I got my doe in Kansas with a load I have truly come to love. I shoot a knight Bighorn that I have not changed over to use the 209 primers. But by just changing nipples I can shoot either the #11 caps or musket caps. I use the musket caps as they are easier to work with being shaped like a top hat and are hotter than the #11s. I am not a fan of the big magnum powder loads either. My go to load is 80 Grains of FFg Goex black powder and a 45 cal 300 gr XTP mag bullet in a harvester crush rib sabot. I get great accuracy and have recovered two of these bullets after they traveled the length of the deer. Both bullets had expanded to 64 and 66 cal and retained weight was 291 grains. I know that some people have not had very much luck with these bullets shooting them with mag loads. These are a pistol bullet and I try to keep them under 1900 fps and it really seems to work for me and my son. The doe I shot in Kansas this year was about 40 yds away and I still got well over 32 inches of penetration from her neck to the rear quarter.

Paul, why are you shooting though the deer? Are the not presenting quartering or broadside shots? I would thing that a head shot might do less damage to the meat, than a brisket shot? Just wondering.

Isn't goex a black powder substitute like all the others? I switched from ff goex to fff pirodex and never have a misfire even with the #11's. I wasn't having good luck with the goex unfortunately. My T/C renegade is a picky sumbeach! :D
Keeep on laying the smack down on em Paul!!!

Congrats on the doe Paul :) .
When you find a load your smoke pole likes...you stick with it. They can be finicky.
The XTP is noted for the reliable expansion and weight retention.

Congrats on the doe paul.My remington didnt like the pyrodex pellets at all.Had to go back 80 grains of black powder.If it aint broke dont fix it

GLW Goex is a brand of black powder not a substitute. There are several companies that make real black powder, Goex is a big favorite in PA the only other brand I have seen around here is Swiss. Elephant is another. These are all real black powder. Normally I do not like to shoot lengthwise through a deer. The first one was with a group of 7 other deer and when I shot I would have sworn it was quartering to me very slightly nearly broadside. It could be that the bullet when it struck a rib was deflected toward the rear of the deer. The most recent one was at about 40 yds head on to me and was very alert and appeared ready to bolt any second. In reality I had the rifle in a rest and was a bit surprised by the shot myself. Actual meat destruction was very little on both deer so not much was lost. I actually did think of taking a head shot at the second deer but a deers head is not the biggest target at 40 yds plus I was not sure she was going to stand there much longer.

I may actually go to a neighbors and try out the crossbow this weekend. It is supposed to be very cold (for Oct in TX) on Sat and Sun mornings. Into the low 40s. The deer might just surprise us.

Thanks Paul, I guess the reason I thought that was because on the Goex jar it says "replica" black powder. I know the pirodex says substitute but don't have a clue what they mean by replica? Get any more deer yet? :)