By the way, if any of you PB haters have any laying around, send them my way, I will gladly take them off your hands.

I've never shot Powerbelts. I've read the many threads discussing them but have always refrained from commenting on a bullet I have no experience with.

But I can't control myself any longer and so will state my thoughts. They are based on the many pros and cons posted by those with actual experience, and my own logic.

Thought #1 - But for the price, I would not be adverse to using Powerbelts.

Thought #2 - A .50 caliber lead ball (which costs next to nothing compared to Powerbelts) will effectively kill deer with a well placed shot. So there's no reason to think a .50 caliber (non-hollow point) Powerbelt would not be just as effective. If you want to pay a buck a bullet for the loading convenience, that's fine and a personal choice.

Thought #3 - I would not use a hollow point Powerbelt.

Thought #4 - With regard to controlled expansion and penetration, a jacketed pistol bullet is very likely superior to either round balls and/or Powerbelts.

There, I've said it. I feel better now and may be able to go a few more years before feeling the need to participate in another Powerbelt thread.

I finally found the picture of my Barnes bullet pulled from a doe, like I said earlier I could not have split it more evenly by hand if I tried.

PowerBelts will kill deer...I've killed dozens with roundballs which are very inefficient...

But, if I'm going to use an inline, with a scope...I'm not going to use a bullet because it's easy to load and you can load a second shot without cleaning the barrel...

I'm planning to use a bullet that is more aerodynamic and will penetrate and mushroom...That will be a bullet designed to be used for hunting from a pistol, in my case, I prefer .44 and .45 caliber pistol bullets...They are designed to be used at similar velocities as muzzleloaders and when matched with the proper sabot and powder charge they are lethal and accurate...

When I first started shooting a muzzleloader in 2000 I used the Barnes Expander in 250 or 300 gr with Pyrodex pellets. They are very accurate and hold together well. Over the years since I've progressed to using 110 Gr. by volume of BH209 and either Hornady's SST 300gr or Harvester's 300gr PT Gold.. Hunting in S. Texas that load gives me the ability to take the rather ommon longer shot and they have performed well for me. The Barnes Expander or Lehign's new bloodline should provide the better wound channels you are looking for at shorter ranges or when using reduced powder loads. No matter what load you ae using shot placement has far more to do with getting a deer on the ground than its retained energy. Several yerars back I had a nice WT run 125 yds after a well placed shot from a 280. I tried Powerbelts at the range in my Knight Disc Elite and was not impressed with accuracy. Several friens who tried them on deer were not impressed with their performance. All I can say is try them and see.

I shot some whitetails in FL with PowerBelts out of a Rem Model 700ML in .54. It killed those deer just fine, but I recovered every bullet from them. And, these were deer that didn't weigh 150 lbs. I like more penetration than that. I like 2 holes because that lets more blood out and more air in.

So, did the PowerBelts work? Yep. Would I shoot anything bigger with them? Nope. Do I still use them? Nope. To me, they are a "niche" bullet and not an all around hunting bullet. Feel free to disagree if you wish but that was my experience with them.

I use them all the time, drill a hole through them, use them for sinkers on Carolina rigs, someone said they was bullets, but never got good enough accuracy or performance to qualify them as such. try the TC shockwaves or the parker APB's both excellent bullets and I've had them exit every deer I ever shot with them from 40 to my longest kill of 267 yards.
RR

We/I have used nearly 99% of all the bullets listed above. I have as well experienced problems listed with the XTP's. I shoot a knight Disc Extreme 50cal. My brother shoots a T/C. We have came down to the past few years on using the SST's and now this past year and now, we are using the Hornady 225grn FTX, 45 cal. My brother has shot 7 deer with all but one dropping in its tracks, out to distances of 181 yds. The one that moved only went less than 10yds. All had exit wounds of nearly the size of a quarter. I just shot a big bodied buck this past friday AM with my 460 shooting the same projectile. Stood him up like a stallion, head reared back and up as far as it would go to only flip over, no twitch, no kick. I hit him in the brisket as he was facing me at 60yds. Blew a hole the size of your fist out of the brisket and exited just behind the right shoulder. He shoots the same bullet with a black harvester sabot over 110grn T7. He took a 300lb hog last year with it through both gristle plates and exited. And they are $35 for 100!!!

Send me a PM and we can talk. Even though RR has a pretty neat idea though!!!!! They would make pretty Carolina rig sets for catfish!!!!

Use the Powerbelts to weigh down your Lead Sled.