Speer shows 4.1 gr. Unique for a start load, and 4.6 gr. for a max load for their 90 gr. Gold Dot JHP bullet in their 13th Manual. My other loading manuals show nowhere near that amount. Lyman maxes out with 3.4 gr., and Lee maxes with 4.0 gr. for 90 gr. JHPs as does Alliant. Which is right?

Which Speer manual do you have? Some of their older ones have some pretty hot loads. Also, the OAL makes a big difference in usable case capacity with small rounds like this.

The data for the Gold Dots seems to be a little hotter in come cartridges, I believe it is due to the softer nature of the bullets. The plated bullets, like the Gold Dot, don't seem to have the same level of friction as a standard jacketed bullet does. I would call speer and verify the data has no problems if it is in question.

Old Speer manuals are often a bit hot, Didn't use pressure equipment, just case expansion and the "eyeball method". Heavy 380's can probably take the loads in stride, the little light ones made today would be better not.

IF you were to actually start low and work up, you'd probably be safe enough...at least you'd stop before the cases self-deprimed on ejection.

Alliant says 3.8-4.2 for 95 gr FMJ and 3.6-4.0 for 88 gr JHP so I don't think I'd try for the 4.6 gr compressed load. I tried 90 gr HDY XTP's with 4.0 gr Unique and (1) thought that the case was pretty full, and (2) thought that the load seemed to be spicier than a 90 gr factory JHP load, e.g. plenty for a .380. I didn't stay with this load because my CZ-83 didn't seem to want to feed the slightly conical XTP's as reliably as a more rounded bullet.