Jaybe said:

"This is all very interesting, indeed. Seems like PB's are something you either love or hate. I have a friend who kept telling me all season, "I think I'm going to stop using those Powerbelts - they're designed to blow up on deer." But he killed 6 deer with them this year! "

I actually discussed the PB blow up problem with the Powerbelt folks. First, it is really only a problem with the lighter bullets. Second, retailers and hunters alike demand them. So powerbelt is going to make as many of the light hollowpoints they care to market (to retailers) and retailers are going to sell as many of them (to hunters) as they possibly can.

My local Walmart got smart and ordered nothing but .50 295's. Thankfully, hunters made them eat them. The last I priced them on clearance they were selling for $4.00 a 16 pack. I hope no one plans to use them for Elk next year. They are legal for Elk, unfortunately.

If I may. It seems we often paint with a VERY broad paint brush here. PB's don't inherently blow up. Really they don't . Shove 3 pyrodex pellets in your gun followed by a 245 powerbelt behind it. And yes, it is going to blow up. What does one expect? Its hollow cavity is half as deep as the bullet is long. (I think it was sabotloader who called them "glorified roundballs"). We really need reason here.

Jaybe, if you like shooting powerbelts but are concerned about them holding together when you hit deer with them, as I see it, you have two choices.

1. Avoid all powerbelts and look for another suitable bullet.

2. Avoid making the mistakes others are making by overpowering underweighted hollowpoint bullets. Try reducing yourcharges and increasing the weights of the powerbelts you are shooting.I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised when you see the terminal performance of a 405 or 444 grain powerbelt.

Happy Hunting, Phil