my 2nd dad has an old tc encore with a virgin valley custom guns( i had to look her up, found out match grade machine barrels makes them) in a 444 marlin. it shoots my 280gr lfn in about an inch at 100 yards, but it goes roughly 2300fps. its way too much for an old man, its way too much for me!!! i tried taking rel7 down to 40 or 41gr(around 2000fps) but it still kicks him a little too much. i am going to try a 1700-1800fps in 280gr lfn in the hopes that it doesn't kick as much. i have several pounds of 2400 that will do the trick. does 25.0gr of 2400 under a 280gr lfn gc seem a good place to start? he wants to shoot at a deer, 100-125 yards away.
i have unique, hs-6 and trail boss too.