200 grain XPB recovered from a buck
 

Yesterday morning, I managed to kill my first deer with a muzzleloader handgun. I unfortunately had to hit him with a followup shot with my backup pistol, but unlike the 225 grain Powerbelt from my first shot, I managed to recover the 200 grain Barnes XPB I finished him with:



Impacting at around 1,550 fps, the XPB was probably outside its designed impact velocity envelope, since it was made for 45 Colt revolvers. Still, the bullet performed quite well, only shedding two petals as it traversed the buck's vitals on a slightly quartering away shot and being retained under the hide on the opposite leg.

that is a awesome bullet. i would like to use a muzzleloader pistol that i own. it's a traditions vortex model with a 13" barrel i use 70 grns of bh 209 & a 300 gr expander but here in ohio they claim it's not enough gun. but what it amounts to is about the same energy as a 12 ga smooth bore shotgun. hope ohio changes their mind some day . i know in pa it's legal to use this muzzleloader pistol. congrat's on the nice buck

TN what was the back up handgun that fired this bullet? Was it a 454? Barnes makes a great bullet. I consider it one of the best out there.

Sounds like it was not a ML handgun like the CVA Optima Pistol.

Quite a few people including myself shoot the 45LC XPBs. Yes they lose some petals but still retain plenty of weight. I shoot the 225gr version. Even with most the petals blown off it weighs around 200gr. That bullet is vicious at 2300fps out of my NULA. They act almost like a Lehigh Controlled Fracture bullet at that speed. Lehigh sells a .451 230gr CF bullet that is also excellent but since it sheds petals better the base will penetrate more. Cost close to the same as Barnes also.
https://www.lehighdefense.com/all/45...r-230gr-bullet

CVA Optima pistol. Since building the Encore as my main muzzleloading pistol, I got a set of open sights for it and carry it in a chest holster for closer range or free handed shots. The load was 80 grains of BH 209, a Federal 209 Primer, and a Harvester Crushed Rib Sabot.

OH I see. I thought that maybe you used a ML pistol then made a follow up shot with a centerfire handgun. Well either way congrats on your harvest.