Shot a spike buck tonight, right at dark. This is the first deer I've shot with a T/C "CheapShot" pure lead sabot, and I'm here to report that this cheapie sabot works just fine. Four bucks for twenty shots, too. A deal.

I was aiming downward pretty steeply - I was high up in my climber, and he was close to the tree - bullet hit top center of neck just forward of sholders - blew through and exited base of throat. He went about three feet, straight down to the ground.

It is great fun to plan and plot and 'work up' the next deadly load, and to pour over ballistic charts. I've done it. But, I'm pretty much convinced that you can hunt with a CheapShot - or a pedestrian XTP, if you want to go extravagant - on top of a modest 90gr of powder, and kill deer just as effectively as using the latest $2.50/shot load.

I don't want to discourage anyone from buying the latest and greatest stuff - it's good for business! - but don't think that you have to, or that you'll gain a great deal.