RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

from what they sold me, very little effect. and i have a 32" barrel. I was using goex at the time and they said i wouldnt be to far off from their 28" barrel Stats. Im not one who pays much attention to FPS, Ft lbs energy. I leave that for the others who do care.

As long as the load is accurate and the projectile is performing and my shooting ability is good for the range im sighted in for, Its going down.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

Yes, I do FG, now that you mention it---but did not think of it right off the top of my head--although I don't forget too many things about PBs . However it would be nice if they told the world that instead of marketing to the fad of speed and long range hunting, which is what they are doing on their web page. Chap

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

After reading this whole thread, it appears to me that what Frontier Gander is actually describing re: Power Belt bullet performance is that when over-driven by too much powder, they tend to fragment (like Cayugad said), and the fragments do a horrendousjob on the internal organs, butthe exit wound is made by what's left of the base of the bullet. That would explain small entry and exit wounds, but a lot of internal damage. So, IMO, it is NOT a case of faster bullets expanding LESS than slower ones-(that just does not happen to any expanding bullet!)

In the above described action, then, an over-driven Power Belt is performing alot like a Nosler Partition bullet, which also often shows small entrance and exit wounds with great internal damage. I have often heard people complain that the Partition bullet "just pencilled through- it did not expand! But the bullet is gone, so they don't know!! Such actionindeed results in quick kills but often very poor/non-existant blood trails.

In the case with the Power Belts and less powder, slowing them down indeed alters theirperformance, so that the entrance wound is still small, butthe ext wound is much larger, BECAUSE THE BULLET JUST EXPANDS AND DOES NOT FRAGMENT at the slower speeds. The expanded bullet exits, leaving a bigger hole than it would if it had fragmented.

Frontier Gander, you sure have some beautiful places to hunt!! Keep up the good work, and thanks for your research and information!

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

Frontier

Thanks for the excellent info on power belt bullets. I use them in both of my knight rifles with excellent results. I use 90 grains but plan to try them with 80 grains.

WV Mountaineer

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

This is an interesting post. I use my ML for hunting only, I shoot it about 5 times a year, 4 to site it in and one at a deer. I keep thinking I want to try these different bullets and maybe even powders, but since one pack of powder lasts me about 5 years, why mess with it....I'm still on my first pack of bulllets and sabots...can't switch until they are gone!!!


I meet a group of guys in SD every year for pheasant camp, we all live in surrounding states.

One guy was new to ML's this year and bought a ThunderHawk because he drew a SD late season tag. He was trying to use 140 grains powder with unknown bullets. The concensus of the whole group was for him to drop his powder to 90 grains, regardless of the brand.

We also all agreed we had the best luck with the Hornady .44's in green sabots. Funny we all ML hunt with different people in different states and we all had the same opinions.

And while we all thought a Encore would be nice, none of us had one.

We can't agree on the best pheasant gun....half shoot Berettas and half benellis.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

FG....Good post.

I've been looking for some of those to try. They are darn hard to find. I've shot the 405 gr. hollow point with good results. With 90 gr. of 777, it's quite a thumper. I'm also like the Great plains 410 gr. flat point conical with the same charge.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

TTT... ...Deleted by CalHunter...:D

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

Put it in your Subscriptions and give them a link to it. Or create a Windows Shortcut and put the URL in a folder called PB. Chap

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

I guess they still sell a bunch of these bullets each year. There was a HUGE stack of them at wally world on closeout. I don't shoot the things so I didn't even look to see what caliber/weight they were. Hopefully those that know or are willing to learn how to shoot them will pick them up, not someone looking to save money.

Eldequello, if you'll look around the website, there are reports of the bullet blowing up/fragmenting beforeit penetrates the body cavity (or only create an external flesh wound).In these cases, it creates no internal damage.That seems to be the point of the lower powder charge.If they are pushed faster, many times it leads to bad consequences. Maybe they'll change the bullet design, educate usershow to correctly use the bullets, or discontinue making them altogether. Only time will tell.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

I've shot powerbelts at the range a bit. They are very accurate in my gun. I like to experiment with different bullets but the powerbelts are about as expensive as they get.

After reading this whole thread I will not spend any more $$$ on powerbelts. It simply doesn't seem prudent when there are so many excellent bullets with no questions about their performance.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

FG, What does TTT mean? I asked my 19 year old daughter and she said "That The End", I said no TTT and she said she didn't know, so enlighten us on your shorthand we have not been to PB school that long! . Chap

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

TTT= To The Top....Meaning another post to throw the topic back to the top of the list so that others can see it.

IMO, this topic and thread are very informative and helpful. Frontier's postings have been knowledgeable and clear on what conclusions HIS use of PBs have shown and how they are most effective. As with anything, opinionsand attitudes vary. Not all broadheads will work effectively for every bowhunter, not all bullets will work effectively for every gunhunter. BUT, experiences like his help everyone elsemake sound judgements and decisions. I, for one, am going to use what's easiest and most accurate in my gun. This happens to be PBs until something else comes along.

If anyone else has experiences in using PBs effectively, I'd like to hear those as I'm sure a few others would like to hear them also. If the posts are just to bang on them and tell how someone thinks they are worthless.....there's another thread somewhere in here for that. If you'll post to it, instead of here, it'll save those of us with interest in this thread the wasted time of reading that particular opinion when we're looking for a useful one to this topic.

Thanks FG, keep 'em coming.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

THATS THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNET ,...Deleted by CalHunter...

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

i doubt you have any more experience then me and my hunting buddies do with the 295hp powerbelts,we have taken between 150-200 deer with these bullets. we shoot 100grns of pyrodex,777 ,shockeys gold or black powder with them. we've hd know performance problems with them at all.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

well good. Glad you are having great luck.
What kind of distances are we looking at in your hunting areas? Longest distance deer traveled?

Was that recovered bullet from a shoulder or lung shot?

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

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RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

....

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

Gentlemen,
I've edited and/or deleted some posts that violate HNI rules. You are not allowed to insult or flame each other. There is a lot of good information here that is helpful to members trying to learn more about powerbelt bullets and then make educated decisions on whether to use them or not. Please do not continue to violate HNI rules.
CalHunter
Moderator

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

that bullet was under the hide on the opposite side ,it went thru both shoulders on a 180lb buck . the shot was about 80yds. most people that i see having problems are shooting 120-150grns ,thats just to much powder behind a powerbelt.these copper bullets really don't have a jacket,its just plating,so theywill come apart at high velocities .i'm not a believer in 150grns in any ML ,most guns don't group as well at higher velocities anyway. i also think that around 300grn bullets work a lot better then the light ones do. i say shoot heavier bullets and knock them down. we have all found that the hp 295 tends to group just alittle better then the aerotip. i buy the aerotips a walmart on sale and pop out the tips. they are the same bullets. thebullet in pic's abovewas shot in my cva magbolt with 100grns of 777 pellets and win 209pr. i have recovered one this year that was shot in my new triiumph that looked about the same ,only the deer was shot facing me the bullet went all the way thru the deer and layed under the hide on his hind quarter.

oh, most deer that i have shot have not gone very far ,i can't think of one that went over 50yds and i've seen alot drop in there tracks.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

Current issue of Guns and Ammo magazine has an article by Mr. Muzzleloader Sam Fadala and his son Nick Fadala titled "Wide-Body Wack", he says "Broad Meplate Bullets in .45-70 persauasion are proving that "big and slow" is the way to go for dangerous game. They were shooting this big 540 Hammerhead meplate bullets at 1550 fps into charginghippo and cape buffalo dropping them in their tracks at 10 feet. Now that is confidence in your bullet in your bullet going "big andslow". It is an excellent article talking about Momentum and Kenetic energy. There are two camps in these MLer bullet discussions, the long range KE campand the Momemtum camp, both have their place in modern inline muzzleloading. I think you have to determine if your going to be an "in the woods" < 100 yards ML shooter or an "open fields" ML shooter. Anyway this article agrees with your theory of Big and Slow for in the woods or close shooting. Sorry this is a bit off the PB thread, but the PB fit the in the woods camp, and it does deal with bullet performance as FG was saying "SLOW" is the way to go for PBs. IE forget the PB marketing page showing 100, 150 and 130g powder bullet loads, it was made for the "long range" crowd.
Chap Gleason

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

and most SKS RIFLES have 1000yd sites on them to,ever tried to shoot that distance with one.

i'm tellin you what works for me and my friends . slow is better for a powerbelt copper clad,the platinums may be different.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

No, I am absolutely sure I would not even be able to see the target. Agree with you on the slow with regard to PB at <100 yards. Chap Gleason

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

I have had some success using powerbelts but it was with a NEF "In-Line" Muzzleloader with 2 BP pellets ( 100 grains) with a ignition cap. Dropped the deer in their tracks and one I had to reload for and I will say the Powerbelts work well with a "quickloader". I just don't think they work that well in the T/C Firestorm. You need a fast twist barrel < 48" to stabilize them in flight just like with a rifled barrel slugun.

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

My experience with PBs is rather limited but, FWIW, seems to agree with what frontier gander's posted. To date, I've not killed anything with them, however.

I had no luck with PBs in my TC Greyhawk until I went to 80 gr. of Pyrodex P. That load shot very well in the Greyhawk, better than anything else in fact. None of my PB loads using RSshot nearly as well. I always attributed it to the fact that the Pyro P, with it's faster burn rate, slammed the back of the bullet harder than the slower powder and expanded the bullet lead into the rifling grooves better. But that's just conjecture on my part.

I started out with the lead PBs (no copper cladding). They would lead up a barrel something fierce unless you loaded them with a fair amount Crisco up around the nose of the bullet. The copper clad bullets are not jacketed. The copper is there only to prevent barrel leading. There's not enough there to control expansion.

In my .54 slow twist (1:70) GM barrel, the 295 gr. .54 PB over 90 gr. RS shoots to the exact same zero at 100 yds. as does the .54 PRB over 90 gr. RS. And it does it with equal accuracy. When hunting with this rifle, I always carry a few for quick reloads. But .54 PRB effectiveness being what it is at shorter ranges, I've never needed a PB for a second shot.
Bob

RE: How to use a Powerbelt Bullet Correctly
 

Did some testing yesterday with the deer creek .45 and the 225 grain powerbelts.

70 grain charge, the bullet weight should be 0.5oz, just forgot to put the 5 in there.

After looking at the 100 grain charge bullet today, i noticed the nipple at the base of the bullet was starting to come up through where the hollow point was and pretty much the bullet was turning inside out.

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