Power Belts vs. other loads

[Sabotloader]

I'm not opposed to using a different bullet, what do you think about this one?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Sabots-Bullets%7C/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104547780/Barnes-Spit-Fire-T-EZ8482-Sabots/740899.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsabots-bullets%2F_%2FN-1100204%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104547780

Sorry.... 

Barnes bullets are excellent bullets, although I am not real fond of the pointy style bullets.  Shooting a bullet with ML speeds I much prefer a bullet with more frontal area to increase the felt impact on the animal.  If I were trying to harvest out beyond 200 yards then the pointy style bullet with the higher BC certainly could have an advantage.

I would still suggest that the Bloodline .458x275 is the best all around bullet (deer-elk) out there.  But... in todays world not all rifles can load them - the new CVA's have very tight bores and there are not a lot of options for the sabots you might use.



http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Knight-Rifles-Bloodline-.50-Caliber-Segmenting-Expansion-Muzzleloader-Bullets-20-Pack/productDetail/Bullets-and-Sabots/prod999901366962/cat100013

Just something to think about...

[HoofsandWings]

anyone using the platinum powerbelts? I just got a package of the 300 grain platinums, just curious how they perform on animals

That is all I use and found them to work great.
I tried sabots but could not find one that would fit in my barrel.
My powerbelt worked a little too good in my opinion. Shot a deer in front at 150 yards and bullet travelled all the way to the rear end. What a mess.

[Mongo Hunter]

anyone using the platinum powerbelts? I just got a package of the 300 grain platinums, just curious how they perform on animals

I used the 270gr Power belt platinum's with 150gr of powder for deer in Oklahoma a few years ago. they kill stuff good, I got a couple deer with them. the doe it blew through both sides at about 50 yards, my wife took one at 100 with my gun as well, both dead right there. however the buck I shot was a big boy and I think I hit a rib and the bullet separated and made a bit of a mess inside. but he died in about 50 yards or so down hill. they were also accurate as hell out of my CVA Elkhorn.

[bobcat]

This is the bullet I'll be using for elk this year:

[zike]

I shot a huge cow one year with a 275gr round ball out of a 54 cal TC. It went through both shoulders and stopped under the hide. She went about 50 yards, the ball lost about 1/3 of its size but didn't expand at all. Darn wheel weights are hard.

[HoofsandWings]

Bobcat, does that barnes slide right down the barrel? If so, how do you keep it from falling out?

[bobcat]

Bobcat, does that barnes slide right down the barrel? If so, how do you keep it from falling out?

They have four different sizes:  .500, .501, .502, and .503.

So you use the size that fits snug in your barrel, but that's not so tight that it's hard to load.

You can get a free sample pack so you can figure out the best size for your gun.

[MarkyMark]

I'm going to give these Federal a try this year.



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[MountainDevil54]

This is the bullet I'll be using for elk this year:

And a good one it is! Just remember that you can order the smallest size and size them up very easily yourself 

[The Gobble-stopper]

Barnes TEZ sabot... Put an elk down at 100 yards, didn't wiggle an inch. Pass through, bones bones both sides and sticking out the hide on the other side. I had been previously using the Power belts but couldn't get them to pattern. Also had trouble with them mushrooming too soon. The TEZ's are way easier to load. Pattern excellent and hit hard. At least in my gun. CVA Elkhorn

[MarkyMark]

The Federals I ordered showed up today. I can't wait to go try them. They look like the best of both worlds.


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[erk444]

This is the bullet I'll be using for elk this year:

Hey bobcat, any reason why your using these and not a soboted bullet? I love my TMZs, but these sure look good too. Does it improve accuracy having a full bore bullet?

[bobcat]

This is the bullet I'll be using for elk this year:

Hey bobcat, any reason why your using these and not a soboted bullet? I love my TMZs, but these sure look good too. Does it improve accuracy having a full bore bullet?

No reason other than I've heard great reports on the Thors, and it's also somewhat appealing to me to not use a bullet encased in a piece of plastic. Just seems kind of non-traditional. (As if a 100% copper bullet in an inline muzzleloader is traditional).

[jpharcher]

Hunting CO this year, going to try the new Federal's, should be here next week, interested in how they do.

[Sabotloader]

Hunting CO this year, going to try the new Federal's, should be here next week, interested in how they do.

Not all states consider them a conical because of the plastic sleeve and base.