Zee, have you thought about trying the Barnes 110 gr bullet in a 30 30. It works well in the 300 blackout and others are using it in the 30 30 contender. That is what I have been playing with in my 30 30 contender this year and am getting good groups.
X2 on the 110gn black tipped Barnes
With the excellent low velocity performance of those bullets designed for the 300BO (Barns says they need 1350 for expansion, but recommend 1450fps min for hunting), you could easily work up a mouse fart/deer lethal load for him. They are expensive, but probably cheaper then the ammo needed to work him through a flinch reflex in the future.
