Powerbelts?

[grundy53]

This past weekend I shot my new muzzleloader for the first time. I tried 250 grain Hornaday sst's and 245 grain Powerbelts. They both group well but the Powerbelts grouped just a bit better. Since I've never killed anything with a muzzleloader I don't know how these bullets do on game. So I started researching the 2 and in my research they both get good revues. But the Powerbelts seem to have more people saying they shoot well but don't do well on actual game. Like they tend to grenade. So I'm leaning towards using the Hornadays but would like to know what everyones experience has been with them. Or if you feel neither of these bullets are adequate then what would you recommend?

[nailbender]

168yrds one shot down. Did just fine for me. I'll use again

[buckhorn2]

We went to 348 powerbelts and have taken several bulls and a few cows and never had any trouble but a couple buddys had trouble with the 245s thats why we changed. We have only used the lead powerbelts so I don;t know anything about there newer ones. Are you still wearing the hat.

[grundy53]

Thats a dandy bull!

[grundy53]

We went to 348 powerbelts and have taken several bulls and a few cows and never had any trouble but a couple buddys had trouble with the 245s thats why we changed. We have only used the lead powerbelts so I don;t know anything about there newer ones. Are you still wearing the hat.

Thanks maybe I will try some different sized powerbelts. I only wear the hat when I deserve it. 

[grundy53]

I should probably add that I only plan on using the muzzleloader for deer. At least for now. I'm mainly concerned with hitting a buck in the front front shoulder. Will it penetrate enough?

[rasbo]

I use the 295s on deer and they dump them in their tracks,Thats all I have .when I run out of them I will go to the 348s for elk, Buckhorn2 gets the elk with those so  thats good enough for me..But like I said, dump city on the deer...

[bigpaw 77]

I have killed an elk with the 245 grain powerbelts. It worked fine for me, it mushroomed well and I pulled it out in one piece. I also shoot the same for deer and they did a dandy job on a 4x4 mule deer last season.

[carpsniperg2]

The old lead ones were junk and pancaked bad. Now that we can use jacketed/copper bullets, the other ones are pretty decent.

[HntnFsh]

Last year I was moving an elk hide of the road and into the brush so it didnt look so disgusting.Found a Powerbelt that fell out of the hide.The dang thing had actually impacted backwards.The plastic and butt were smashed but the tip was intact.Never seen anything like it or know what could have caused it.

[jbeaumont21]

Last year I was moving an elk hide of the road and into the brush so it didnt look so disgusting.Found a Powerbelt that fell out of the hide.The dang thing had actually impacted backwards.The plastic and butt were smashed but the tip was intact.Never seen anything like it or know what could have caused it.

That's pretty weird!  Maybe someone put it in the wrong way or for some reason the powerbelt tumbled in flight. I have had my gun missfire because the powder got wet and it went off like a roman candle with a soft poof. Who knows?

[Dan-o]

If you're going to shoot smallish bulls like the one nailbender posted, I suppose those bullets would be fine.    If you're after bigger bulls, I'd use a stouter bullet.

Disclaimer:   I was joking.   That bull Nailbender posted is an absolute brute.

[Blsum]

Personally I can't get powerbelt bullets to shoot consistently out of my guns. I know they are a little more money but I love the Barnes tmz bullets. Great performance. Plus I've heard rumor, don't know if its true or not, that the powerbelt bullets are not bore diameter and people have had them come loose from the plastic piece on the back and work there way down and out the end of their barrel. So when they went to shot at an animal they only shot a plastic piece out the end of the barrel. Like I said I don't know if its true or not but it does seam feasible.

 Don't know if you've seen these posts but check them out.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77520.msg952746.html#msg952746

Here's a link I to the post I did with a video of the testing I did with the sst bullets. I didn't make a video of the testing on the Barnes bullets.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,46720.0.html

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

I've used the 295 grain lead power belts since way back when they were called black belts and came in a round tube. Every black tail deer has fallen where it stood, except the ones that went airborne!   Dropped 3 elk on the first shot with the 295 grain One mule deer made it 15 feet. Then I switched to the copper jacketed version. Had almost no expansion on a mule deer- could have almost re-loaded it.  Will be using the old reliable lead version from now on. Always been accurate for me out to 200 yards.

[BLUEBULLS]

Good to hear some good reviews. I was thinking of switching this year because I've blown some powerbelts into pieces on deer. Maybe I'll drop my powder charge because they shoot great and I have a ton of 295's.