bullet for deer ?

[pinblaster]

Is a saboted .45 cal. 200 gr. HP/XTP , shot from a .54 cal. muzzleloader using 100 grs. of pyrodex RS e'nuff for whitetail deer ? The range I would be shooting at would be about 75 yds. max .

 

[smokemaker]

Absolutely, if shot placement is good, but 200 grains is a little light (maybe)
Most experts prefer a minimum of 240 grains for deer

 

[smokemaker]

What kind of gun are you using? What kind of accuracy are you getting at 50 to 75 yards? Sorry, I'm curious now. Have you tried any lead .54 conicals? The Hornady Great Plains and T/C Maxi-Hunter are both devastating on deer sized game out to 125 or so yards with decent (80 to 120 grains FFg) powder charges.

 

[pinblaster]

I'm using a TC Renegade I made from a kit almost 20 years ago . The barrel is 28" long with a 1/48 twist . On a good day it gets sub 3" groups with 360gr. TC maxi hunters at 50 yds. with 90grns. pyrodex rs . It shoots even better with a saboted 310 gr. straight sided trunicated cone lead bullet from Knight . However it doesn't shoot patched round balls worth a dam . I got a really good deal on the Hornady 200 gr. bullets and sabots . I thought they might be a little on the light side but I can still use them for target shooting . I think I'll use the 310 gr. Knight bullets . Thanks for your reply Smokemaker .

 

[smokemaker]

The 310 is a great choice, and according to my loading data, 90 grains of Pyrodex RS will give you about 1400 FPS with 1300 ft/lbs at the muzzle, and, more importantly, about 1150 FPS and 650 foot/pounds left cooking at 100 yards. Perfect whitetail medicine. Of course I think you can push the Renegade all the way to 120 grains of powder if you want more velocity... and more recoil... and more fouling

 

[pinblaster]

Thanks smokemaker , I 'll use the 310s , they shoot quite well with 90 grns of RS . You're right about the 120 gr. max load for the Renegade but 90 grs. should work fine for me . The woods I hunt in are so dense , if a deer is 100 yds. away you won't see it . If I take a shot it will probably be 50 yds or less .