I'm "Outing" Myself: Powerbelts

[MountainDevil54]

poor shooters are the main problem, along with those that use a tiny 245gr powerbelt cuz that be heavier than what i shoot in my 270! And I only use a 140 grain bullet in that thar gun to kill elk. 

[Mongo Hunter]

I use the Power belt Platinum's in my Elkhorn. Kills stuff good and accurately! The CVA's "like" the power belts, never had luck with the sabots in mine.

[Jonathan_S]

""Wait until you miss the sweet spot...that bullet will let you down!""

So what's considered the 'sweet spot'?  I punched through both shoulder blades on a buck last year, 90 yards, and had a great wound channel.

I've had a friend shoot a bear with my setup quartering away at 80 yards, bullet entered far back and ended just inside the skin on the opposite end.  The 348 grn turned into 311 grns and it expanded to a big fat mushroom   

[ing]

I've killed two elk with 290 grain Powerbelts with great results.  Both times the bullet stopped under the hide on the far side.  I've since switched to shooting sabots.  300 grain 44 cal XTP's and 300 grain 45 cal Bloodlines.  After that I started getting complete pass thru's.  I wouldn't hesitate using Powerbelts again if I had to though.

[TommyGun496]

""Wait until you miss the sweet spot...that bullet will let you down!""

So what's considered the 'sweet spot'?  I punched through both shoulder blades on a buck last year, 90 yards, and had a great wound channel.

I've had a friend shoot a bear with my setup quartering away at 80 yards, bullet entered far back and ended just inside the skin on the opposite end.  The 348 grn turned into 311 grns and it expanded to a big fat mushroom   

Had a 340gr hit the rib of an elk and fall apart.  I weighed the bullet afterwards, it was 95grs!  I dont know...maybe I had a defective bullet.

[Sabotloader]

I use the jacketed ones, the lead ones are too soft, I never tightened up my groups with the lead. On the range, the 348 grain HPs behave very well as long as I don't get the barrel too hot, then I get a few fliers.

The jacketed Power Belts are the same bullet as the all lead bullet with a very thin layer of copper plating added to the lead.  In reality a Power Belt is nothing more than an elongated round ball.

As long as you keep the powder load down the Power Belt will usually perform - If they are driven to fast the will pancake or even blow up on contact... They do shoot accurately in most cases.

I would not recommend a Power Belt to any one except maybe a beginner - just because of the ease of loading.

[oneshot12]

  I have been using them in my 54 for a good while  but just like sabot loader has said  they seem to work just fine until you get up to around the 100 gr levels  then they have the tendency to drift and fly some .i do know they are pretty darn good to shoot both the copper jacked 295 and lead  are good to sight in with and the lead 325 will take down pretty much anything you want to shoot at   still i been looking at other options as well and sabot loader had some pretty good ideas to help put me on the right track   

[MountainDevil54]

""Wait until you miss the sweet spot...that bullet will let you down!""

So if you miss the "sweet spot" the blame is on the bullet and not the shooter? What kind of magic bullets are out there that will make up for a poor hit?

[TommyGun496]

""Wait until you miss the sweet spot...that bullet will let you down!""

So if you miss the "sweet spot" the blame is on the bullet and not the shooter? What kind of magic bullets are out there that will make up for a poor hit?

Not everyone shoots perfect all the time.  I didnt say anything about a magic bullet Mr Devil.

[jjhunter]

I use the 295s and 90 grains of triple 7 in my Bighorn.  Groups well.  Taken two shots in the field (98; 117 yards) and they resulted in dead bucks.

Gonna keep using them.

[TommyGun496]

""Wait until you miss the sweet spot...that bullet will let you down!""

So if you miss the "sweet spot" the blame is on the bullet and not the shooter? What kind of magic bullets are out there that will make up for a poor hit?

I can see by your posts on this thread you would blame a poor shot for this bullet not performing.  In my only experience with this bullet,  I put it right behind the shoulder and it hit a rib and fell apart.  That would eliminate YOUR theary of a poor shot

[MountainDevil54]

you did recover the animal right?

[TommyGun496]

you did recover the animal right?

Ya, I put another one in him five minutes later.  When dressing him out, I found my first shot had not even past the rib.  None the less I was a little shocked.  Maybe I was doing something wrong???

[MountainDevil54]

something must have went through the rib to kill him. Maybe died of old age at the right time 

[TommyGun496]

I think he had a heart attack because someone was dumb enough to shoot power belts at him!