Your Experience with Powerbelt

[Iron Head]

I am curious to know who is using Powerbelt or have used Powerbelt and your experience with these bullets.
The reason I'm asking is because I started out with Powerbelts and still using Powerbelts.
I don't have any bias toward Powerbelts, I just don't have any experience with other bullets.

Thanks in advance.

[tmike]

I was using the 295 grain and they were inconsistent, Really good for 3 or 4 shots then a flyer. that was with 100 grs. of 777. I switched to a 348 and lowered the charge to 90 grains and they seem to group a lot better. That's with a Knight Wolverine.

[marc10000]

I get good results with the 245 grain .50 cal Powerbelt with 85 grains of Triple Seven FFFg in a CVA Optima Pro 28 in barrel 1-28 twist.

[rasbo]

I do well with the 295 grain powerbelt.and 100 grain powder 50 cal

[ThePascoKid]

I've been hunting ML for 5 years now and have shot 4 bucks so far all with 295 gr powerbelt with 130 gr pellets all of them died quickly not needing a second shot.

[wastickslinger]

I shoot the 245 grain powerbelt and 120 grains of 777. Havent had a flyer yet. Seems to shoot a real good group. I did notice that 150 grains of powder created a bit of inconsistancy. I bumpted it down and love it.

Both guns of mine seem to like it:
TC Black Diamond XR-.50
CVA Elkhorn Magnum-.50

[M_ray]

It all depends on what bullet your barrel likes! what works for one persons ML may not work for yours! I have two TC's with identical barrels and I cant shoot the same bullets out of both! which really sucks cause that's why I bought the second one as a backup and now I have to have a completely different set up ready for the backup. Try many bullets and loads and go with the one your barrel likes best NOT the bullet that Joe Blow says is the best for him! 

[Sagedawg]

It all depends on what bullet your barrel likes! what works for one persons ML may not work for yours! I have two TC's with identical barrels and I cant shoot the same bullets out of both! which really sucks cause that's why I bought the second one as a backup and now I have to have a completely different set up ready for the backup. Try many bullets and loads and go with the one your barrel likes best NOT the bullet that Joe Blow says is the best for him! 

 

  Same thing except with Knight Bighorns

Sage

[bobcat]

I've had some experience with powerbelts and in my opinion they are too soft, at least for elk. They also seem to foul the barrel with lead much more so than any other bullet I've tried. A good bullet to try if your barrel is designed to shoot sabots, is the Buffalo Bullet "Special Sabot Bullet" (SSB.) I have had good luck with this bullet in the 375 grain version in my T/C Black Diamond.

[deerslyr]

Ive had really good results shooting 345s with 100 grains of 777 out of my Knight MK85. This year I shot a blacktail with it at 75 yards and absolutly dumped it. Went through both shoulders and was poking out of the skin on the far side. 

[stlhdr1]

No doubt the powerbelts are great bullets.  Absolutely drop blacktails out to 120 yards with them....  I shoot 295 grain from a Knight Bighorn with 150 grains of 777 powder, patterns very well...

Keith

[Iron Head]

I've had some experience with powerbelts and in my opinion they are too soft, at least for elk. They also seem to foul the barrel with lead much more so than any other bullet I've tried. A good bullet to try if your barrel is designed to shoot sabots, is the Buffalo Bullet "Special Sabot Bullet" (SSB.) I have had good luck with this bullet in the 375 grain version in my T/C Black Diamond.

That is so true of them being a little soft.
I use the 348 hollow point lead and they literally explode inside the animals.
Being a non-sabot, I think they designed these lead bullets to be softer so that they expand on the way out of the barrel.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give those a try.

[shag]

Back when they first came out I'm pretty sure they wer called Black Belts.  I ran 295 for deer and elk.  I'm on the boat that now it seems like even the 348gr are to soft.  I switched to Precession Bullets in the Dead center 300grs for two reasons. 

#1- They are desighned for mass penetration!!(not so damn soft)
#2- In my rifle they group much better when I use 777 vs pryodex. 

For a Sabot they actually load well.  I'm done with Power belts.

[shag]

Powerbelt shot great with Pyrodex in my rifle.  If I was to still use them on elk I load up the 405gr.   But I like it faster and flatter.

[edmondshunter]

I had poor results with the 295's. At best 6 inch groups of 5, with 100gr pyrodex pellets.  I think the Buffalo brand of similar weight and pyro work better, 3-4 inch groups. Thats out of my Black Diamond.

[trophyelk6x6]

I have had great luck with them but must admit I have not tried many others. CVA muzz with 100 to 130 (pellets). 

[BENCHLEG]

never shot them. but my theory is if it isnt broke dont fix it. i shoot knight 310 grain sabots with 100 grain pyrodex pellets and have no problems. stick to what works for you. good luck J

[stumprat]

My Knight Bighorn doesn't like them. If they are working for you stay with them.

[Intruder]

Sorry... this is kinda of 

I noticed a lot of you are recommending bullets under 300 grains.  Are these loads primarily for deer?  I'm very green in the ML arena but I've always heard you should shoot BIGGER bullets... especially for elk.

I've had similar questions about powerbelts but specifically for elk hunting.  I do most of my hunting in ID where you cannot shoot sabots or jacketed bullets. Can you smoke pole gurus recommend a load combo for elk out of a Black Diamand... powerbelt or otherwise?

[CP]

This probably deserves its own thread but, looking forward to next year, I expect that we will be allowed to use jacketed bullets.  This is one of the changes that are under consideration and the all lead restriction makes no sense when sabots are allowed as there is no ballistic advantage to be gained with a jacketed bullet.  There is however big gains to be had in terminal performance that will produce cleaner, more humane kills. 

If this change happens, it opens up a whole new world of inexpensive, mass produced bullets that have proven track records.  Top of my list would be the Hornady XTP in .44 caliber, 300 grain JHP (sectional density .232, BC .245) but there are many other fine bullets around as well.  I pick the .44 caliber over the .45 because of the higher SD for a given weight, therefore better penetration. 

This is all theoretical however; I have never shot an elk with a ML.

[CowlitzHntr]

I tried them when I first got my Black Diamond XR. The accuracy was horrible. The best I could do was 4 inch groups but would get a flier once in a while. I killed an elk with one but the bullet split in half after going through the front shoulder. I was fortunate that on of the pieces went through the spine. I now shoot Knight 310 grain sabots with good accuracy.