RE: Powerbelts
 

That is not what I have heard Steve. As I understand it, 100 grains of pyrodex pellets are supposed to equal 100 grains of loose pryodex. That is assuming we are talking 100 grains of VOLUME black powder equivalent in the loose powder. 80 grains of loose pyrodex (by volume) should be less of a charge than 100 grains pellets.

Possibly the confusion is over 777, which is supposed to be 15% more powerful than pyrodex or blackpowder if you are comparing loose to loose. In other words I have been taught:

100 grains pyrodex (volume) loose = 100 grains pyrodex pellets.

100 grains 777 (volume) loose = 115 gr pyrodex loose

However, the 777 pellets are supposed to be less powerful than the loose so:

100 grains 777 pellets = 100 gr pyrodex loose = 100 grains pryodex pellets = 100 grains loose blackpowder.

Back on subject:

FACT: 150 grains of any powder will not get good terminal performance out of powerbelts, so DO NOT use them if you need to use that much powder. Accuracy means nothing if the bullet don't get the job done when it gets there.

Sabots will definately hold up better to faster velocites, so that may be your best choice. However, the two new conicals might deserve a look. Both Hornady's FPB's and the new Thor bullet should hold together better than powerbelts at faster velocities.

You and I may just look at it differently. My muzzy guns are for 150 yards or less. I have other guns if I want to shoot farther. Out to 150 yards, you don't need more speed. For example: I used 90 grains of BH 209 (equivalent to about 105 gr of pyrodex) and the 350 grain Hornady FPB for elk this year. 2 inches high at 100 yards and 5 inches low at 150 yards. That load went through the shoulder blade, broke a rib, took out the top of the heart, broke another rib and lodged under the skin. Elk went 50 yards. Plenty of power and plenty flat shooting for out to 150 yds. Smaller sabots should fly even flatter. And I guarantee you that you can find an accurate load in the 100 grain powder range.

If you want to shoot 150 grains, then do what makes you happy. There are other options though.

RE: Powerbelts
 

My mistake. It is the T7 pellets that are derated.

RE: Powerbelts
 

I tried powerbelts for the first time at the range this weekend. My biggest complaint is that these bullets are advertised as being much easier to load than sabots. They say that you can fire several before having to swab the barrel. I did NOT find this to be the case at all. Even putting a second bullet down an unswabbed barrel took some effort. No way one could get a third in there. In this respect they are NO different than the sabots I have shot. I find there claim on this to be a bunch of bunk!

RE: Powerbelts
 

I believe the bullet package comes with load suggestions and I think ther max is 100grn and to me that is to much.
My gun likes the powerbelts and when i use the proper charge they do great.I hjave a friend with the same gun and his does not like them,Go figure.

I have learned that for me at least.I have no need of a 150 grain charge with any bullet,I have used this charge with the SW 250 per the instructions on my Nikon Omega scope but I backed down to 100grn and also got great preformance.

Maybe it's just me and I am no expert but I think they are trying to sell morepowder by suggesting this charge and the recoil is a factor.You can have a great bullet and great gun but if you cant put it where it needs to be,WHY?

If you choose to try the powerbelts do some testing and back those charges down,I think you will find they work fine.

RE: Powerbelts
 

You can not use standard loads with PB's got to use loads like you would set up for a 12 year old.
Try some sabertooth bullets from Harvester they are very similar except they hold together better, and the new FPB from Hornady is even better. Lee

RE: Powerbelts
 

The MFRslist 150 gr charges so they can call their guns "magnums" and also so they can claim high velocities and energies. If you can claim greater performance than the next guy, you'll sell moreproduct.

The powder companies sure don't mind it either.

RE: Powerbelts
 

Power Belts are in most cases an excellent easy loading bullet, which really enhances their popularity, especially to beginning shooters. Another advantage of the PB's is they do shoot accurately out of most guns, again creating another illusion. Power Belts are essentially nothing more than an elongated round ball - would you shoot a PRB with 150 grains of powder? Would you expect a PRB to perform on big game shot by the average person @ and beyond 150 yards, and even for some beyong a 100 yards?

As most everyone knows PB's are nothing more than a shrunken full bore conical that upon shooting will obturate to the bore. They are constructed of a soft lead as most conicals are and they are available in candy coated copper to help alleviate lead fuling in the bore for the lack of lubrication as a normal full bore lead conical has. BPI/Power Belt has recognized the weakness of the orginal PB's, added a ballistic tip and now have added a platimum coating to help strengthen the bullet.

Power Belts do work on game if shot in a reasonable manner, but I think the biggest failure of a lot of us hunters is to take in account that lead shot fast into a hard object shatters - uness there is enough lead to withstand the hard object. Shooting light weight PB's with a heavy charge to increase velocity will eventually catch up with you. If you choose to shoot them, and 1000's do - then choose a heavier PB and power it for optimal performance - not velocity. The old BP addage of "shoot a bigger bullet or make a big hole"certainly applies when shooting PB's.

I choose not to shoot Pb's because there are such better alternatives, other than fall down easy loading, on the market today. I must admit also when I first started shooting ML's - I to thought the PB as the end all answer for a ML - their performance in the field on animals required me to search for something better. My first move from PB's was to sabots and pistol bullet - once I learned I could load and shoot a sabot nearly as easy and with much more velocity and penetration - the move was easy. Then when Idaho required all lead full bore conicals - I thought I would have to return to PB's... but I instead eprimented with just about every lead conical I could find on the market. I never could find one that I really liked shooting from a 54. Then UC pointed me in the direction of Bull Shop - Dan's bullets are far better than PB's and load as easy as a sabot - shoot accurately and the 400+'s do not blowup - nor do they pancake.... + and for me this is important I can shoot them at greater velocity than a PBof equal weight and they do not come apart.

Just my case against shooting PB's...

RE: Powerbelts
 

I have not used anything other than 225gr powerbelts in my 45cal 700 Remington and they have worked great for me. On most of the closer range shots, the deer went down, dead, right there. Could be more of a shot placement problem.

RE: Powerbelts
 

SL - great post!!


Steve

RE: Powerbelts
 

going to the NRA in a bit with the bro in law to sight in the optima. I am setting him up with 80gr Pyrodex P and the 348gr HP for mule deer. I am going to let him try a few 90gr shots but i have a feeling that he wont feel to comfortable with the recoil.