Short Yardage Setup
 

Hey guys,

I just got permission to hunt some land that has some awesome creek bottoms. Shots would be well under 50yds. In reading about Powerbelts not doing well at short distances, could I just put one 50gr Pyrodex pellet for shots under 50yds? I'm currently shooting the Hollow point PowerBelts in 225gr.

Thanks.

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

Buy some loose powder. 70gr pyrodex rs would be bad medicine for those deer.

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

You could, but do you think that would give you pass through? I never shot a deer with a powerbelt. If you have good accuracy with 100 grains, I too would suggest going to loose powder or perhaps go to a Hornady XTP or something like that .. if it is legal.

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

Yeah, I have good accuracy with 100gr. I just don't know if it will be okay with that much power at less than 50 yds. If it will, I'll leave it with what I got.

Thanks.

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

Well like you, a 50 yard shot is a long shot. I shoot 70 grains and a large conical bullet like a Bull Shop 460 grain. For years I used to shoot them with roundball. I just never got lucky when I had a powerbelt in the barrel. I have hunted with them and normally loaded 90 grains of loose powder. So I might very well have been over gunned myself.

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

70-80gr RS through the lungs will give you pass through. Not that its needed.

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

If I knew all my shots would be 50 yards or less I'd use nothing but Hornady Great Plains bullets over 70 grains of anything (black, Pyrodex orT7).

RE: Short Yardage Setup
 

ioften hunt squirrels and rabbits with a 240 grain .430 XTP bullet using 70 grains of Pyrodex RS. I do head shots only on small game. Several times i have happened upon a hog while small game hunting: That load drops them like hot rocks at close range. It should work well on deer.