From
http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/GeneralReference/L&R-Smokeless.pdf L&R Infallible Shotgun Smokeless Powder was introduced in 1898 as an improvement over Shotgun Smokeless. Among the improvements was a graphite coating to help control burning speed and to aid in handling. It consisted of shiny gray black discs .065” dia. X .006”. Infallible was 40% NG by weight. Originally, it came in a distinctive eight-ounce (3500 grain) tin for $1. L&R Infallible became DuPont Infallible in 1907 and went on to become Hercules Infallible in 1912. Infallible loads required less powder than Shotgun Smokeless. In the 12 gauge shotgun, a 24 grain charge and 1-1/8 ounce shot load was considered appropriate for hunting (3-Ľ dram equivalent). Infallible in canisters was probably discontinued by Hercules in late 1936 or early 19371, to be replaced by Red Dot.
Infallible was however still available at least through 1948 in 27 pound kegs. Infallible continued to be produced by Hercules as a non-canister powder for ammunition manufacturers and is still produced today (2007) by Alliant. The Infallible name became almost a generic name for an entire group of similar custom powders made for ammunition manufacturers.
Until 1960, the only difference between Infallible and Unique was the granulation.
L&R Unique Smokeless Rifle Powder was introduced in 1900 as a reduced load powder for rifles and pistols. It consisted of shiny gray-black discs .065” dia. X .008”, and had a 40% NG content. It is believed that it was originally created for military use in training for very light or “gallery” loads. It was very strangely packaged in the same tin Infallible came in with a very plain paper label with 2040 grains or 4-2/3 ounce contents. Neither pricing nor promotional literature has been found for L&R Unique. In the .38 Long Colt (pistol), 3 grains of Unique behind the standard 150 grain lead bullet was considered good for practice out to 60 feet. In the 30-40 Krag, 7 to 9 grains of Unique was good from 100 to 200 yards with a 150 grain lead bullet for practice. It became DuPont Unique in 1907 and became Hercules Unique in 1912, and became Alliant Unique in 1995. Unique and Infallible were made from the exact same formula, the only difference being the granulation. For moderate loads, Unique and Infallible were interchangeable.
Infallible measures like Unique; in fact, the L&R Unique can has a powder measure inside it engraved Infallible. Hercules reformulated Unique in 1960, reducing the NG content by half, and Alliant reformulated it again in 2001 for cleaner burning. It is still manufactured in 2007 as a shotgun, pistol, and reduced load rifle powder.
