Powerbelt Performance

[tscott]

This was a 270gr platinum, that I retrieved from the skin of the off shoulder of this year's 10 point. Seems like there is a bit of discussion on Powerbelt accuracy, thought I'd post game performance. I have hunted powerbelt for over 10 years with superb accuracy, and performance!

[luckydawg13]

nice what load did you use Ive been using T/C shock wave 250gr and 3 pellets of pyrodex so far i got 4 deer with this load all have had passthrough one small hole in and out they dint seem to expand that good 2 of those deer i had to track down way to fare last week i picked up a jug of BH209 need to try sum new bullets to i will have to see how the powerbelts shoot

[tscott]

I used 90 gr 777, and Winchester 777 209 primer. As I recall, this is the first bullet that wasn't a complete pass through. I hang and filet on the spot of kill... So this bullet took out ribs on either side, and I couldn't find, until I went to make pepperoni last night! I have not shot a deer with more than 100 gr. 777 or Pyrodex. My first Powerbelts came with a kit gun... So that is what I'm using thes past dozen or so years.
Frankly, I'm stunned with Powerbelt accuracy, and performance, being an old centerfire guy!   

[Vic49]

nice what load did you use Ive been using T/C shock wave 250gr and 3 pellets of pyrodex so far i got 4 deer with this load all have had passthrough one small hole in and out they dint seem to expand that good 2 of those deer i had to track down way to fare last week i picked up a jug of BH209 need to try sum new bullets to i will have to see how the powerbelts shoot

BH209 and Powerbelts are not a good match.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

nice what load did you use Ive been using T/C shock wave 250gr and 3 pellets of pyrodex so far i got 4 deer with this load all have had passthrough one small hole in and out they dint seem to expand that good 2 of those deer i had to track down way to fare last week i picked up a jug of BH209 need to try sum new bullets to i will have to see how the powerbelts shoot

BH209 and Powerbelts are not a good match.

No?

100gr BH209 - 250 Powerbelt Aerolites - CCI 209 Magnum primers @ 100 yards. 3 shot group.

[Vic49]

I stand corrected, was under the opinion that they didn't create a tight enough seal to consistently ignite BH209. Have you killed anything with that load or just punched holes in paper? My experience with PB's was they group well but fragmented on deer.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

People used to say you needed a tight seal to light off blackhorn but thats just not the case. Now if you have a bullet thats so loose that it moves off the powder charge when you point the muzzle at the ground, yes you'll have more problems than just the gun not going off.

24 cans of BH209 through my guns, mainly with powerbelts.

I havent shot the Aerolites into an animal YET, but this bullet was testing by someone on my forum using 110gr blackhorn209,  2 gallons of water and of course wet phone books.

250gr Aerolite  - 240.9 grains recovered weight.

Exit holes,

[BLUESBERRY]

 I tend to agree with VIC,,,,The PB are great for punching holes, but for killing performance, they are on the bottom of my list..  Too many other great bullets out there,,, Cant believe how many people are using them ,,cause they are easy to push down the barrel.

[Vic49]

Really doesn't matter if they are accurate as heck if the perform like crap on a deer and wouldn't even think of using them on Elk. They sure are pretty though. There are a lot of better bullets on the market for way less $$$

[martineta]

I am on my third can of Blackhorn 209 and I like it.  I also use the 245 grain powerbelts for deer hunting.  I have killed 20 or so whitetails with 100 grains of blackhorn using the 245 grain powerbelt hollow points.  So far no crips and the furtherest a deer has run has been 30-40 yards.  All my bullets so far have been pass throughs on deer so I haven't gotten to check out if the bullet expanded or fell apart on impact.  The deer's chest cavities are always a nasty mess noted during field dressing.

 When I first started using Blackhorn, I tried using my old primers that didn't have enough fire.  On the range I had two squib shots.  I checked Blackhorn's website and saw they recommended a hotter primer.  I bought new primers and the problem disappeared.

My average hunting shot is under 50 yards and longest so far is 120 yards.  I sight in for 100 yards.  I get 2 inch or less groups at 100 yards which is fine for what I do.

Good bye rust.
Clean the gun at the end of the season after multiple shots.
Clean up is a breeze.
Loading is a breeze.
Accuracy is good enough for me.
Deer die when you shoot them in the chest.
What's not to like.

[billy_56081]

I have shot one deer with the 290 grain powerbelts. I spine shot the deer then put one into his chest, neither exited the buck. Both held together very well, but I would not use them on larger game.

[Ethan]

I shot a doe last year and the bullet went in a 245 grain bullet and I found it in the off shoulder i put it on the scale and it was 198 grains