180 grain Speer hollowpoint .40 cal for deer

[Casull]

Perhaps someone has tried this.  My brother-in-law bought a .45 cal CVA inline for deer hunting and wants to use saboted loads.  This is his first muzzleloader, so he is relying on me for help (I've been hunting with them for years, but always .50 cal with .44 cal pistol bullets of 240 grains, and 90 grains of Pyrodex P.  What are your thoughts on the 180 grain .40 cal bullets over 70 to 100 grains of 777 (trying to find the most accurate load).  Would this be suitable out to 75 yards or so.  Thanks for any info.

[Critter]

I haven't tried it but I don't know why they wouldn't work especially at 75 yards.  The only thing I would be worried about it the HP coming apart.  Most .40 cal bullets are meant for personal defence not game.  Do they have a soft point available?

[Casull]

I imagine that he could find some softpoints in that weight and caliber.  I've always used 240 grain hollowpoints in the .44 cal, and have yet to recover a bullet.  In one side and out the other.  I just wasn't sure if the .40 cal bullets are as tough.

[Critter]

I don't know if they are or not.  The thing to do would be to call Speer and get it right from the horses mouth.