Tried deer hunting with Powerbelt 405 gr.

[andrewjoseph]

I have always used the 223 gr. PB aerotip witht 100 gr of Shockey Gold. I have had bropblems two times while deer hunting. Both times the bullet did not expand or blew up inside the deer or something. I lost one of these two deer, but that is way too many.

I decided to try the 405 gr maxi hunter in my CVA buckhorn. It shot close enogugh to thesame height as the 223 gr so that I couldnt tell the difference.

I shot a doe this morning from 75 yds and was very pleased with what it did. This bullet went through the shoulder bone and pierced both lungs and out the other side. It expanded to about two to mabye two and a half times its size and the deer dropped right in its tracks.

I know that people have expressed bad feelings about PB being a "rib shot" bullet, but I might give the heavier grain bullet a try if you dont shoot way far out.

[Roskoe]

So was the bullet a 405 gr. Maxi Hunter or a 405 gr. Powerbelt? I didn't know they made a maxi hunter in that weight, and I have tried the Powerbelt in 405 - so I assume you were intending the latter. This isa popular elk bullet out here - although I think the 348's still have the lead as the #1 MZ hunting projectile.

[Wolfhound76]

I'm getting a GM barrel for my Hawken in a month or so. I'm gonna try the 444's in it. I know they shoot good with 75 gr of FFG in my GM barreled Knight Extreme. That's where I'm going to start.

[Pglasgow]

ORIGINAL: andrewjoseph

I have always used the 223 gr. PB aerotip witht 100 gr of Shockey Gold. I have had bropblems two times while deer hunting. Both times the bullet did not expand or blew up inside the deer or something. I lost one of these two deer, but that is way too many.

I decided to try the 405 gr maxi hunter in my CVA buckhorn. It shot close enogugh to thesame height as the 223 gr so that I couldnt tell the difference.

I shot a doe this morning from 75 yds and was very pleased with what it did. This bullet went through the shoulder bone and pierced both lungs and out the other side. It expanded to about two to mabye two and a half times its size and the deer dropped right in its tracks.

I know that people have expressed bad feelings about PB being a "rib shot" bullet, but I might give the heavier grain bullet a try if you dont shoot way far out.

Not at all surprised. The key is impact velocity and bullet weight. How much charge did you use with the 405?

[andrewjoseph]

ORIGINAL: Roskoe

So was the bullet a 405 gr. Maxi Hunter or a 405 gr. Powerbelt? I didn't know they made a maxi hunter in that weight, and I have tried the Powerbelt in 405 - so I assume you were intending the latter. This isa popular elk bullet out here - although I think the 348's still have the lead as the #1 MZ hunting projectile.

405 Powerbelt Aerotip copper, sorry I didnt put that.

[andrewjoseph]

I used 100 gr of Shockey Gold with the 405, thats just what Ive always used no matter what size.For myhunting needs,this has always worked well for me. I dont shoot that far out.

I did noticea lot more pressure on my shoulder with this larger grain, I guess this is obvious to you guys that shoot much more than me, I have just not shot these larger bullets before.

[Pglasgow]

ORIGINAL: andrewjoseph

I used 100 gr of Shockey Gold with the 405, thats just what Ive always used no matter what size.For myhunting needs,this has always worked well for me. I dont shoot that far out.

I did noticea lot more pressure on my shoulder with this larger grain, I guess this is obvious to you guys that shoot much more than me, I have just not shot these larger bullets before.

So basically you were shooting a 50-110-405. Dang, I bet you noticed ALOT more pressure on your shoulder.That load would lay a bison flat. It looks like you figured out the PB solution.

If you want to reduce that charge, you sure enough can and still get all the great knockdown performanceand pass through results. 70 to 80 grainsis more than enough and delivers alot more energy at 100 yards than the 223 PB delivers at 100 yards(using 100 grains powder).One can obviously push them that hard, but Ilean towardsWolfhound's sense of compatiblecharge (its alot easier on my shoulderat the range, easier on the pocketbook too).

[Pglasgow]

Here is the 223 with the same 100 grain load

[andrewjoseph]

Thanks Pglasgow for the information, that helps me understand it more when its in number form.

Ive only used 100 grains of powder just because I have always just bought 50 grain sticks. I thought that was easier when I first started and have just kept doing the same thing out of habit.

I'l have to give the 70 to 80 a try like you said. Thanks!

[cayugad]

Pglasgow I always look at the energy of the loads. That 405 is really smacking the devil out of the target with a lot of force. Its little wonder they would have such a great knockdown.