Finally ran out of Unique and couldn't find any. So, I bought what was available, which was Hodgdon Universal. They sit side by side in the Nosler book section on burn rates,,but are they essentially the same?

They're going to be really close, and I've heard of a lot of folks using the data interchangeably. I certainly wouldn't recommend that without first working up the load as you would with any new powder. Lot to lot variation itself is a good enough reason to start low, and work up. You might find universal to meter a little better, and be a little cleaner burning as well. I searched high and low for Unique for my .45 Colt, and ended up going to Universal because that's what was available at the time.

No, they are NOT the same and Universal usually uses less powder for the same velocity/pressure

Well, I've been reloading for decades, so I really knew the most likely answer to my question. But I admit to hoping that they might be the same powder with different names. But...a little online research tells me that they aren't. Dang it.

Universal is not even the same as it was a year ago. It was made in Australia, now it's made in Canada with a new formula.