BY ALL MEANS, USE THE RECOMMENDED LISTINGS IN THE LOADING HANDBOOKS! Over the sixty-plus years since I started handloading, I have found that if one seems to get close to or right on the maximum or minimum loads listed, it may be prudent to look at a different powder. Minimum loads in particular can present problems. It takes 5,000 - 7,000 psi (NOT CUP) to get smokeless powder burning stably. The listings in the manuals are determined under certain conditions which may not obtain in your particular gun, with a softer or harder cast bullet, or with too light a crimp. For example, if you want a reduced load in your .45LC, with bullets much lighter than 250 grains, rather than using Unique, you may be better served in going to W231/HP38 (same powder, different brand). If you have 2400, I definitely would not go with reduced loads, but with a faster powder, such as Unique. In large magnum rifle cartridges, reduced loads of slow-burning powders can lead to real trouble! For example, DO NOT reduce loads for H4831 and others when trying to make a .338 Magnum feel like a light .30-06! Look at a faster powder such as IMR4350. These are generalizations, but as I shouted at the beginning, USE THE BLOODY MANUALS!