Picking the right weightone for the job and placing exactly right will do a good job of puting down most game.
I personally believe that a lot of bad experances with several very good projectals including PB,ST and SW happen when the combination of gun bullet weight and powder load has not been well matched. When I found an artical by the makers of PB's I was suprised to find that we were in almost complete agreement on the loads weights and game matches. They are like any other manufactured item if used the way they were designed for at the ranges and with the loads they were designed for they will do a good job. Lee

I realize that there are millions sold and millions shot, so they are still very very popular for a reason, they kill game and they are accurate. Would I throw out the baby with the bathwater---no they have their place. I agree that one should try a few in his rifle. Thanks Chap Gleason

Lee, I agree with you 100%. Where do you find the article by the PB makers? I know Chad Shier shoots them, but he is paid by CVA. I know he is successful and has extensive knowledge. I know he is the editor of Muzzleloer Guns and Hunting, which I subscribe to and I like his stories. I know Richard Mann likes them and recommends them, I have read at least 3 articles by him on bullet performance. However when the 3 pellet craze hit, I don't think the gun writers or bullet manufacturers said much, they just rode with the 3 pellet craze, and marketed their guns as 3 pellet capable. I think that contributed to a lot of dis-information out there. Matching load and bullet to gun is an art that is nottalked about a lot in the national publications. Anyway thanks for your comment Lee.
Chap Gleason

I think we can all agree that there are plenty of places which are the wrong area of the animal. Even though I haven't used them, I know of so many who use them year after year with great success that I can only feel compelled to agree that they are a good and effective projectile. Any projectile can be placed in the wrong area, for example a glancing shot on the shoulder bone a frontally quartered deer. Doesn't matter what you use when you place a shot like that. There will be a huge piece of flesh blown off, but no vitals damaged.

What amazes me it just how little it actually takes to do the job incredibly well. Take a .54 roundball propelled by a 90 grains of blackpowder. Has about 850 ft lbs of energy at 45 yards. Once it splats on a deer between the shoulder and neck, its sectional density couldn't be worse for any .54 cal projectile, and yet it still has sufficient momentum and energy to carve a wound channel right through the vitals exit the deer and break the hind leg. Or at 70 yards when it has about 670 ft.lbs energy, it has enough thump to pass all the way through a deer while still having enough thump to shatter the spine of a deer unseen on the other side.

I am reminded of Pittsburghunters recollection of the results of a .45 cal roundball at 70 yards. Again worse sectional density than a .54 roundball and 1/3 the energy. Fully capable of entering the brisket, carve a wound channel which destroys the heart, lodging under the skin of the far side 2 1/2 feet away.

It takes very little to get the job done, roundballs are proof of that. Millions of satisfied powerbelt users are proof that powerbelts also get the job done. I too, have never used PB's to hunt with. But I have used the 385 GP's which boom flop a deer and leave a 1" gaping hole on the other side. Awesome projectile. Best I can tell, a 385 GP is basically a compromise between a 350 PB and a 405 PB as far as terminal performance. The brand bashing is undeserved.