Just try loading it down to lower velocity. What is the distance of your average shot at a deer. Now what have the distances been that you HAVE shot a deer? If the upper UP is anything like Maine, you and I can sometimes, but not often, see 100 or 200 yards while hunting, so in Maine my average deer shot COULD be about 80-100 yards. However, in reality I have never shot a deer over 40 yards in Maine, it is because I hunt the thick stuff, the so called "greengrowth", fir thickets and cedar swamps. I also used to use my ol;d favorite, my Marlin 336 in .35 Remungton, I used it for years with little if any meat loss and quite a few deer to it's gredit, and someday, God willing I will have my Handi in .35 Remgton, until then I shall use other calibers. I hunted this year with my Handi in 45-70 with 28.0 grains of 2400 pushing a 350 grain Hornady RN bullet. I did not get a chance at a deer but I am positive there would have been little wasted meat with that load. I also brought my 19" barrelled .280 Remington Handi with a red dot and a survivor stock with Remington factory 140 grain Core Lokts SP's. I shot it at camp and it's a sweet gun for close handling situations, I just wanted to use the Hornady load on a deer, no luck. Anyway, I digress, I suggest loading to a lower velocity, especially if you average deer kill distance is 100 yards or under, hyper space velocity is not needed. Best of luck....<><....
As far as aiming point, I usually (all but 1 deer, and that one was a story in itself!!!) shoot deer in the neck, they drop as if poleaxed and little wasted meat, not much but stew beef in the neck anyway....<><....
