Last x-mas I purchased a CVA Wolf Muzzleloader for my mother-in-law (I also helped giving her her first every grandchild in April of last year....I better get son-in-law of the year).

Anyways, It was quickly obvious 100 grain charges and a 295grain bullet were to much recoil for her to practice with and become efficient. I tried moving her to Blackhorn 209 to customize loads, but she was adament about staying with pellets. Last weekend, she sighted in using 1 50 grain T7 pellet + 1 30 grain pellet and a 200 grain yellow tip non bonded shockwave in the factory supplied sabot. She said kick was slightly heavier than her .410, but louder. Accuracy was 1.5" at 50 yards. She took two shots at 100 yards and although she said she could not hold steady, both shots were within 4 inches.

I thought the drop would be more at 100 yards and was wondering if anyone had some ballistic data or ideas.

The thought crossed my mind, are we simply pushing bullets to hard and fast for whitetails under 100 yards? Obviously, that has been the trend with the magnum centerfire rifles (who needs a 300 wby mag to kill deer at 20 yards).

Michigan's season opens tomorrow and we have been trophy hunting so far this season. Now it is time to fill the freezers. Hoping to report back with some pictures and kill details.

Most are using more load than they need. I see lots of elk loads being used for small whitetails.

You might be in the 1650-1700fps range with that load. Advertised BC is .245 for a 200gr SST but i would estimate a bit less. Ron got roughly that advertised BC in the field with a hotter load.

Thats easily in the 44mag area in FPE with a 200gr bullet.

80gr is more than enough to shoot any deer at 100yds, imo. I agree, most folks shoot way more than is needed. Maybe its the marketing. ?
Its similar to the magnum'itis so rampant with CF rifles. Everyone needs .300 magnums or bigger to shoot 125lb deer.

Good luck to you guys!

She should be fine with that load. I shoot 80 grains T7 (loose) out of a .45 cal, and there is very little drop between 50 and 100 yards with the 200 grain Shockwave. I'm getting a bit more velocity than her because I'm shooting loose powder out of a .45, but that sounds about right. In fact, with my setup I'm only a couple inches low even out to 150 yards.

I took a deer cleanly at 150 yards last year with 80 grains of powder. 80 grains is more than enough for probably 90% of whitetail hunters.