Good point MLKeith!

120gr should be considered Maximum with Black Mag'3 so long as your rifle is rated for magnum or 150gr BP charges. Same goes for 777 really although I know a few folks that are shooting with 125gr 777 loads.

I would have to agree with taq. for target shooting why kill yourself
with all the extra recoil? As for hunting it figures this way for me
projectile placement because of hours of practice = dead animal.
I currenly shoot a 45cal and clamped in at local range, 3-777 pellets
195gr. aero-tip powerbelt looks like 2600. But by dropping back to
2-50gr. 777 same bullet still over 2k. All I can say is read, read &
read somemore, then practice practice practice........!

For the most part I'll take accuracy especially when your talking a difference like in your case. However when you say shoulder shots are what you want to take, then it factors in a bit more. I would personally lean to some more load development before hard fast choosing. The Shockwave with 85gr should get it done but I don't know as I have never used anything smaller than 240 on game in my 50 cal. I will tell you 250 SST(or Shockwave) will as I took a large bodied buck through the shoulder and exited clean with no further steps last fall, that was with 100 gr of T7 loose....but a hunting partner took buck through a shoulder shot using 250gr SST with 100 gr pellet T7 with similar results.

I am not an expert by no means, just a hunter. I always look to find the best for my hunting needs be it energy, trajectory, accuracy, setting forth personal limits and many cases all of the above to ensure my main reason for blowing smoke is a smile at the end of the season!

Best of luck

I would go with the 85 grains. Is more than adequate to do the job. Remember that this load is roughly equivalent to 97 grains of BP or pyrodex loose powder. Should do well on any whitetail/mule deer alive.

I would definately go with the lighter load.