Powerbelt interest
 

First of all, I am new to this forum and muzzleloading. I have been reading and reading the information on this forum and it seems to be a great place to be. Now my question is, can the powerbelt be accurate in a .50 caliber muzzleloader? I have read a ton of posts saying how bad they are, and a bunch praising them.

This is just my curiosity getting the better of me. I hate the way the T/C shockwaves load. I have some Barnes 250 Gr EZ that I have not tried yet. I like the way the powerbelts load and would like to use them but I am an accuracy nut. By the way, I do not want to shoot over 100 grains of loose powder and I am not interested in pellets. I like the idea of making small changes in the charge to get the perfect load.

Thanks for any input,

Michael

I'm getting about a 2" group @ 100 yards with 295gr hollow point Powerbelts out of my CVA Optima Pro using 100gr (2-50gr pellets) and Winchester 209 primers. Plenty good for me and the many deer it has taken. As you said, some hate em and some love em. I have yet to have a problem recovering a deer that i hit with a Powerbelt. I shoot the same bullet out of my Deerslayer flintlock using 90gr of Jim Shockey's Gold powder. Getting about a 5" group with that combo at 75 yards and open sites.

Michael396

Mike, i would say the question about the use of Power Belts has never been about their accuracy. It is what they do or do not do when they reach a live target.

IMO, they are or have unreliable terminal ballistics.

The other fact is that there a ton of different bullets out there that a far better, even the bad ones are more reliable than the PB's, and much less expensive.

The biggest selling factor for a PB is the ease of loading.

Just one voice in the woods - others really like them.

Powerbelts are generally accurate in most rifles. They were pretty accurate for me, although not as accurate as Shockwaves or SST's. Most complaints have been about their terminal performance on game. To lessen the chance of the bullet blowing up, I would suggest using the 295 grainers or heavier and no more than 80 grains loose powder. Should get the job done.

Thanks for the response. The ease of loading is what I like about them too. I understand what you are saying about the terminal ballistics, and agree that is a good reason not to shoot them at game animals. My son (7 years old) shoots the 223 grain with a 50 grain charge of pyrodex Select out of his CVA Wolf. He is holding a 6-7 inch group at 80 yards with them (field shooting, not bench) and they seem to stay in tact pretty good at his low velocity. I am going to try the shockwave 200 sabot out of it with a 60-70 grain charge. I just hate the way they load, but I can get over it, if the accuracy and terminal ballistics arey where they need to be.

Thanks,

Michael

Thank you sir. This is a little confirmation of what I have found with my son's low charge load. I guess I better stop crying about how hard the Shockwaves are to load.:)

Amen sabotloader, if loading is the issue, just do a bit of searching and you will find a lot of info on better bullets and what sabots to use to make them load easier.to loose is not a good thing, as it hinders accuracy.

Michael396

That may be just a matter of changing sabots to a thinner sabot.

What do you recommend? I have the 200 grain Shockwaves. They came with a blue sabot in the package. Should I buy sabots and bullets in bulk so that I get what I want or just shoot the pre packaged stuff? Also, the bullet does not seat in the bottom of the sabot. Is this a problem?

This is what we are shooting. :)

That is awesome for your boy, my son is also 7 but has not been shooting. I shoot Shockwaves and they load great with an application of a small amount of grease on the sabots. I am looking now for some heavy conicals to try in my 1 in 32" twist gun for use in heavy timber some where in that 525 grain bullet should work. I have heard Powerbelts like less powder charges but they do get the job done. I have wanted to try those Platinum bullets but the prices are so high.

I am using the muzzleloader to hunt deer and coyotes with my son, so I can't imagine that I will ever need a heavy bullet like that. I am kind of recoil sensitive too so no big loads in my future.

My son was born to hunt, that is all he does or wants to do. He started shooting a bow at the old age of 3. He shoots almost daily with a bow or muzzleloader. He is not interested in centerfire rifles or shot guns so much, but he will shoot them if he has the chance. You should get your son out and let him shoot your ML, he may love it.

I hear you I need to get him away from those damn video games and the World Wrestling Entertainmnet.:biggrin:

Here's a link you might want to check out http://www.youtube.com/user/BarnesBu.../5/b-xOHEKLobQ

That link didn't work for me. How can I find it?

Here just Click on it works for me

I recommend trying
http://www.harvestermuzzleloading.co...chk=1&Itemid=3
the 50/40 chrush Rib sabot Harvester has on the page.

seeing how the kids and father all shoot light loads, i'd stick with the soft lead powerbelt.

Try the Harvester crush rib sabot:

http://www.harvestermuzzleloading.co...mart&Itemid=18

Of course you would :D lol!

With 3 people shooting and expensive as PB's are, that would be my last choice!

I think I will try the Barnes that I have and some of the CR 50/40 sabots too. What bullet should I get with those sabots? I don't think I will change my son's set up yet. The 223 grain Powerbelts are working pretty good in his Wolf.


This is a great forum and I thank all of you for your input.

barnes are much cheaper.

My main worry, if you guys are shooting light loads, and using a barnes, i'd be worried about them opening up.

Soft lead = easy expansion.

I am shooting 100 grains of Pyrodex Select FFG, my wife will have around 70-75 grains, and the boy will be shooting 50 grains. I am leaving the Powerbelts in his for now, and will try them in my wife's Accura too. Do you think that will work out alright?

Michael396

Golly! I really really hate it when I have to say something like this...

MD is probably right in this statement. The Power Belt really is nothing more than a bullet shaped patched round ball and shooting that low velocity load - they should work better than a pistol bullet desinged to be shot faster - then add that to the easy loading for your son - Reluctantly I agree with MD.

For youself... I would change from the SW to a 40 cal 180/200 grain bullet. Either the Barnes 195, Lehigh 200, or even the Speer Deep Curl 40/180 grain.

just an opinion....

Where can I get those bullets? I don't have a gun shop around here, just a sporting goods store and they don't stock just the bullets.

online stores like midway, cabela's, gander mtn, ect ect ect. under the reloading section. pistol sections.

Sorry i still can't lol. i would shoot a XTP before PB's,same soft lead, "cheaper" and you can tailor a sabot to fit properly if need be! i don't know how well the boy can shoot but 6-7 " groups may well be the PB! just a observation!

Michael396

I need to amend this list...

I would take the Barnes and the Lehigh off the list - they both need velocity.

So I am back to the Speer 40/180 Deep Curl and adding the Hornady 40/200 grain XTP - probably using the Harvester 5040 CR sabot - Blue Crush rib

Both of these bullets will open very well at lower velocities... the bif difference the Deep Curl is bonded the Hornady is not - but it is still a very good bullet.

Both of these reduce recoil significantly and possibly to the point you might even boost your powder load.... + you get a 100 bullets per box at a really decent price.

What is your current powder load - for yourself?

Yes, I know where you are coming from... but for a 7 year old to be able to load by himself - the Power Belt remains the viable option. Any proper fitting sabot is going to be more difficult than a Power Belt.

KISS - might apply here, he will grow and change in good time...

Here's how i see it, if you have some .250 TEZ barnes bullets and you shoot a T/C and 100 grs powder.that bullet is extremely accurate no question there. if you want softer lead for the wife and the boy due to light powder charges then a XTP is a good choice and costs far less than a power belt.later on you can experiment with the .250 gold dot/deep curl for your T/C in .50 cal or .40 cal and maybe the wifes .and eventually your boys when your able to up his powder load later.and a longer list of quality bullets to try later. my.02.

I agree - powerbelts are for kids:wink:

My son (7 years old) shoots the 223 grain with a 50 grain charge of pyrodex Select out of his CVA Wolf. He is holding a 6-7 inch group at 80 yards with them (field shooting, not bench)

some Grown men cant even do that!

That's cuz there shooting PB's lmao!:poke:

grown man on my forum, new guy with an Accura muzzy loader just posted a group from 100 yards with 150gr pellets and the 245gr Powerbelt. Under an inch. Proud of that one!

I'd second the vote on using the .40 cal 200 grain XTP. This bullet does very well at lower velocities and is very affordable. With 60 - 70 grains of powder it is like shooting a .22-250 and will perform well on deer. You can order them online at Cabelas and several other places.

that's good shooting for sure MD.to bad that bullet would blow up if he hit a deer with it at shorter ranges.

powerbelt
 

in my hawkins T/C.50 cal flintlock the best bullet is the POWERBELT.it loads easy and is very accurate.nice thing about it i dont like a lot of recoil/smoke/noise.
those PB will open on deer at middle of ground velocity.
295 i like but the 348 is good too.245 dont use it.

i use no more than 80 grs of geox 2F or 70grs 3f with a bore button.

if i had in-line i would never use PB .unless you shoot very low charges.most i know want their in-lines at high charge.

IN FLINTLOCK,OPEN SIGHTS,SHOTS UNDER 100 YDS THERE IS NO BETTER BULLET THAN POWERBELT 295/348 AT MEDIUM CHARGE.

Yep! i think that is a given.... Never have said they were not accurate.

Power what? :biggrin:

Loads easy and wont frag. :D