ORIGINAL: Smithbros.1
My charge consisted of 120 grains of pyrodex select, with a CCI primer...348 AT powerbelt.
The problem I have with such a rapid expansion is.....what if your elk turns or moves during the shot.....if you hit the front shoulder at 100 yards are you going to have enough to collapse both lungs???
Or will you only get one lung & have an elk run over the next two mountains? I think deep penatration is the key.....Its been proven time & agin that bullets should mushroom, stay together, deliver shock. Not blow up on impact.
As far as hunting whitetails.....I have seen countless killed with various front loaders. The early years they were roundballs & conicalswith 80 grains. Now its sabots & powerbelts with heavy charges......I have found even 200 +lb deer can't stop any of these bullets consistantly. Most pass through, unless you shoot out both shoulders. For deer size game just pick what ever your gun shoots well....I am sure it will kill deer just fine.
I wouldn't hesitate to use any powerbelt on deer. I believe a deer shot in the shoulder won't stop enough bullet to protect the far side lung.
most of the shots i had ona big buck were neck area.i would say that over 70% in 40 years have been from neck up to head.this is because the biggest buck dont go in the open much and head for cover.most shots were at 30 yards or less,some 10 yards.not 1 over 80 yards that i can remember wayback.on the ones that were looking back at me, i shoot for neck. i missed a few but not many.even with my 250-3000 sav with 87 gr. i never shoot a quartering shot. its neck or broadside.