My dad has shot deer with his .54 out to 125 yards many times (he only takes standing broadside shots with a good rested aim and he does us a 3x-9x scope due to bad eyesight). I actually was standing right beside him last week when he shot one at 100yards. We were walking in the woods and I noticed a doe bedded down andshe waswithin a few feet of his groundblind and I insisted that he take the shot. It was a quartering shot, she was facing us. He hit her in front of the front shoulder and the ball exited about midways back down here side. She ran about 100yards (only hit one lung) and left a blood trail a blind man could folllow. But all deer and shots differ but after watching my father take deer out to 125yards with the .54 I thought 150yards would be possible under the correct circumstances. I just want to hunt with the round ball, and if my eyesight would let me I would love to just use the iron sights, but mainly I dont want to be taking shots at deer that is not within the ethical limits of the projectile. By the way MountainDevil beutiful elk and one heck of a shot! I would love to have the opportunity to hunt elk.