Originally Posted by flyinlowe

Here is my experience. I shot an Encore 50 cal and I was shooting the XTP 240 Grain HP bullet. The green sabot 44 cal bullet. I have had this gun for three or four season and killed 6 deer with it. Every deer I shot I found less then 100 yards away (most with 30 yards). The problem I have with this round (and the reason I am switching) is I have never fund a blood trial. Now when I say never I am not just throwing that word out there, I have NEVER had a blood trail. Had I not seen where the deer went I would not have found them. I shot a doe two years ago at thirty yards. She ran about 40 yards in the snow and not a drop of blood until she jumped a creek. Yesterday I shot a doe at about 120-130 yards and hit her right in the front shoulder. As the smoke cleared I saw her confused walk in about a ten foot circle dragging her front right leg. She then walked into the woods and was never seen again. We had 5 guys looking for several hours and never found her. This is the first deer that I have ever hit good and could not find. Again we never found one drop of blood, from a deer that could barely walk and was dragging it's front leg. If it was a one time thing I would overlook it but every year I kept saying I was going to switch bullets because of this and now I am going to switch mid season. They always shoot good groups for me but when shooting a muzzle loader you don't always see what direction a deer runs. I am sure other's will have different experiences as this is a popular round but I am not going to risk it any more.