Originally Posted by
Muley Hunter
Unlike the Fed bullet that we have no choice but to use the one bullet. We have many choices with the Powerbelt.
Ron's tests are torture tests, and will show any weakness a bullet has. The PBs in the 250gr range have never been good performers. Especially, the HP's that were made to expand fast.
I'd love to see the Platinum 338gr tested, or the Copper tipped 348gr/405gr. Those are used quite a bit around here for elk, and perform well for those using them.
The plywood Ron uses gets the bullets expanding faster than they would on game. We can't expect them to have good penetration.
Just trying to be fair. I know there's better bullets than the PB, but that doesn't mean they don't work at all. We hear about the negative on forums much more than the success. We have 4 million muzzy hunters in the US. Subtract how many are on forums, and you have the number of hunters you never hear from. It's a lot!
In general, that means there's also a lot more deer lost to poor bullets than we think too. One only has to Google
'problems with powerbelt bullets' and you'll have all the reading you can stand. There isn't any other modern bullet that has so much bad press and from all areas of the country.
I'm sorry, but I don't consider that fair, by any means, to the hunter and definitely not fair to the game being hunted. This is what is completely disgusting to me about some of the western states, almost requiring these bullets be used. Thank goodness bullets like Thor can (should) be used.
Ron's testing, although some may not completely agree with how its done,
is a good example of what should be shown to some of the wildlife managers (DNR-FG-WLD, etc.) in those western states which won't allow saboted bullets.
Ron, you should put together a single video of your bullet tests, using the 80grs of BH.