What is a good target load with Unique and 125 grain pill? I'm thinking 6.0 grains. My manuels are all over the place. Thanks for the input. Sarge

the people making it say 5.7

https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloa...p;type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=26

For the data drop it 10% of what they post because that is the max and work up your load. Also the OP did not state if it is jack or cast bullets . it will be different loads.

Wouldn't use Unique. It's the worst metering powder I have used. My pet load is 6.0 of CFEpistol, Federal small pistol primer, and a 125 grain round nose flat point bullet that I cast myself (Lee mold). It clocks out at an average 1050 fps out of my 6" S&W Model 14. I have several 12 shot targets that are inside a 1.5" bull from 50'. I size the slugs to .358 to fit my gun. The 14 is my go to small game gun. Squirrels be toast!

There are a lot of good powders that will work. To name a few, Bullseye, 231, Red Dot, Green Dot, Clays, WST, WSF, the list goes on. Experimentation is your friend here. I use a single stage press to figure things out. Once I get what I want everything gets moved over to my progressive and I crank them out. I always have a 3 pound coffee can full of my pet loads ready to go. At present I'm working on a 44 special load using a 233 grain ogival wad cutter. It will be used for deer hunting. I have narrowed it down to two powders, Alliant 20/28 and CFEpistol. The final decision will be made using the chronograph and standard deviation numbers. Do I go over board? Sure do, but hey, I'm a retired engineer and kind of get off on the whole process. Besides it requires me to do a LOT of shooting.

I use Unique and other powders.I let the gun tell me what works,I only use the data as a guide ,I do not care if Unique about metering,there is other powders out there is flake powders. One use what will work for you and go from there .

+1 on this advice using the link Danny provided.

definitely use the manufacturers info in that link and back off those numbers 10% because they are all MAX load

starting would be 5.1grn

5.7 x 0.90 = 5.13

I use Power Pistol in my 38 loads with cast boolits Max is 6.1 x 0.90 = 5.49 however I am not trying for max velocity and one of the 38s I use is over 100 years old 5.1 happens to be my 9mm power pistol load so I tried it and have been very happy with it.

5.1/6.1= 83% of max loading and that works very well even shot a pig with it , granted it was a dispatch shot but it tells me that it is nothing to sneeze at

38 was never a particularly fast mover
for unique
the max for standard pressure with a 125gr gdhp is 5.7grn 980fps
the max for +p in 38spl with a 125gr gdhp is 6.0grn 1082fps

a hundred feet per second just isn't worth it to go +p shot placement is everything with a 38