I guess if the bullet doesnt pass through then it has transferred all of its energy on the animal which i find is a good thing. Alot of people like pass throughs for extra blood trailing, but that bullet that passes through still has energy to expell and is wasted. If the bullets are blowing up but they drop animals in their tracks or dont go far, then who can complain about that. Its doing its job.

You don't say what powder you are using. If you are using 777, then you were using the equivalent of 138 grains black powder (adding 15%). That is a stout charge in anyones book. I use 90-95 grains 777 for elk with 405 gr PB'sand feel very comfortable that this charge is plenty for elk. I have pretty much decided that since it has more than enough power for elk, and since we have to use open sights (in Colorado), there is no reason to use more powder. I have a personal limit of 100 yards with these restrictions anyway. And as Sproul says, flinching is one of the biggest reasons elk are missed (and wounded). And I have at least partially bought in to the theory that PB's do better at less powder charges.

Here is an interstings site to explore. It is about knockdown and I use it to compare big slow moving bullets. Foot lbs of energy just don't cut it with big bullets, and that is because they are relatively slow moving and the foot lbs math squares the speed. That makes small, very fast bullets look better on paper. However, millions of buffalo died with big slow moving bullets. Take the 45-70 for example. 45 caliber with 70 grains of black powder. Here is the link: http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/July02.htm

I am curious about the new bullets. At least they are no more expensive than the original. However, the biggest bullets that I have seen advertised in platinum are 328 gr. Just a personal bias, but I like bigger bullets for elk.

Big game deserves a big bullet, and not a hollow point or some fancy poly point that make the bullet expand...........you need penetration, not expansion on elk sized game.[/align]
As far as powerbelts go, if they shoot good and load easily into your gun, use them.

I find them to be wonderful varmit bullets the 245 shoot tight groups out of my Omega and blowup on contact they blow a hole in a coyote you have to see to believe[150 gr APP FF] my hunting buddie likes them in his savage for coyote to if I remember correctly he shoots 5744 and I think he said just under 40 gr. Lee

The reason we decided to shoot the heavy loads, was the meadows are very large in Colorado. I shot the heck out of these loads last year.....Over shooting sticks at an elk silloutte I could kill it every time at 150 yards with iron sights.....thus I felt comfortable to 125 yards on game. I didn't want to try to figure hold over at game, thus the extra charge.
Like I said before, I hope the manufacture has answered these problems, because they shoot great out of our guns.

i use 87 gr.speer in my 250-3000 sav for deer. most of time ,no exit hole and most of deer drop in their tracks.cant find much of bullet.my dad taught me this from surviving in the depression.he said the 87 gr bullet would drop deer in their tracks and 100 gr would not.just because bullet blows up is not all BAD,but i agree, the new powerbelt should be the ticket for elk.as for deer in a flintlock,.50 cal at 80 grs or so. i am staying with the regular one,hollow point.if i was shooting in-line at those high speeds, i would use new bullet.my shots are under 100 yards, i dont need recoil and its deadly with a maxi-ball 370 and now, my favorite, the POWERBELT.

I would never hunt with a lead Powerbelt. I've witnessed a half-dozen dead deer with impressive holes in them from the 245 grcopper aerotipPowerbelt at deer camps. My favorite Powerbelt is the 348 copper HP. Best success with copper Powerbelts is keeping the powder charge at 100 grains or less & aiming for the heart/lungs.

I'm not promoting this bullet. Haven't purchased them in 3-4 years. Give me 300 gr. XTP, Shockwave, Elite Extremeor 375 gr. Buffalo S.S.B any day.

my .50 cal hawkins seems to group the 295 gr powerbelt better than the 348 BUT, i think your right, the 348 is better choice for deer but i am stuck on 295,i like it.

The ultimate twist for the Powerbelt 295 is your Hawkens 1-48" twist. So I can see why you like it so much. I have a sidelock 1-48". I touch target holes using the 295s. Being I only use two sand bags for the muzzle & my elbow on a table when sighting-in, I think that's pretty darn good. I discontinued Powerbelts because I shoot three jugs of powder per year. Just too expensive of a bullet.

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.