5pointCal

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.

FG

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

cayugad

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.

5pointCal

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.

cayugad

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.

FG

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

Semisane

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).

falcon

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.