I've taken Unique to 8.0 grains in a 1932 vintage third model. My "favorite" load has been with 7.5 grains. Unique may have been reformulated since that time though. I retested some .38 Special loads over the chronograph last summer to find that Unique seem to give more "enthusiastic" velocities than in years past.

Actually, there's nothing wrong with 7.0 grains of Unique with the 245-250 grain lead SWC bullets. Gives a velocity in the low to mid 800 fps range and is pleasant for a whole afternoon's shooting fun.

"Wouldn't be any flies on it" either if pressed into service for self defense and an assailant could be said to be having a bad day if he was well hit with one of the big ol' bullets.