Been a while since I was on here, but I'm back into muzzleloading this year.
My son (age 11) wanted to hunt this year, so I got him an apprentice license and a .410 shotgun and he's been making it tough on squirrels.
Now he wants to deer hunt. We have a youth season coming up soon, so I scrounged around through my gun cabinet and came up with a break barrel inline (Traditions) that is similar to his shotgun so he will be able to handle it without a whole new learning process.
I'll be along to load it for him, so that's no worry.

I had him out today and let him shoot it a few times. I wanted to keep loads light so he wouldn't develop any bad habits from being pounded by recoil. I was using a 250gr saboted bullet and started at 50gr fffg Goex, then stepped it up to 60gr and he handled it fine.
We were using the f/o sights at only 25 yards and he shot a group under 2" with it. I'll stick a scope or red-dot on it before we go hunting and probably sight in at 50 yards.

I'm thinking a 60-75 yard maximum range on deer with the 60gr fffg and 250 gr bullet, but a few more opinions wouldn't hurt.

I know bullet design is a factor, too, and I have lead hollow points or plastic tipped jacketed hollow points on hand.

What do you think???????????