Here's my 2 cents on powerbelts. I agree with gleason.chapmans conclusion, if you use them, particularly on elk, go heavy, and I'd go with the flat point versions if you can find them, not hollowpoint.For deer, powerbelts in most cases are probably ok. I have used them for elk and deer hunting for the last 4 years, but will switch this year based on doing more research and personal experience.

My friends and I have harvested several elk with powerbelts, using .50 and .54 cal, 348g bullets or heavier, 100-115 grains of triple 7 or pyrodex. Kills have been good broadside shots at less than 90 yards or less, and a couple of really close range head shots on cow elk. Bullets were not recovered, no complete pass through noted,not even on the head shots (10 and 30 yards)whichis a little surprising. We have been more interested in getting the elk field dressed quickly in the warm temps than looking for bullets. However, 4-5 elk have been shot and lost using powerbelts,we don't know if it was shot placement (the most likely), bullet performance, or a combination.All of these were good broadside shots at90 yards or less, but the elkweren't found.I always have thought it wasprobably just bad shooting, but now I'm leaning more to a combination of not perfect shot placement, and less than perfect bullet performance, as in thepowerpointsare coming apart when contacting bone.There has been little to no blood trail on either the elk we have harvested or theelk that were lost.

I did a poor mans ballistic test last week, compared a .54 cal348 g PB aerotip and a 430 g TC maxiball. Shot both into wet newspaper, with a sheet of 1/2" plywood placed in the stack about 2" from the front to simulate hitting bone. Range was 30 yards, 85 grains of triple 7. Powerbelt penetrated 8.5", the bullet weighed only 211 grains, and had expanded to .75". The maxiball penetrated 18", expanded to .75", and weighed 426 grains.

I'm switching to the maxiball this year, they shoot way more accurately than the powerbelt in my great plains rifle (1-48" twist), 2.5" groups a 100 yards, and if the situationcalls for driving a bullet through a bull elk's shoulder, I think the maxi will stand a better chance of doing it.