New favorite deer rifle when I have a choice between shotgun w/slugs or muzzleloader.

[Eb1]

I got a seven pointer with my Thompson Center Omega using open sights @ 80 steps.
Shot through the lungs with a 200 grain .430 XTP using a green sabot and two 777 pellets. I reload for the .44 Magnum so I didn't spend any money on a new bullet. The gun groups at 1.5" at 50 yards using open sights shooting a .45 XTP or the .430 XTP. So why waste money.

When I got home I found that Natchez was running a special for the Nikon Omega 1.65:5x36 scope. So I ordered one to put on the muzzleloader. I'll be using Tally one piece mounts when I get them ordered.

The deer was hit, jumped up, and then did a short sprint. He then proceeded to walk in a circle while wobbling, and then just fell over. He went about 25 yards after being shot.

I really like this muzzloader. I have had others, but since I bought this one the confidence has just grown with me. Where I did my gun hunting this year you could use a shotgun with slugs, a straight walled pistol with a barrel of 4" to 10", or a muzzleloader. I choose to use my smoke pole over the 12 gauge with slugs, and it worked out fine.

The scope should be able give me better accuracy out to 100 to 150 yards, and I might try to up the charge some when I get the scope put on, but most shots will be under 100 yards as with most deer hunting in my state.

 

[Patocazador]

I would use the the .429/.430 bullet for the .44 magnum instead of the .45 XTP. Except for the 300 gr. bullet, the .45 XTPs are designed to open at a lower velocity due to being used in .45 Colt loads. I almost lost a buck last year using a .45 HP-XTP 250 gr because it opened on the shoulder and didn't penetrate. I was shooting ~2000 fps.

 

[Eb1]

This one @ 200 grains and 100 grain 777 did fine, but like I said I am using the same bullets I load in the .44 Magnum. It opened, and went through and through. The lungs were toast. Rather they were pudding. I am happy with my selection in bullet and powder.
The scope should make for better accuracy, and I am going to keep using the .44 Magnum XTP bullets. They work good.

I also have some Speer .44 Magnum 270 grain flat nose that shoot good out of this muzzle loader, but I think those will be a little heavy on the smaller deer we have in Arkansas. I think the .429/200 grain XTP did good with the green sabot.