Neat thread you're starting here, cayugad. Ought to be interesting.

Here's my situation. Deer harvest rules for our club (10 guys / 900 acres southern pine plantation) are two does per member, one buck 6 or 7 points, and two bucks 8 points or better. Most of us take our two does for meat, pass on the 6 and 7 pointers, shoot the first 8 pointer we see, then only take a second buck if its better than the first one taken.

First off, let me say I want accuracy over velocity.

For the last nine years I've taken one of my does with a 50 caliberiron sightedcap lock TC New Englander with 90 grains Pyrodex RS or Select, and a 410 grain HornadyGreat Plains bullet. This is the most accurate load in that gun and clocks around 1050fps.My personal maximum range with this gun and load is 100 yards, though I've never shot a deer that far. Shots have ranged from 30 to 75 yards. Never lost a deer with this load. Never had one go more that about 50 yards after the shot, though most drop in their tracks.I'm real picky about my shots and won't shoot unless I have a good broadside (we have lots of does). Always have pass through. Missed once on a "below the ear" neck shot at about 35 yards. Don't know what the hell happened there, but I could swear I heard her laughing as she bounded away! I also think she yelled "you shoulda shot for the lungs dumbbutt!"

Next seasonI'm going to give the Lyman Mustang I bought this year a try.Got it because I wanted a scope sighted ML and - heck, I just wanted it. Anyway, so far the most accurate loads are in the 110 grain range with T-7 and 300 grain XTPs or Gold Dots. Still playing withvarious loads/sabots/bullets, etc. Will use whatever is most accurate and will stretch my comfort range to 150 yards.