She had to shoot as the buck was heading into heavy brush, aiming in front of the hams. One ball stuck a hip bone as I remember, and they found that when they butchered the animal, but the other passed by an inch or so away and went into the abdominal cavity, then forward to cut some artery towards the front. The buck ran off and laid down and bled out. I don't remember if they found that ball.
The game warden recommended double balling for this .40 caliber. I tested them quite a bit before I decided they were OK to use. A double ball load (both patched, first one seated, then the other) dropped the velocity about 450 fps, as I remember. So I upped the load to 70 grains of Goex 3F and got about 1715 fps. They were very accurate, and usually struck within 3/4" apart at 50 yards. But I do not recommend their use, because both balls must be on the powder, or there is a barrel obstruction. You should have a really good reason to use them, then be very careful that the balls stay together on the powder before you shoot them.
Carole had killed many deer with centerfire rifles and a couple with a .50 TC, but the stock fit was too long and she did not have the hand strength to reload by herself. Thus my custom rifle built for her, which she shoots a lot and very well. Coned muzzle for ease of loading. She could use a different rifle, but is very confident in this one, double ball load and all.
And Carl has gotten a lot more confident in flintlocks, too!
