Unique Powder/Primer Question

victorj19

Previously I used Win 231 and CCI primers for my 9x18 Makarov pistol. Due to the supply shortages I stocked up on primers and powder and bought Unique powder and Remington 1 1/2 primers. I tried to match the velocity for the Unique to that of the Win 231 and stayed well below the max. I shot 50 rounds and had a lot of stovepipes, sometimes the empty would eject but the next bullet would be picked up at all or it jam when being chambered. Also, with the last round, sometimes the slide wouldn't lock open. Would uping the charge a little (2 to 5 tenths of a gr) remedy the above problems?

Also, is this new combination much dirtier than the other? Seems it is. If so, which componet, or both is the cause.

5mmgunguy

Sounds like the gun is short cycling. A little more powder should give more recoil help. Try .2 grains until the slide will lock open. See if that solves the other problems too.

Rocky Raab

Yup, all your symptoms point to a low-pressure load. See my website for load data, but upping the charge will almost certainly solve all your difficulties.

dcs shooters

Unique is a slower burning powder than 231. You need to use more grains of it to match the 231 load. The primer change won't make that much difference.

cpermd

Unique is slower and dirtier.
Not a great choice for a 9X18 but it will work.

CP

victorj19

Thank you all. GB subscribers have always come through.

I bought the Unique because it was one of the few pistol powders available at the time and the handloading books used it for a wide variety of cartridges.

The additional dirt won't be a problem. I'll just have to clean the gun more thoroughly after shooting.

Jim

coledigger4

quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
Yup, all your symptoms point to a low-pressure load. See my website for load data, but upping the charge will almost certainly solve all your difficulties.


I tried going to your site and got a GoDaddy ad page. What did I do wrong?

MEwert

Don't think you did anything wrong. Scroll to the right to see the page all messed up.

coledigger4

Tried it again. When I clicked on 'musties' and 'reloading 101', a new page popped up and gave me a few possible reasons I couldn't view the articles.

bpost

quote:Originally posted by victorj19
Previously I used Win 231 and CCI primers for my 9x18 Makarov pistol. Due to the supply shortages I stocked up on primers and powder and bought Unique powder and Remington 1 1/2 primers. I tried to match the velocity for the Unique to that of the Win 231 and stayed well below the max. I shot 50 rounds and had a lot of stovepipes, sometimes the empty would eject but the next bullet would be picked up at all or it jam when being chambered. Also, with the last round, sometimes the slide wouldn't lock open. Would uping the charge a little (2 to 5 tenths of a gr) remedy the above problems?

Also, is this new combination much dirtier than the other? Seems it is. If so, which componet, or both is the cause.


Starting well under max is seldom needed or advisable for semi-autos. Get your charge up close to book max and you will see the gun function plus it will burn a lot cleaner. Never fear max loads, just keep in mind each gun is different and you should approach them cautiously. Unique is a fantastic all around pistol powder, maybe not the best of the best for 9X18 loads but it will work in just about every pistol case ever made.