I used to reload 357 magnum way back in the 1980s.

I used Hercules Unique powder.
I used it because at the time thats what every one was useing.
I was told by a gun store owner/gunsmith that Hercules Unique,
Is a dirty powder and I should use smoething else cleaner.

What do you think ?
And what powder do you use for hand gun loads ?

Thank You

I use Win. 296 for my 44mag. Im havent been overly impressed by it but it may be the wrong bullet choice. Im am going to try some H110 next.

Ive never heard Hercules was a dirty powder but have never tried it so not real sure on it. I notice that in most of the reloading manuals the 296 and H110 produce the fastest loads for the 44magso thats what I usually go for.

I still use unique in my 44mag, 357 and its darn dirty. But accuracy is outstanding.

But when you start loading in 357sig or 9mm, or 40 all the sudden, its clean as any other powder.

I say stay with it. I love it for practice 44 mag loads. I use H110 for bullets 240gr and below for 44mag and use lilgun for over.

You can try titegroup or universial. Its a tad cleaner.

There was a time when Unique was known as "flammable dirt", but I have used it for 30 plus years and like the way it works in a broad specturm of cartridges, so I'll keep using it.
Alliant re-formulated Unique a few years back to make it somewhat cleaner burning. If you like it, keep using it.
Unique is my ost used handgun powder, followed by Alliant 2400.

dirty as sin in my 45 Colt... less so in my 357... but for a plinking powder i cannot beat it... for "serious" 357 loads i go to WW 296, H110 and sometimes 4227...

WHen i was loading 40 S&W i would often use WW WST.. it was a low muzzle flash powder for night time used and it was often clean burning...

I also find that Hodgdon Longshot is pretty clean and can give some pretty good velocities and cleanliness... but only have played with it in the 45 Colt...

Been using 4227 in my .41 and .44 Mags for some time. I haven't noticed it being overly dirty----- it also pretty well fills the cases up to the base of the bullets, which I like.

4895 for my .308, H4351 for my .338 Lapua, and h4895 for my .204.

Well, I don't load much .357 anymore, but I used a lot of 296, Blue Dot and 2400, and still do with the latter two.

I use Blue Dot in .45ACP loads, 2400 in my .44Mag...

BLC-2 in my .303 Brit

and an absolute buttload of different VihtaVouri powders for .223, .308, .300 Win, .32-20, .38-55, and .45-70

I load with unique for the 45 acp, while not as clean as 231, it's not that bad for smaller charges. To load 38 spl for use in your 357 I don't think you'll have any problems.

Reloader19 and Reloader22 for my .338.