How much can a bullet hold up velocity wise? You start pushing over 2000 fps will it expand? I depends on the bullets. Some yes others no. Even Toby Bridges has stated that. They did a test with just a reg xtp and other bullet i can't remember at a hunting camp with 15 hunters. All the deer shot with xtp ran atleast 20 yards. The other bullet dropped them were they stood. They all came to the conclusion that the XTP was going too fast and blowing clean through. Almost like a lead cast bullet. Lead cast bullets are meant for deep penetration NOT expansion. Anyone that cast rifle/pistol bullets will tell you that. So for the jacketed bullets I truly believe you can get to a point with muzzleloader when your pushing a pistol bullet tooo much and it almost becomes a lead bullet. It wasn't designed for that much power. Especially with BH209.

Also I liked what was said earlier. It depends on the hunter and how much they can stand the recoil. Same exact gun/bullet may shoot better with a 18 year old and 90 grains of powder and just as good with a 35 year old and 120 grains of powder. Which is right? Both