165 grain Montana Gold CMJ. I averaged 1,124.6 fps but found that my pistol was very finiky about overall length. I hope this helps.

what spring are you using? #18 or #20?

 

[Garand]

I was using an 18 Lb spring and resized .45 Super Brass. When I started reloading .400, I got 500 .45 Super cartridge cases which had been resized. Later I bought 500 virgin .400 Brass that I have still have to break in. I'm on leave for 3 weeks at christmas so hopefully I will have a chance to get at it.

 

[chemo]

I was using an 18 Lb spring and resized .45 Super Brass. When I started reloading .400, I got 500 .45 Super cartridge cases which had been resized. Later I bought 500 virgin .400 Brass that I have still have to break in. I'm on leave for 3 weeks at christmas so hopefully I will have a chance to get at it.

I'll be using some (160) old 45acp casings to run initial tests, I already resized them while I'm waiting for my barrel to land home.

I'll then buy 45 +p cases and not 400corbon because I dont wanna mess with the small primers. All my reloading is done with large primers, I'm a lazy bum, changing primer feed is too long