Andrew,
You can buy loose powder and buy a bunch of these and have whatever load you want. Just a little extra work, but get a lot better results and save a lot of money:
http://rmcsports.com/catalog.htm

Chap Gleason Va

Cayugad, it sure is. Those big conicals are amazing. It would be great to see a pic of the exit hole on andrewjoseph's doe. 385 GP's also expand like that and are really good bullets, though difficult to load. But then, than really doesn't bug me. If I am close enough to be certain where that bullet is going, its only going to take one shot. And Cayugad, what is really amazing is that given the same powder charge (100 grains) the 405 has almost the same drop at 150 yards (as the 223 PB) when sighted for 100 yard zero. Not to mention the 405 is much more resistant to wind deflection. Heavier is definitely better.

Andrewjoseph, here is a trajectory for 70 grains 3f BP. This is pretty much the same as Wolfhound's 75 2f BP load. 70 grains JSG should propell it faster. One other thing. I think the 100 grains of JSG may be considered an overload for your rifle when using the 405. One way to compare the operating pressures ofheavy bullets with other known maximum loads is to look at the muzzle energies. This is not precise but for a given muzzle energy there will be a median pressure. Two loads, even when using considerably different weights of projectiles and powder, which have the same muzzle energy will have peak pressure which fall in the neighborhood (usually less than +- 10%)of this median pressure. Since 100 grains of 2f 777 produces 2100 ft-lbs at the muzzle with a 300 grain bullet, I consider 2100 ft-lbs at the muzzle a maximum safe muzzle energy in my Apex and CVA.

The great thing about heavy conicals is that one can start with a muzzle energy much lower than this maximum, and still deliver moreenergy down range.Good ballistic efficiency coupled with reduceddrag (cause theyare moving slower)just lead to getting more thump down range.

If i were you andrew you should be using triple seven pelets or pirodex pelets that way you would have not had any problems with the 223 grain. I have shot many deer with the 223 grain powerbelts and the 295 grain powerbelt bullets without any problem .

I saw a 444 gr. Powerbelt that was recovered from a Bison shot near Hartzel, Colorado recently. Great looking bullet - expanded to about 3/4 inch with a lot of shank still driving it. It was found just under the hide on a quartering away shot.

Hartsel colorado kicks butt! Thats where a Rendezvous is held every year! Great fun too. Im not much help to this topic due to me always taking lung shots so i dont ruin any meat, but i have used the 245 and 295 grain hollowpoint and aerotips with complete pass through and never a tracking job.

The 444's are the sexiest Powerbelt made. No hollowpoint to mess up the looks or blow off.I like the lead ones (no copper plating).

I know this is basics for most people, but approximately how many shots do you get from a pound of powder? - Assuming 100gr, mabye that would be easier.

What do most people shoot? - 2f or 3f?

For blackpowder, there is 7000 grains of weight and volume in a pound. So there would beseventy 100 grainloads in a pound of black powder. Pyrodex has more than 7000 grains of (blackpowder) volume in a pound, so you would get more loads from a pound of it. If you are using heavy stuff, like 375 grains and higher projectiles, Blackpowder produces more muzzle energy than Pyro (in my experience) from a given volume measure.

PersonallyI like 3f BP thebest.On a volume basis itproduces a little more energy at the muzzle than 2f andit seems to foul less.

Pglasgow, what do your tables show for a 270 grain bullet and 80 grains RS? Adequate energy left at 100yds. for deer?

No doubt yeoman. Its there. Past 30 yards, think of the 270 bullet as a skinny, ballistically efficient,.58 cal roundball. I hunted this year with the 270 ballet in OK for deer and had it in my possibles bag for followup shot on Colorado elk hunt. Didn't get to pop a cap, but I trust the 270 ballet can get it done if it is placed well. Below is my load with 80 grains 3f Goex which should have similar muzzle velocity to 80 grains RS (Pyro P is definitely faster). Yeoman, if you have black powder around the house, try the 270 Sabertooths with it.That group might shrink.

The only bad thing about the 270 grain full bore conical is that it is more susceptible to wind deflection. The chart below shows how as little as 1.3 mphwind variation opens a 100 yard group by 1".I believe the B.C. which was used is right on or slightly conservative.