Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: grundy53 on July 25, 2011, 01:49:10 PM

Title: Powerbelts?
Post by: grundy53 on July 25, 2011, 01:49:10 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: nailbender on July 25, 2011, 01:55:40 PM: 168yrds one shot down. Did just fine for me. I'll use again
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: buckhorn2 on July 25, 2011, 01:58:26 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: grundy53 on July 25, 2011, 01:59:22 PM: Thats a dandy bull!
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: grundy53 on July 25, 2011, 02:00:29 PM: Quote from: buckhorn2 on July 25, 2011, 01:58:26 PM
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. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: grundy53 on July 25, 2011, 02:04:01 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: rasbo on July 25, 2011, 02:10:49 PM: 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...
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: bigpaw 77 on July 25, 2011, 02:18:33 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on July 25, 2011, 02:44:56 PM: The old lead ones were junk and pancaked bad. Now that we can use jacketed/copper bullets, the other ones are pretty decent.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: HntnFsh on July 25, 2011, 09:52:16 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: jbeaumont21 on July 25, 2011, 10:11:53 PM: Quote from: HntnFsh on July 25, 2011, 09:52:16 PM
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?
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: Dan-o on July 25, 2011, 10:13:41 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: Blsum on July 25, 2011, 11:04:38 PM: 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 (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 (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,46720.0.html)
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: TopOfTheFoodChain on July 26, 2011, 12:59:24 PM: 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! :chuckle: :tup: Dropped 3 elk on the first shot with the 295 grain :tup: 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.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: BLUEBULLS on July 26, 2011, 09:42:56 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: huntnnw on July 27, 2011, 10:03:57 AM: Its a no brainer to me to shoot the jacketed or Barnes bullets now...wont even waste my time with all lead. I tested alot of bullets and one thing lead penetrated a 1/4 of what the Barnes would do, these bullets are devastating. Unless you are hunting Idaho.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: WA hunter14 on July 27, 2011, 10:18:18 AM: why are they here but not there? :dunno:
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: huntnnw on July 27, 2011, 11:00:18 AM: Idaho requires all lead...WA did too until a few years ago
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: Sabotloader on July 27, 2011, 11:00:32 AM: Quote from: grundy53 on July 25, 2011, 01:49:10 PM
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?

Power Belts are the quickest and the easiest way to get started shoooting... but I would not use them for hunting... basically they are an elongated round ball... And that doesn't mean they will not work but at times they certainly will not.

This is the bullet I use - they are awesome. For deer I would suggest the .452-250 grain - the best all-around bullet might be the .458-275 grain, and my elk bullet is a .458-300

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,75690.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,75690.0.html)

My second option would be a Speer GoldDot - Deep Curl, again the 250 for deer and the 300 as an all-around.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77194.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77194.0.html)

OOPS! are you in Idaho? that changes things - I live in Idaho also and during ML season I change to a .503-460 grain Bull Shop...
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on July 27, 2011, 12:28:34 PM: I shoot Powerbelts and love them... They've taken a bunch of game with one shot.... I only had one follow up on a spike last year that took two Powerbelts.... It was a sharp angle and I only got one lung.... My fault... The bullet did perfect.... Every deer I've shot with them has dropped in their tracks.... That's from 150-6 yard shots..... I shoot the 295 Copper Areotip for deer and elk.... But I would highly recommend going with the 348 grain Copper Areotip for elk... I'm moving up next year when I'm out of my 295.....
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: dupedc on July 29, 2011, 06:24:26 AM: This was dropped with a .54cal 348gr copper aero tip Powerbelt. Worked just fine...having said that, I have switched to the Barnes bullet for this year. I just think it will be a more stable bullet.
[smg id=10643]
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on July 29, 2011, 02:26:51 PM: Quote from: dupedc on July 29, 2011, 06:24:26 AM

This was dropped with a .54cal 348gr copper aero tip Powerbelt. Worked just fine...having said that, I have switched to the Barnes bullet for this year. I just think it will be a more stable bullet.
[smg id=10643]

With the shot that you put on that buck. I bet a rock would have dropped him :chuckle:
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: dupedc on August 01, 2011, 06:42:43 AM: That's about right! I guess it's true about shot placement.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: PNWsportsman on August 15, 2011, 08:43:42 PM: I have always been pleased with powerbelts. I enjoy the accuracy and ease of use especially. I am interested in shooting the jacketed powerbelts as I have always been impressed with the lead bullets and sounds like the jacketed powerbelts perform even better.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: huntnnw on August 15, 2011, 09:25:44 PM: shoot a bull elk in the shoulder with a lead bullet...goodbye.. hit it with a Barnes or similar bullet dead
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: ribka on August 15, 2011, 09:29:29 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on August 15, 2011, 09:25:44 PM
shoot a bull elk in the shoulder with a lead bullet...goodbye.. hit it with a Barnes or similar bullet dead

Fine for deer. Shoot accurately enough. For me elk no.
I shot a big cow elk two years ago 3 times behind shoulder with power belts. 2 of 3 just mushroomed on the shoulder bone when I butchered her.The 3 rd( first shot) just nicked shoulder and hit lungs. She went about a 1/2 mile tracking her.
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: huntnnw on August 15, 2011, 10:14:24 PM: exactly why I dont mess with solid lead anymore..far better bullets on the market and legal in this state.. I watch my dad shoot a spike bull quartering at him at 10 yards! with a great plains 395gr bullet..almost dropped the bull... it staggered around..we thought it was all done.. trying to get muzzy re loaded as the bull got over the hill...needless to say the front shoulder was broken and we saw this bull 8 hrs later gimping thru timber..never found it :bash:
Title: Re: Powerbelts?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on August 16, 2011, 10:03:40 PM: I tried them once, and they grouped well in testing, but they didn't seal well in the barrel in hunting, and the powder got damp. I'm going to try some full sabot pills this year, and if my gun groups well with them I'll hunt with them.