powerbelt bullets

[shorthair15]

i shot some powerbelts in 295 grain in the lead hollow points at 50 yds and they were more accurate then the dead centers and the barnes tmzs. i figured they would not shoot worth a crap out of my gun. i shot them with 120 grains of pyrodex loose powder and a 100 grains of triple seven. i have heard bad things about shooting them at elk and deer in hunting situations. was wondering if they  are too light for elk. i was going to use them for both next year. i had at a couple shots that were touching close to the bulls eye. i will try them at 100 yds next. just wanted to see what kind of group they would shoot. i have heard about people shooting elk and deer and these bullets not leaving a blood trail and etc.. just looking to see if any one has had sucess with these. im shooting a knight wolverine. thinking about trying the 405 grains for elk in the powerbelts any one tried these with any success.

[buckhorn2]

We have had good luck on elk with the 358 powerbelts. We have the black diamond extra long range for a gun and shoot 150 grain triple seven pellets.

[bobcat]

I think the 295's are on the light side for elk, especially with the way the Powerbelts open up so easily. I'd at least try the 348's and the 405's. You will get quite a bit more recoil with the 405 and it might not be pleasant.     Why not use the copper jacketed Powerbelts? I think they may hold together better than the pure lead ones. That's the bullet I plan on trying as soon as I run out of what I've got on hand now, since all lead bullets are no longer a requirement in this state.

[TheHunt]

348's work great on deer as well.

[carpsniperg2]

thats funny to all his own all the muzzy shootin i do i shot powerbelts until i got the 340 dead centers and they blew the crap out of the powerbelts so i shot them for 4 or 5 years and this year i am shooting the 290 tmzs and they shoot better than my dead centers not by mutch but still better my guns are t/c black diamond xr and a cva elk horn pro mag both 50 cal shooting 125 grains loose pyro rs   thats funny i got just the opposite them you

[bobcat]

Oh yeah, I also meant to say, whatever bullet you end up using for elk, just use it for deer as well. No sense switching bullets around. Go with what is most accurate in your gun.

[mad-bomber]

i use a cva elkhorn and use the 295 platinum coated and have shot 3 deer at over a 100 yds and dropped them in their tracks!

[rasbo]

295 for deer.when the smoke clears the deer have been right there.Haven't used them on elk

[Kowsrule30]

I use the 295 on elk... I've shot 2 cow's... Both 92-108 yds quartering away... Dead in 20 yds.... One spike... Broadside @ 60 yds..... Dead in 20 yrds... And one 6 point thru the front shoulder quartering toward me @ 52 yds... Dead in 80 yds but not one drop of blood... There was no heart left to pump it though....  And all the bullets have been destroyed.... So I think they are a little light for elk... Copper coated would bea lot better as well.... I think I'll be moving up to 348 copper's if I don't have too many 295 left.... 

[gadwall]

thats funny to all his own all the muzzy shootin i do i shot powerbelts until i got the 340 dead centers and they blew the crap out of the powerbelts so i shot them for 4 or 5 years and this year i am shooting the 290 tmzs and they shoot better than my dead centers not by mutch but still better my guns are t/c black diamond xr and a cva elk horn pro mag both 50 cal shooting 125 grains loose pyro rs   thats funny i got just the opposite them you

I did not have good luck accuracy wise with the powerbelts in my elkhorn pro.  A buddy of mine shoots the 295's in his TC black diamond and swears by them.  I think they are a bit light for elk though.  Another friend of mine in Wallla Walla knows of several blue mtns elk hunters who have had to shoot well hit elk multiple times because the 295's opened up too fast, even though they stayed together.  I started shooting the 300 gr. Dead Center Extreme Elite HP this year and they are very accurate in my gun.  The muley got this year was hit at the base of the skull running straight away at 48 yards and went through the head and out under the right eye so no real bullet performance info there.  I shoot 90 grs of loose 777 and a musket cap behind that bullet.

Gadwall

[Joe_Hunter]

shortheair15
 It's sounds like you have found the right Bullet / Powder combination for your gun.
I use 245 GR on deer and it works just fine.
I think as long as you can put them where you need to bullet weight is less of a factor than if you were all over the target.
You should be fine
good luck next year

[top pin1]

75 yards, ran 40 yards and fell over. 100 hornady loose powder and 348 powerbelt. Complete pass through, scrambled the lungs. Read bad stories about these but they shoot awesome out of my Knight.

[gadwall]

75 yards, ran 40 yards and fell over. 100 hornady loose powder and 348 powerbelt. Complete pass through, scrambled the lungs. Read bad stories about these but they shoot awesome out of my Knight.

Awesome!  I am gearing up for a late cow tag in the blues so pics like yours peak my interest.  I think many on here have had more consistent results with the 348's over the 295's for elk, though I have never shot the 348's.  How's the elk steaks??

Gadwall

[markts]

I retrieved my 295 from the elk we got yesterday and it was flat as a pancake. I weighed it on a gram scale I use at work for mixing paint. 19.1 grams unfired 15.5 grams after shootin a bull in the neck. My partners bullet never passed through either. I am switching next year to the 348 if my gun likes them Mark

[top pin1]

Awesome!  I am gearing up for a late cow tag in the blues so pics like yours peak my interest.  I think many on here have had more consistent results with the 348's over the 295's for elk, though I have never shot the 348's.  How's the elk steaks??

Gadwall
[/quote]


After butchering up my cow this weekend it looks likes that bullet went through and shattered the closest shoulder bone and exited out the other side just below opposite shoulder bone, dead centering a rib bone shattering that. It was a steep down hill shot but she was perfectly broadside to me. At 78 yards, I'm pretty happy with that performance. She was a big cow too, definetely full grown.

With open sights i was shooting 6" groups at a 100 yards with them powerbelts. That knight has shot three elk for me so far. All been pass thru's. I prefer hornady sabots but in Idaho they were outlawed 2 years ago. The hornadys were awesome bullets.

BACKSTRAPS STEAK WAS AWESOME TONIGHT!!!!! 

Top

[Dirty Mike]

could never get any power belts to group worth a darn out of my big horn or my black diamond but the dead center 300 grn and the sst 300 grn did awesome 1 inch groups at 100 yards

[huntncoug]

I shoot the PB 348's out of my Black Diamond as well, with 130 grains of pyrodex pellets.  Shot a elk 3 years ago, it was walking right towards me at 50 yards, it dropped.  I found the bullet between the skin and the meat in the ass, a complete pass through.

[Dirty Mike]

ive heard of people bumping their stocks and having the bullet pop off the plastic cap since the bullet isnt bore dia or have a sabot it just slides out the barrel so all you shoot is wad

[WSU]

I shoot the PB 348's out of my Black Diamond as well, with 130 grains of pyrodex pellets.  Shot a elk 3 years ago, it was walking right towards me at 50 yards, it dropped.  I found the bullet between the skin and the meat in the ass, a complete pass through.

Doesn't sound like a complete pass through.  You did find the bullet...

[woodswalker]

ive heard of people bumping their stocks and having the bullet pop off the plastic cap since the bullet isnt bore dia or have a sabot it just slides out the barrel so all you shoot is wad

so dont drop the muzzle.....

[markts]

ive heard of people bumping their stocks and having the bullet pop off the plastic cap since the bullet isnt bore dia or have a sabot it just slides out the barrel so all you shoot is wad

I guess it is possible I carry my gun muzzle down when slung and have been fortunate so far. Mark

[Dirty Mike]

yea it would suck i just dont chance it plus they dont group for me anyways

[Kowsrule30]

ive heard of people bumping their stocks and having the bullet pop off the plastic cap since the bullet isnt bore dia or have a sabot it just slides out the barrel so all you shoot is wad

I guess it is possible I carry my gun muzzle down when slung and have been fortunate so far. Mark

I thought about the cap coming loose at the range when I first got them.... Before I load to hunt I check the cap to make sure it's on good.... I also pack my speed loaders with some patches to prevent noise of course but also to prevent the cap from coming loose... And any caps I'm not comfortable with I put in a pack that is for sight in/plinking only..... But there has only been a few.... I did pop one off one time while speed loading another round when I had just shot a spike and was watching him walk off..... I thought I missed til he laid down....