Smithbros.1

I just got back from Colorado, @ was able to take my first bull. I wanted to thank everyone who answered my posts this summer.
Here's a little info on how the gun-load faired.
TC Encore 120 grains of pyro-select under 348 grainPowerbelt aerotip
I shot my bull at 90 yards. The 348 came apart, but not before it left a 3" hole all the way to the far side shoulder. I recovered 2 small pieces of the bullet, The biggest about 100 grains. The bull ran 75 yards.
We harvested another bull with the same gun-load combo. At50 yards same results, The 348 went into pieces, Butit dropped the bull dead in his tracks.
I would have liked to see the 348's stay together better, but the results were impressive.
Thanks agin for the info this summer.
Jason

ENCOREMAN

Smithbros.1,
Congratulations on your bull elk I like the 348gr PB out of my T/C's tooand wondered howthey'd perform on elk.I'm saving preference points now fora Colorado muzzleloader elk trip...I think I have 7 now. I don't have the foggiest idea what gun or load I'm going to use yet, but that's half the fun figuring this stuff out.
Did you hunt public of private ground and do you have any pictures to post for us....please?

cayugad

Congratulations on the harvesting of the two bulls. It looks like your combination was a winner. If you did not like the fact of the Powerbelt Aero Tip fragmenting so much you have time now to work up some loads with different conicals such as the Hornady Great Plains or the No Excuse. Again, CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCESSFUL HUNT!

BonsaiDiver

Congrats Smithbros.1 !

~Robert

Roskoe

Congratulations. Your experience with the 348 gr. Aerotip Powerbelts is fairly typical - they kill elk real well on broadside rib shots, but often don't give you much to admire in terms of the recovered bullet. The hollowpoint PB's are supposed to be worse about coming apart - most folks use the Aerotip. In fact, the various sporting goods stores in this area indicate that this is their most popular Colorado elk bullet. One guy I know uses the 405 Powerbelt and, although it kicks harder and doesn't shoot as flat as the 348; stays together much better. I have some 444 gr. flatpoint Powerbelts - have never used them on game, but their performance in the ballistic gelatin is great. Good luck. Roskoe.

Ark City Larry

My 348 Powerbelt HP mushroomed to 3/4" and was just under the skin on far side on a doe at 100 yards. High on shoulder and took out part of the lungs. Fell in her tracks. Was using 3 777 pellets. Congrats on ur elk...hope I can elk hunt someday.