I'm planning on taking my 11 yo nephew out deer hunting this year for the first time. I'd like to get him in the woods early and would like for him to be able to hit the woods during black powder season. I currently shoot 2 Triple 7 pellets behind a 240 gr XTP. If I shot 1 pellet or 50 gr and the same bullet and limit my nephew to 50 yards, would this be enough to ethically take down a deer? We practiced this at the range and he handles the load/distance great. I may try 100 gr during next range session but was wondering what you guys think?

I would use a lighter bullet and a little more powder. He wont know the difference.

1 pellet would be good for 50 yards but i would use a pure lead bullet so it expands easier

I started one of my kids with 50 gr . It is good for 40 to 50 yards I know for sure, but after a couple weeks I moved him up to 70 gr and he didn't have a problem with it.

I'd go to loose...Let him shoot 50grs at the range...Then the day of the hunt use 70-75grs if the gun shoots that load as well...He'll never know the difference...

Before pellets, Pyrodex,Triple7, BH209, White Hots,Clean Shot, American Pioner and all the other subs. A good load was considered 1 grain equal to the caliber of your barrel. 32 for .32, 36 for 36, 45 for 45, 50 for fifty and so on. Now somewhere down the line Magnumitus set in threw the use of Propaganda by the marketing wizards of the day. Now you need the latest and greatest gadget and 2 pellets minimum to even start to kill any creature on Earth. At one time the NYS record deer had been harvested with a 25/20 , yes 60 grain pill and 20 gr of Black powder. The 34/40 and 44/40 were considered the kings of deer and Man killen machines. How is it today that a 240 grain bullet driven by 50 gr. of a substitute gets questioned for hunting out to 50 yards. This load you question is stronger IMHO than the 44/40 ever was, simple 10 more grains of powder,same basic weight of projectile.

You just need to make a hole to let blood out and air in, it is really very simple.

IMHO, Your questioned load will do a fine job, Let the kids practice and enjoy the hunt.

Ken

Appreciate the input guys.

It should work just fine. I would switch to loose, however, if it is possible. 50 - 60 grains loose with a 200 - 240 grain pistol bullet should work just fine out to at least 75 yards if it is accurate.

If you really want to tailor up a nice, low-recoiling load, try a .40 cal 200 grain XTP with a .50/.40 sabot and 50 - 60 grains of loose powder. Has almost no recoil, and the 200 XTP performs very well at lower velocities.

My son is very small and what I did is I started with 65 grs and add 5 grains every 10 shots until he was up to 90 grs of powder and I used the same bullet as you did I started him on this when he was 91/2 years old he is 12 now and I bought him a camo bone collector and he is shooting a 120 gr. of jim shockey with a 250 barnes tmz and is doing awesome