A timely and interesting post Cayugad.

I too am curious about the .40/180 grain Gold Dot on deer. It fact, I'd already planned to switch to my .45 GM/LRH Renegade after (if) I take a deer with the .50 Renne and 250 grain GD's that I'm hunting with right now.

After my experience last year taking two does with the .40/200 grain XTP/s, I'm confident the 180 GD's will do the job just fine.

My blued barrel also carries a 4X ProDiamond and is no slouch with those bullets.

Check out these 100 and 125 yard targets.





As you can see on target #70, the eighty-five grain load of GOEX FFFg gave me a three-shot average velocity of 1747 f.p.s. That bullet is still hauling along at close to 1400 f.p.s. at 100 yards and is still over 1200 f.p.s. at 150 yards.

Now a .357 Magnum Revolver with a 7.5" barrel and top loaded 180 grain bullet will get something around 1400 f.p.s. at the muzzle and around 1200 fps at 50 yards. I think you would agree that any deer shot at point blank range (or 50 yards) with a well constructed 180 grain bullet from a .357 Mag Ruger Blackhawk would be in serious trouble.