So missed sat opener of DE handgun season due to my 2 older sons competing in regional swim meet near Baltimore.
But strong cold front has moved in over last couple days, so my prospects looked good for evening hunts today and tomorrow, headed out a little late, got in blind with gun unloaded, litterly snapped breach closed look up and have deer moving in woods across field from me. Wait watch, they pile up at woods edge, first comes out 10 yards in field now about 60 from me, raise window, but now deer are steadily popping out. Get window up and hung open, but the movement of raising gun catch's attention of largest doe. She quickly bolts, just miss getting shot at 2 others in herd before all reenter woods. Still pretty good action 10 minutes in blind. Over next hour my deer count rises to 23 with large herd including nice 8pt gathering about 200 yds from me. One small deer appears several times in woods and on far side of property line, then finally enters my field about 70 yds out, and opposite side from herd. Feeds slowly my way, then seems to alert to noises in woods behind, ends up walking rapidly toward me, pauses briefly but long enough to settle scope, fire first hunting shot w blackhorn 209, what a difference in visibility, missed seeing impact, but was able to see blood appearing right at my aim point, less than second after shot.
Really enjoying pistol hunting, of course now have extra week bring total to 6 to harvest whitetail w muzzleloader in DE, the fun and added challenge, at the moment I am working on a 75yd max range, mostly due to my lack of shooting experience with gun, and 200 grn bullets, (if I don't use them now when will I?) hoping 240grn will shot as well give little more carry, try for next year.
By the way had 0 point of impact difference switching from stock breech plug w 80 grn 777, to blackhorn plug, and 80 grn blackhorn.
Defiantly appreciate ALL info available on this site, takes so much experimentation out of equation with new gun. Pretty sure most optima pistols loaded w 80 grn powder an 200 grn hp bullets will shot quite well thx Bubba.