I'll start by saying I'm not that discerning a shooter, and I'm happy enough with Unique.

I load for a .327fed and all its smaller siblings, a .41 mag, and 45/70, as well as a few bottle neck cases. I have a single stage, and therefore no desire to do any auto pistol rounds. The little .32's are more than enough finger smashers.

The bottle is empty now, and if there is a better option out there now is the time. This pound lasted 3 years I guess.

If you're happy and it's available.... I'm in the "why change" camp. At 1 pound over three years.....I'd stay where you're at.

If you're bored and want to do load development again....change powders.

Andrew

If you are just wanting to try another powder...Hodgdon UNIVERSAL Clays is a good powder.

As a good all around powder, Unique is very hard to beat......it just works!!! I can't imagine not having some in the cabinet.

Thanks, I started with Unique for good reasons I guess. I stick with it I think.

There are a lot of powders in the same burn rate as Unique. I quit using it decades ago due to it's poor metering properties. I changed over to WSF.

Yeah I am in the if you are happy with it don't change, BUT, if you want Unique like performance with better metering, maybe a little less volume, then try WSF or Universal or even AA#5.

I use both Unique and 4198 in my 45/70s. I prefer 4198. I honestly don't know if it'll fill your other needs, but my rifles love it.

I would keep on using it if it serves you well.

I have nothing against Unique, but usually opt for H Universal instead. I have a bunch on hand, and it meters better.

I like WSF and HS-6 in that burn rate. Both meter very well.

If you want to keep loading revolver and .45-70 with the same powder, get some more Unique.

Universal and several others are close enough in behavior to Unique to work as well in your .327 and .41 but you would be in unexplored territory with the .45-70.

I've been using Unique for nearly 35 years and I don't plan to stop using it as long as it is available. I use it for 38Spl, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, 45 Colt and 357 mag.

If I were limited to one handgun powder going forward, it would definitely be Unique.

IMR Unequal is almost a direct modern clone of Unique. FWIW, I like Alliant powders, and would just stick with Unique if it's working for you. My understanding was that Alliant updated Unique about 15 years ago to make it cleaner. I'm still burning Unique out of the old cardboard barrels, so I smoke up the place when I use it.

I don't see any reason to replace Unique... I have used it for over 50 years now... worked well the whole time.

I guess a direct replacement for Unique would be Clay's "Universal." Such a close clone powder charges are mostly interchangeable.

FWIW

CHuck

I have been using Unique since 1972 when I first started reloading. Back then I used a Lee Loader, which was just a group of little spoons that you dipped into the powder and funneled the powder into the case. You never really scooped the same exact amount of powder, but you were still able to produce accurate, decent loads, because Unique is a very forgiving powder.
The powder measure built into my Dillon Square Deal B and even my RCBS powder measure drops Unique powder surprisingly uniformly.