I'm having success with 10.5 gr. Unique as an accurate upper end target round. But this is as far as I've loaded 44 Magnum. My SBH and 1894 haven't done much more than punching paper.
I have found my pet loads of 7.5, 9.2 and 10.5 gr. of Unique under a 245 gr. RNFP.
But I've been contemplating getting use out of both guns for hunting this fall. Mostly the 1894 as a good deer/hog 100 yard brush rifle. So I've been mulling over what to do with working up a stouter and acceptably accurate round.
Going to a 2400 would be no big deal. My lgs carries it regularly and I can always go pick some up.
In my data I've seen that some Unique loadings are not getting much less velocity than 2400 loadings.
But with Unique how far can I realistically push it and keep good results? And at what point does a switch to a slower powder become necessary? I've heard the saying that 2400 takes up where Unique leaves off. But I'm also curious at what does power and accuracy suffer with upper end Unique loads that are fewer grains and only 50-100 fps slower than a 2400.
Lyman 2nd Edition Cast Book shows max for 240-250 gr. @ 12 gr. Unique
Lyman Popular Revolver Book is all over the place but shows max for #429421 over 13 gr. Unique @ 1147fps 4" bbl
#429421 with 2400 max of 20.6 gr. @ 1248fps 4" bbl
Would I get a decent hunting round by even trying to build up to 13 gr. of Unique? Or should I just go buy a lbs. of 2400 or No.9?