To test a new bullet and see how it performs. IMO, you can shoot into a bullet trap and such and get an idea of how the bullet will do, but the best way to know for sure is on the actual game you are hunting. I had faith in the bullet since day one when the 225 powerbelt out performed the 255 maxi hunter. I was looking for a bullet that was big enough, yet light enough to shoot out to 150-175 yards and still perform. We get a lot of knocking on the Powerbelt bullets on this forum and only 1 or 2 others have posted pics of powerbelts that have actually taken game cleanly. We hear all the horror stories and never the good ones. This i believe will show a lot of people that the powerbelt is an amazing bullet to use when you are using charges that are suggested by the company.

I am more than happy with how the powerbelt performed and how the animal went down. The deer my dad took with my .45 was a lung shot that was taken slightly at an angle and just tore the hell out of the other shoulder on its way out.

Do powerbelts perform better with lower powder charges? I honestly can say yes. I used to use 120 grains and 150 grains and never got blood trails like this before. This will be my hunting load for many many years to come.
I think i see a 300 grain platinum some year, but am affraid of the damage that big slug would do!

Thanks guys, we had a lot of fun even though we had to hunt in t- shirts. Horrible season for elk and not that great for deer, but i am grateful that we were able to take the two deer that we did. They are both in the freezer now and will be cooked up very soon.