I sighted my gun in with Knight 300 grain lead hollow points, and have not had a deer get away. Most have dropped in their tracks, or run a short ways. They expand to the size of a quarter and cost about 12.00$ for 20 sabots. The only problem is, I couldn't find them this year, I shoot a knight, and don't want to change bullets,
A friend of mine swore by the powerbelts, and switched bullets every year. First the lead hollow pt., then the copper coated hp. to finally the aero tip. He gave me the leftover's after he switched to the aero tips. They didn't pattern good in my gun so I never switched. I don't like the fact that being easy to load gives me no gas seal in my gun. This year he sold the aero tips and switched to Dead Center Sabots. These bullets are supposed to not have much drop off at 150yrd like most others do. He's killed 2 so far and say's they are awsome.
I sighted my son's new USA Knight in with the new Alpha Gold 300, hollow pt. made by Spitzer. This is an all lead bullet that is supposed to provide unrivaled ballistics, trajectory, and downrange energy. They cost about a dollar a bullet and come with a loading tool. He killed his first deer at 25yrds with a double lung shot. The deer ran about 40yrd, ran into a tree and did a back flip. The blood was everywhere about 20yrd past the the site of the shot.
These guns, and bullets have gotten to be like hi-powered rifle's. It's going to take perfect hits to drop them in their tracks. Most of the time a deer will run a short ways after you shoot them with a hi-powered rifle because it's so fast he doesn't know he's dead yet. I think the same thing is happening with todays muzzle loaders because, there isn't much difference.
Just My Opinion,
BILL