Considering that a "fair number" of whitetails have been ethically taken with the lowly 128 grain .440 ball, I would consider a modern 180 grain jacketed bullet a major step up.

I've killed two deer with one of those bullets, the .40/200 grain XTP over 85 grains of GOEX as reported here;

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/blac...kes-again.html

and here;

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/blac...grain-xtp.html

with no complaints.