Where is a good place to start when working up a load for younger girls... <10? Would a 240 gr XTP and say 60-70 gr of 3F Goex Pinnacle be effective enough to take a whitetail at under 100 yds? Have the recoil of a 22? Thoughts? Thanks much!

100 yards might be as dare far as I try, and that would be with excellent bullet placement. I would prefer 70 or under. Also you better be ready to track... That deer might not get pass through, and could run off with sometimes a poor blood trail. But if you place it, they should be yours.

Put a limbsaver recoil pad on the rifle. Up the charge to 80 and use that bullet and she'll be set.

Thanks guys.

If the rifle will load and shoot it well the Shock Wave 50/40 -200gr or the same Blue sabot with the 40 cal XTP 200 gr is an excellant load and with 80 or 90 grs powder is a good long range load with a BC of .269 and an excellant SD. The is a lady who took a moose with this bullet and 100gr 777 on another MZfourm. Lee

Thanks!

At that low of a powder charge, don't overlook the pure lead, not jacketed, precision rifle dead center bullets. I previously tried the hornady xtp 300 grain bullets and the jacketed hollow points that remington marketed a few years back in the 303 grain variety. They all shot great but for some reason ( I expect the velocity wasn't great enough) I couldn't find a deer for the life of me. I was ready to hang up muzzleloader hunting until the precision rifle bullets were suggested. They were the answer to my prayers. At 5'7" and 240 pounds, I shoot a 220 grain bullet and 80 grains of 777 powder. They do not kick the fire out of you and they are extremely accurate and they expand really well and have incredible knock down power. Check out the thread about bullet expansion and see what I'm talking about. Good luck ,Greg