Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Picked up some Powerbelts today for the Apex. Bought some 275 HP's and some 195g AT's.
Going to start out with the 275's with 80g pyrodex select and see how those do.

Cant wait to test out those 195's in my sand box and see how they do :D

Remember, the only reason i bought these 195's is to test these out and try to figure out how some guys are using these with 150g pellets :eek:

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

I look forward to the results.

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Success! 80g pyrodex select measured a 1" 3 shot group @71 yards but WAY low! I adjusted and brought it dead center of the bulls eye but 3" to the right, adjusted and hit an inch to the left of the bullseye. Swabbed the barrel and loaded 80g pyrodex P and it shot the same groups.

My rest is giving me trouble and keeps floating around so tomorrow i will find something else to shoot on.

My 2 last shots of the day were with 80g PS and the 275g hp powerbelt. Those 2 shots were touching. I left the scope alone and will set the rifle back up again tomorrow. Only have 5 bullets left in 275g but damn they were shooting good :D

After those 5 are gone, Its time to play with those 195's!


Those 275's were really smacking that log hard. It sounded like someone slapping water when it hit.

No pictures are available. The camera is on its way to the denver airport [:@]

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Excellent results my friend!!:D:D




For my 45cal SS Disc Elite:

The 275's are my minimum starting weight. But have settled for only 60g of Pinnacle 3Fg powder. Like I've said before, produces about 1500fps. Great for 20-120 yards:)

My favorite is still the 45cal 300g Platinum, with 60g Pinnacle= 1450fps
20-120 yards, punches thru even both shoulders, never explodes;)

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Okay i cleaned my rifle and was getting everything ready when it hit me. Very little wind, still warm out, Dammit! But i just cleaned the rifle! Took my 3 powder tubes and a tube of powerbelts and set up the rifle at 58 yards and shot off the log. first 2 shots measured 1" and the 3rd shot i pulled way off. I think i flinched[:'(]

Went and got another tube and a 275g powerbelt, dead center, 3" high. Perfect!

Went back in to clean. Uh oh, 3 coffee cans, a nice warm day, little wind. Lets go test one of those 195g powerbelts out in the sand!

80g Pyrodex Select and that tiny 195g powerbelt did an Excellent job at 58 yards! It mushroomed just like one of my 295 grain powerbelts. The 195's are Aerotips and they did just exactly as the 295 AT's do. They held mass right in the center and formed thin pedals.

It expanded to the size of a nickel.

Going to load up one more shot and test out the 275g with 80g pyrodex select.

I'd easily use the 195g powerbelt for deer, along with 80g pyrodex.

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Okay i throw my hands up on this.

2 shots with the 275g HP powerbelt and 80g pyrodex Select,

First shot i fired into a coffee can filled with packed damp sand. Fire the shot, Blows right through it and leaves a golf ball sized exit hole in the can!

Okay lets try this again but with a little safety. Get another coffee can, fill it the same way, pack it down tight and place it in front of the last coffee can,go back to my 58 yard log rest. BOOM!

Allrighty! That should do it.

Get up there,

SOB! Start a little swearing storm.

It blew through both coffee cans and again, left a friggin golf ball sized exit hole! I did not find any traces of where that bullet went, but it left some major damage to those 2 cans.

After seeing this, I'd easily use up to 90g pyrodex select and possibly 100 grains. I'm going to test that charge out tomorrow but with a BIG box of sand!

Im loosin lead here and that does not make me happy!

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Update,

This morning i found the 275g Powerbelt a few feet behind my sand trap! It mushroomed awesome, held good weight in the center of the bullet. If i was hunting today, I would use them with 100% confidence.

I also used my last two 275 grainers for 71 yard shooting. 80g pyrodex select. I put the 2 bullets right into the same hole. I couldn't tell where the second one hit at first and took a couple minutes to inspect it and i could make out a slight smudge to the right and one to the left. They did awesome.

After that i blasted off the 11 195 grain powerbelts i had left and shot them with 100g pyro select. My first 3 groups were 3" @ 71 yards. Swabbed the bore clean, next 3 shots, another 3" 3 shot group.

Swabbed the bore, dropped charge to 80g pyro select. first 2 shots were under an inch center/center and the 3rd shot went 2" high of the group.

I'll have to start swabbing between shots with the 195's.

Next week i'll pick up 2 or 3 packages of the 275g powerbelts. I really am impressed with the way they shot and what they'll do in my trap.

I'll post pictures of the bullets i recovered, next week.

Time to go clean the rifle.

And again, I hate it when i run out of bullets :(

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

FG, As much testing as you do with the Powerbelts they should add you to their "Field Staff" and supply them to you free or at a reduced cost.......or is there something your not telling us?

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

lol! I wish i were that lucky. I'll have to get Mark at cva on my good side.

I got these at a good price from the small shop that i bought that .69cal pistol at.

$15.94 for the 275g and $14.95 for the 195g Powerbelts.

I have to be careful with this rifle. I think that if i keep shooting it like i am, i might be tempted to sell my GPR and buy the .50 Apex! :D

SS/Laminated t-hole would sure look nice on the wall.

RE: Powerbelts for the Apex
 

Great shooting FG,I love this testing,you are saving me money untill I start working up my own load for the Encore (HELP)
My GM 45cal LRH barell got here today for the Hawken,now I have 50 & 45 for it,some slight adjustments and it fell right in,I like the fiber optic sights.