I took 1 deer last year with the .40 cal 200 grain XTP. I was shooting 100 grains of 777 & Harvestor sabots. 1 shot through the ribcage dropped the buck in his tracks - can't argue with that. However, if you're looking for less recoil, you'll need to back off the powder charge as well as using a lighter bullet - 100 grains of 777 thumps pretty good.