ORIGINAL: Kathwacckkk
Thanks Cayugad! Your advice really helped make this more of an enjoyable sport.
I was using a 245gr Powerbelt Aerotip over 50 grains of 777 pellets. The bullet hit just behind her left shoulder and passed through just behind her right. No evidence of any bullet fragmentation in the body cavity. I thought the exit wound would be a bit bigger, but I was only 50 yards out. I get a better pattern with the aerotip over the hollowpoint, but I guess the trade off is damage at close range. The deer still only made it 50 yards with an easy to follow blood trail. I trailed her for pratice even though I saw her go down. The load did destroy the heart. Kinda disappointed as I love to eat the heart. Muzzleloading is so much more fun the regular gun hunting!
Those 245 grain Aero Tips on top of 100 grains of Goex 2f in my CVA Staghorn Magnum are so accurate that you would think something is wrong. Granted the rifle has a RED DOT (since scopes are illegal in our season) but I have shot some very impressive groups at 100 yards with that rifle.
I always figured that the load would get excellent penetration. Perhaps because you hit nothing on the road through is the reason for lack of wound channel.
It sure is nice when you see them fall down and know right where they are... Congratulations on the deer...