When I shoot my side lock with round balls I never go beyond 80 grains for deer hunting. Thats with a fifty caliber. I often use 50 grains for small game. With the 50 grain pellets I never use more than two. Thats with a 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet. This will shoot through a mule deer(big one). at 200 yards +. Including the far shoulder. Three pellets is one hell of an overkill on deer. No need for the recoil and blast of three pellets. Even on Elk.