Powerbelt Questions

Salmon · Dec 7, 2017

Have heard good and bad about them but was wondering what bullet you would use for elk/deer? Will be using loose powder triple seven. Also have heard not to much more than 100 gr of powder? Anyone willing to share any info or ideas?

orion23 · Dec 7, 2017

i get great groups with mine. id recommend them.

Travis
www.SkullHanger.com

txhunter58 · Dec 7, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-07-17 AT 02:51PM (MST)[p]Shooting good groups is only 1/2 of the equation. I shoot Hornady FPBs in 350 gr and have killed 4 elk with them and have been very pleased with them. They come in 300 grain also that would be good for deer as well. That said, if you own a CVA, the barrel may be too small for those bullets. They are a lead alloy, so are tougher than powerbelts. What gun are you shooting? Some CVA barrels are too small for these bullets.

Read this thread: www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID14/3298.html

There are better, tougher bullets out there than powerbelts, especially for elk.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Salmon · Dec 7, 2017

It is a CVA Accura V2. My son bought it and wants to use powerbelts. Trying to get him to try them but will see.

Salmon · Dec 7, 2017

Meant to sat that I have other bullets but he wants to use powerbelts.

two7D · Dec 7, 2017

try the 300 or 338 grain platinums

elktaker · Dec 8, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-08-17 AT 06:09PM (MST)[p]What state? I would say Barnes, Parker, Pittman, bombs. Maybe noslers (would choose Barnes over them).

That is if you can shoot a 45 cal bullet.

elkassassin · Dec 8, 2017

You Don't just Shoot what you want!

Find out what the Gun Wants/likes!

"I Want to kill a 30" Buck next year"!

But it probably won't happen!

She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!

Cow Tag · Dec 9, 2017

I have a .50 caliber Accura V2 and the Hornady bullets Texas Hunter uses will not go down the tube in my weapon. I use the Federal 270 grain conical bullet and I get along real good when teamed with Black Horn powder and CCI hot 209 primers.

BeanMan · Dec 10, 2017

You can play around with bullets and find out what your rifle likes. I will say, ditch the triple seven for Blackhorn 209. You will be happy you did.

Salmon · Dec 10, 2017

Thanks for all relies, here in Wa we cannot use 209 primers. Just musket or #11 primers. have not heard of anyone about powerbelt bullets.

GoexBlackhorn · Dec 13, 2017

Platinums are the best Powerbelt for elk. The 300+ grain varieties.

For deer, the copper-clad HPs work fine. I prefer the 295 grains first - then 245s.

Not a fan of Powerbelts with ballistic tips or their lead versions. I never push the Powerbelts either. Generally stick around 80-85 grains (volume measurements).

Mallards_Only · Dec 14, 2017

I've only killed one elk with PB's and it's the last one I will kill with PB's. Don't have any experience with the Platinum, Copper, or Aerolites--only the all-lead as that's what's required in ID. Was not impressed with the performance. Shot my bull at 100 yds. Thought I missed as he didn't even flinch. When I checked for blood and started tracking, he went a long-ass ways on a good hit in the vitals. Ended up down in a canyon in nasty dark timber and because it was a ##### of a pack-out, I boned him and dressed him gutless so I never found the bullet to know what it did or where it ended up. Based on the entrance location though, it should have put him down better than that. This fits with what many others have experienced with PB's too. Wish they had better terminal performance as I got great groups with them.

Deepcolor · Dec 16, 2017

Take a look at the Hornady Great Plains bullet for Idaho hunting. 385 gr bullet that will smash deer and elk. My Remington shoots them very well with Triple 7 powder.(100 grains by volume)

Power Belts are very accurate in my gun but they seem fragile on impact with the couple deer I shot.

Tikka · Dec 19, 2017

PB's = Garbage on game

I really like Barnes out of mine for the last 25yrs. anything from moose to deer they have performed flawlessly...

FrontierGander · Dec 19, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-19-17 AT 11:41AM (MST)[p]If you think powerbelts are bad on game, dont use that hollow point 385gr great plains bullet.

100gr BH209. 300gr Powerbelt aerolite,

Its all about shot placement and many fail this task every year and can not man up and say... I made a shitty shot...

Got one fellow on another forum throwing a fit because he shot a deer at a poor angle, hit the back of ONE lung, then it went into the stomach. Hes throwing a fit because there was no blood or very little and the deer went 100 yards. Geee, you made a poor hit, barely hit a lung, and then the stomach exploded. Do you really wonder why there was no blood?

For deer, i like the 250-300gr Aerolits and 80-100gr Blackhorn209.

Elk - 300gr Aerolite or the 338gr Platinum, 348gr Flat Point or even the bigger 405 - 444 powerbelts.

Elk are big critters, you dont go around chasing them with high velocity loads, shooting light weight, pure lead, hollow point conicals and expect great results.

Hunt with patched round balls and it will teach you to slow down and learn to enjoy the hunt and stop taking piss poor shots.

Exit WOUNDS from a 300gr Powerbelt Aerolite with 100gr BH209. The other smaller holes are from the ribs exploding

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Deepcolor · Dec 19, 2017

^^^^^
Pretty aggressive there tiger.

FrontierGander · Dec 19, 2017

>^^^^^
>Pretty aggressive there tiger.

you get that way answering the same argument thats gone on for years. Its not hard to understand bullets. Soft lead with a large hollow point = keep velocity low. Counter it with a heavier bullet.

I use patched balls myself now days, but still like to help others with conical questions. Lord knows i've shot a ton of powerbelts over the years.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Tikka · Dec 19, 2017

PB?s = garbage

FrontierGander · Dec 19, 2017

>PB?s = garbage

That's your opinion. I would use them again if I ever went back to spending $$ on bullets.

For now, I will use those inexpensive round balls that everyone says can not kill game. They are worse than powerbelts!

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Deepcolor · Dec 19, 2017

So you spend money on tags, binos, boots, pack, knives, gun, powder, gas, and a whole list of other "essential" stuff and then want to skimp on the only thing that will actually "touch" the animal you are trying to kill? Because you are done spending $$ on bullets? Probably the dumbest ##### I have ever heard!

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos_2017/54451image.jpeg

3 junky Great Plains bullets recovered from very dead elk and a Powerbelt recovered from a very dead deer. Left to right.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos_2017/99794image.jpeg

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos_2017/91144image.jpeg

Shoot what your guns likes and go make some smoke!

FrontierGander · Dec 19, 2017

The 385gr great plains bullet i recovered from a deer was the size of a silver dollar and about as thick as a penny. I got rid of them that year and went back to powerbelts.

They stopping making the better great plains bullet, That was the 410gr FLAT POINT. Soft lead doesnt need a HP to expand.

I'll stick with patched round balls for quite a while I believe.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Deepcolor · Dec 19, 2017

Yup, they look pretty junky! Double diameter and fully intact sitting under the far side hide. Keep preaching brotha.

FrontierGander · Dec 19, 2017

Your results are a lot better than I got with them, thats for sure. I personally have stopped using them. They were my go to bullet for a new at that time, winchester x150. They failed me and I stopped using them, that simple. Pretty sad when you shoot at deer at 20-25 yards and it stops inside the opposite shoulder blade.

Those lil round balls shoot good in my rifles, so thats what i use. Even shot clear through this elk back in September!

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com