anybody out there have a load that works for deer. Going to be shooting 100yds or less. I have a lot of unique on hand, so thats what i'd like to use. Boolits are approx 250gr ww with 3%pewter. i read a lot of people have problems with these boolits in the marlin, but mine seems to cycle them fine.

I can't remember the powder or the load at this time, I think I am using 2400 with that bullet.

Killed my first deer with that rifle this past season. About a 70 yard shot thru the rib cage. Animal ran about 20-25 yards and piled up. Very little tissue damage, I was well pleased with the results.

The 429421 & unique go together like bread and butter. My favorite is a 1.0 cc Lee plastic scoop of unique. The chart says its 9.2 grains. I have used more using the RCBS powder measure but accuray isn't as good as using the simple scoop. In your Marlin I would not size them, lube and load as cast. Also I use 50% clip on and 50% stick on wheelweight for the aloy.

A couple of the older loading manuals I have show 11 and 12 gr of Unique as Max loads.

I also load 9.2gr as my standard field load for my handguns.

10.5 gr was my go to load with that bullet & unique.

10 grains of unique with the 429421. Wacks and stacks deer!

So i should try 10-12grs. What kind of velocity and boolit drop would i get? With a 20" barrel.

Not trying to tell you what to do but I would start at 9 and work up looking for the best groups.

You should get @1400 to 1500fps.

If you were to load with 2400, H-110, or 296, in your rifle you should be able to get 1700 to 1800fps.

I just want to emphasize what SLVFX said. Just because someone elses gun shoots 10.5 grains, even if it is below max, it does not mean that yours will. Please, work up to the higher loads. you may find something like the 9.2 grain load listed is so accurate, you won't want to try anything else. DW

Yes, 10 grains is pretty close to a max load. Unique is not as fast as some others in a 44. However, it is the powder I use most because it is flexible. Right now my powder measure is set at 6 grains and I will load 44 mags, 44 specials, 45 acps, 45 colts and 44-40's without resetting it. It is a great powder.