While I don't have a lot of years under my belt with a muzzleloader, this will be my fifth year to use them on deer, and I've come to a couple conclusions.... Deer don't take magnum rifles/ or powder charges in order to kill. In my opinion, the 150gr. capability is mostly for selling guns. I've harvested 6 deer so far with muzzleloaders, and witnessed one other harvested with a muzzleloader. All have been taken with either 80 or 85gr. of either pyrodex rs, or t7 ffg, and using bullets ranging from a 370gr maxi ball, down to a 45cal. round ball. Probably the fastest to drop were with a 295gr. copper HP powerbelt (two with that bullet, and both dropped where they stood). The majority have ran about 40 yds. All the bullets except for one have exited, and the exception was the .45 cal. round ball(and it was found just under the hide on the off side...that shot was about 40yds. away). To go along with that, the .45 ball was also the worst performer. My dad used the same muzzleloader, and same load, hit the deer on the point of the shoulder, and it didn't penetrate to the vitals....led us on a 3hr. tracking job. The lightest sabot that I have tried up to this point is a 260gr. platinum tip bullet, and they exited, this year I plan on using t/c cheapshots, with 85gr. T7, and don't have any doubt in my mind that they will get the job done out to about 125yds, or a bit more. The conclusion???.....use a 240gr. or heavier bullet of your choice, with 80gr. or more of your choice of powder, and keep it within 125yds, and you'll get an exit wound, dead deer, use less powder, and your shoulder will thank you...just my $.02 hopefully it wasn't too hard to understand.
~~~Cattleskinner
