txhunter58

Shows me several things:

You don't need magnum charges to get great penetration

The bullets probably hold up better at lower charges/less velocity.

For those of us who shoot conicals with open sights only out to about 100 yards, anything above about 100 grains BP equivalent is an overkill that may actually hurt terminal performance.

n5638b

Reading some reviews on powerbelts on Cabelas and others sites, a lot of guys seem to have the powerbelts explode on them, not penetrate etc...all the reviews I read said they loaded up hot, 150 grains either powder or pellets, all the shots on deer. Seems to me that the previous comment is right about pushing them too fast might get some unpleasant results. Thats why I was trying to get some sense of the terminal ballistics on them. Going clear through all that wet, densepaper convinced me. Talked to one guy at a Gander Mountain who hunted ml last year, shot a cow at 70 yds with 295 gr pb & 100 gr pyrodex. He said the shot went through the lungs and blew out the shoulder on the opposite side. He said the exit hole was 6" around. Said he was going to the 245 gr because the 295 caused too much damage!! Of course the elkdid not take a step which is what I'm looking for.

gleason.chapman

Correct, you cannot push them too fast or hit bone, some research I have done:

http://www.the-gleasons.com/powerbelt_page.htm

The Harvester SaberTooth is a better bullet for bone hits and longer range shooting where you need to shoot 150g.

Chap

frontier gander

No i wouldnt say that. Ive shot deer close to 150 yards both times with a load of 120 grains 245 powerbelt, pass thru. Shot one that was standing picture perfect with 150 grains RS loose and a 295 powerbelt. After the smoke cleared that deer was down and slid down the hill a few feet. I honestly cant say what the other people are doing wrong or if anything. All 3 of us that use them over the years have never had this happen.

gleason.chapman

Yes, you know how to use them, since your a life member on this forum. I use to use them for several years first with just 2 pellets where they performed as advertised. I then went the 3 pellet craze, not knowing that this bullet was designed differently.I was pushing them too hard with 150g charges. I was NOT aware that PB had to be slowed down to 1200 to 1400 FPS. So folks that use them should know this and don't hit shoulder or big bones.Chap

frontier gander

Yeah the powerbelt book that comes with the bullets has a recommended powder charge. In my x-150 i know it prefers 120grains loose RS to shoot them the tightest. Also a good load that performs well on deer.

HEAD0001

If you want to figure out the retention it is easy. Just remember there is 7000 grains to the pound. The rest should be easy. Divide 7000 by 16 ounces, and go from there. Tom.

greatplains

Here's my 2 cents on powerbelts. I agree with gleason.chapmans conclusion, if you use them, particularly on elk, go heavy, and I'd go with the flat point versions if you can find them, not hollowpoint.For deer, powerbelts in most cases are probably ok. I have used them for elk and deer hunting for the last 4 years, but will switch this year based on doing more research and personal experience.

My friends and I have harvested several elk with powerbelts, using .50 and .54 cal, 348g bullets or heavier, 100-115 grains of triple 7 or pyrodex. Kills have been good broadside shots at less than 90 yards or less, and a couple of really close range head shots on cow elk. Bullets were not recovered, no complete pass through noted,not even on the head shots (10 and 30 yards)whichis a little surprising. We have been more interested in getting the elk field dressed quickly in the warm temps than looking for bullets. However, 4-5 elk have been shot and lost using powerbelts,we don't know if it was shot placement (the most likely), bullet performance, or a combination.All of these were good broadside shots at90 yards or less, but the elkweren't found.I always have thought it wasprobably just bad shooting, but now I'm leaning more to a combination of not perfect shot placement, and less than perfect bullet performance, as in thepowerpointsare coming apart when contacting bone.There has been little to no blood trail on either the elk we have harvested or theelk that were lost.

I did a poor mans ballistic test last week, compared a .54 cal348 g PB aerotip and a 430 g TC maxiball. Shot both into wet newspaper, with a sheet of 1/2" plywood placed in the stack about 2" from the front to simulate hitting bone. Range was 30 yards, 85 grains of triple 7. Powerbelt penetrated 8.5", the bullet weighed only 211 grains, and had expanded to .75". The maxiball penetrated 18", expanded to .75", and weighed 426 grains.

I'm switching to the maxiball this year, they shoot way more accurately than the powerbelt in my great plains rifle (1-48" twist), 2.5" groups a 100 yards, and if the situationcalls for driving a bullet through a bull elk's shoulder, I think the maxi will stand a better chance of doing it.