NEWBIE POWERBELT QUESTION

[gpscoqn]

Hi

I have read on this forum that either Borebutter or Wonder lube can be used on the base of Powerbelts to help reduce fouling and improve accuracy.

Where exactly does this lube go? and how much do I use?


Thank You

Gary[/b]

[Redhawk1]

I put it on the plastic skirt of the powerbelt. The part that rides on the bore side.   Worked great for me.

[Mark whiz]

You need to lube the post that holds the skirt to the bullet.  Typically I pull and replace the skirt several times to make sure nothng is binding and then I put a dab of bore butter on the post and install the skirt and twist it a couple times to spread the butter around.

I usually also pull & reinstall the skirt on each bullet before I load it to shoot (except when reloading for a 2nd hunting shot).

[Redhawk1]

You need to lube the post that holds the skirt to the bullet.  Typically I pull and replace the skirt several times to make sure nothng is binding and then I put a dab of bore butter on the post and install the skirt and twist it a couple times to spread the butter around.

I usually also pull & reinstall the skirt on each bullet before I load it to shoot (except when reloading for a 2nd hunting shot).

I never heard of that being done.  :?

[Mark whiz]

oh yeah - the lube sure helps to make sure the skirt comes off the bullet after it's fired.  I've had some stick and it absolutely destroys accuracy.

Some powders, 3fg 777 and BlackMag3 specifically, and magnum loads can create enough force to keep the skirts from falling off and the little bit of lube on the posts is good insurance to make sure things separate as they are supposed to.

[Redhawk1]

Mark, so how is the going to help reduce fouling? It will help improve accuracy if the skirt leaves the bullet.  But I have not had an accuracy issue with the power belts.

[Mark whiz]

What I do with the posts won't do a thing to reduce fouling................but it does help insure the skirt falls off, which will have a BIG impact on accuracy if it doesn't fall off.

I'm not convinced putting lube under the cup or on the sides of the skirt will do anything to reduce fouling anyway.  It might splatter the lube around the chamber area some at ignition, which MIGHT help keep the fouling a little softer - but not a true reduction.

I would be leary of lubing the outside of the skirts unless I was gonna be dead still from the time I loaded until the time I fired - gun movement just MIGHT move the bullet off of the powder just a tad.......a VERY bad thing to happen.

Anyway, Powerbelts are not known as a bullet that causes a lot of fouling anyway.  They fit looser than sabots, so they move faster upon ignition - decreasing the temperature & pressure in the chamber area when compared to many of the really tight sabots out there today (a theory born out by my Chronograph results).

[gpscoqn]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your responses. My reseason for asking the original question was based on a minor difficulty of loading the powerbelts past a crud ring. I figured the borebutter would reduce the crud ring and thus make loading easier on the 2nd and 3rd shot. I have no problem if I swab between shots, but I don't think that swabbing is realistic while hunting. In addition, if I put the borebutter on as described by redhawk, the lube should help it go down the barrel. My setup is as follows: 50 cal encore, 2 prodex pellets, powerbelt aerotip 245, winchester 209 primer made for inline muzzleloaders and swab with #13 between shots ,then dry patch.

Thanks Gary

[Keith Lewis]

I don't think you mentioned what rifle you are shooting. I suspect it might be a T/C Omega. I have one and I have only found a couple of powders that will allow a second shot hunting without a swab between. Black Mag'3 is the best, next best is Clean Shot (American Pioneer) and then Goex Pinnacle although my results were not as good as others are reporting. It should be pretty clean as it is an ascorbic based powder like Black Mag'3 and Pioneer. I cannot get a second shot loaded with Pyrodex and 777 is such a heavy ring in my rifle I refuse to shoot it anymore. I had picked up some rumor that American Pioneer was in trouble and might go off the market but since they have joined with Goex making the Pinnacle powder they are probably going to be around for a while. Black Mag'3 is still very slow getting their distribution going. I wish they could get that figured out.

[toytruck]

Gary,
Try some Harvester Sabertooth bullets, 300grain, in your Encore. I get them at midsouth shooters supply.  I also have a .50cal. Encore and killed two deer with them last Nov. and Dec.  
The first deer of the season I missed a large doe(steep uphill shot, off hand) and missed again at another "doe" which actually was a button buck, again off hand.  I reloaded for third time and got a steady rest on a tree and killed him.  All three shots loaded easy in hunting situation and still very accurate. Also left big holes in both deer I killed on both sides.

At end of season with Encore still loaded I decided instead of shooting it to see just how tight the sabertooth was inside the bore. I removed the breechplug and had a time getting the bullet pushed out the breech!  That sabertooth won't move at all, especially after a previous shot.  Next time I will just shoot it out before cleaning.

They are half the price of powerbelts too! I have posted on here before about the sabertooths and recommend them.

[poncaguy]

I can shoot about 5 shots with powerbelts and 2 or 3 777 pellets without having to clean the bore in my Encore .50.........

[Keith Lewis]

I missed the comment about your Encore. There seems to be a wide variation in barrels of the Encore and Omega rifles. Some allow multiple shots with pyrodex and 777 and others like mine absolutely do not allow any second loads except with Black Mag'3. Sure would like to know what the difference is.