Powerbelt Platinum

[BSK]

Anybody tried the Powerbelt Platinums? They're designed for higher speeds than the copper jacketed bullets, and supposedly have a thicker wall (to slow down expansion at higher speeds). Thoughts from anyone that has used them?

 

[knightrider]

I found them to be to tough and not expanding, if i were to ever shoot powerbelts again it would be the regular over 350 grains, im using the 260 grain harvester pt golds with there crush rib sabots and love them

 

[BSK]

What I'm hoping for is little or no expansion. We've had too much trouble with Powerbelts going to pieces.

 

[Remi]

I found them to be to tough and not expanding, if i were to ever shoot powerbelts again it would be the regular over 350 grains, im using the 260 grain harvester pt golds with there crush rib sabots and love them

I gave up on Powerbelts long ago. If I wanted a full bore conical I'd use the Thor bullets.

I shoot the PT Gold 300's in the crush rib. Fantastic bullets.

 

[Remi]

What I'm hoping for is little or no expansion. We've had too much trouble with Powerbelts going to pieces.

If you want maximum penetration I'd look for the Barnes Originals in 400gr. I've used the 300gr Barnes Originals in the black Harvester Crush rib sabots. I don't see how anything around here could stop a 300, the 400 would only be more.

Here is a link to a 300 test

300 Grain Barnes Original

Scott sent three of these bullet to test. Range was 25 yard. Powder charge was 80g Blackhorn. The bullet went through everything in it's path. It left gaping holes in the back of every jug. The photo shows the back of the last jug. The bullet shredded the back of the phone book...

www.modernmuzzleloader.com

400gr in stock

Barnes 45cal 400gr Original Semi-Spitzer SP #30613

Product Information Caliber: 45cal (45-70) Bullet Diameter: 0.458” Bullet Weight: 400 Grains OAL: 1.253" Bullet Style: Original Semi-Spitzer Spire Point G1 BC: 0.389 Part Number: 30613 Quantity: 50

www.bluecollarreloading.com

 

[BSK]

Call me old school, but I want to shoot a 50-caliber bullet. Don't like the hard loading of a conical, hence Powerbelts (basically, a Minnie Ball with plastic instead of lead skirt). They have been tack-drivers in all our in-lines. Just don't like the explosive expansion.

 

[RockMcL]

Not sure just how fast your sending or just how far/flat you want to top at but I have had great expansion out of the simple sabot & Hornaday xtp 240s or 250s. Again, push them too hard and the sabots start slipping/skipping and accuracy suffers.

I think I have recovered only two of the bullets, both deer quartering away, that ended up fully expanded and intact just under the hide after breaking far side shoulder bone.

I use the bullets in 45 colt loads though so I have a convenience purpose as well.

I never got powerbelts shooting well enough to hunt with but again that was me playing with a few Encode barrels and a big jug of sabots that worked with bullets I had, I probably took the easy road.
All other deer shot were full pass through with impressive wound channel

 

[BSK]

RockMcL, Honestly, I would be happy with no expansion at all. "Back in the old days" we all shot Hawkens using heavy lead conicals. never saw much expansion, but they knocked a 50-caliber hole all the way through, no matter the angle. 50-caliber in, 50-caliber out, and massive blood trails and quick kills. Ever since we switched to in-lines and all the fancy bullets, we've had major problems with bullets expanding too fast or going to pieces, and no exit hole. Have nearly lost several deer because of no exit hole and no blood trail. I could always go back to conicals, but I HATE how hard they are to load, as you have to cut into the rifling at loading. I've really like the Powerbelts because they load easy, are actually 50 caliber instead of 45 in a sabot and are deadly accurate in our guns (multiple shots often punching a single hole at 75 yards). I just wish I could find a Powerbelt that doesn't expand as fast.

And as a reference, we're all shoot either 90 grains of FFFg or 90 grains of 777 with 209 primers. Shooting opportunities on deer beyond 75 yards are rare.

 

[Levee Jumper]

I shot Powerbelts for a couple years and absolutely hated them for the reasons you describe. In the past 10 years about everyone I know has moved to shooting the Hornday SST's. They are Sabots so they load relatively easy and the 50 cals. (0.452) are still 300 grains.

Rarely ever find a piece of a bullet but if you do it is normally fully intact and mushroomed.

 

[BSK]

I shot Powerbelts for a couple years and absolutely hated them for the reasons you describe.

We even moved up to the 348 and 405 grn Powerbelts, and that seemed to solve the problem. We were getting full pass-throughs. But they've stopped making those weights in aerotip. They make them in pure lead, but you can't get the flat-tip pure lead bullets on 348 and 405. They're always sold out. All you can get is hollow point and I certainly don't want more expansion!

 

[Remi]

If you're happy with the 348/405 aerotip then you should like the hp. It's the same bullet, one has a plastic tip and one doesn't.

The aerotip would aid in expansion, it's just a plastic tip inside the hollow point to help them open. If you're happy with the 348 and 405 aerotip then the hollow point should perform similar.

 

[knightrider]

Those 405 hollow points are great inside 100 yards

 

[Polarkraft]

Get barns expanders and thank me latter. I've shot a couple deer with the platinums and man if you don't see them go down good luck. Blood trail is horrible

 

[slabhead]

my son killed one last year with the powerbelt ELR 330 gr aero tip. only deer we've shot with it and it was about 50 yds, bullet went all the way through, deer ran about 30 yds. very pleased with this one.

 

[xatxay]

I use Power Belt Platinum 338 grain. They are accurate and they penetrate through. I'm a huge fan of two holes. No need for expansion at .50 Cal

 

[BSK]

Blood trail is horrible

Why do you think that is?

 

[BSK]

No need for expansion at .50 Cal

I've told people this for years and they think I'm crazy. Back in the day, we shot a ton of deer with 50-cal Maxi-Balls that did not expand at all. 50-caliber in, 50-caliber out. Amazing blood trails and deer never went far. A 50-caliber hole through an animal is a big hole.

 

[BSK]

If you're happy with the 348/405 aerotip then you should like the hp. It's the same bullet, one has a plastic tip and one doesn't.

The aerotip would aid in expansion, it's just a plastic tip inside the hollow point to help them open. If you're happy with the 348 and 405 aerotip then the hollow point should perform similar.

Very interesting information Remi. Thanks.

 

[PWoody]

Killed a bull elk a few years back with a powerbelt platinum (3 platinums actually). Held together fine and did it's job I've used other powerbelts on deer but have had similar experiences to yours with no penetration- wouldn't have considered them for an elk. Would have preferred a Thor bullet (I'm a big Barnes fan) but couldn't get them to shoot as well as the powerbelts.

 

[BSK]

If you're happy with the 348/405 aerotip then you should like the hp. It's the same bullet, one has a plastic tip and one doesn't.

The aerotip would aid in expansion, it's just a plastic tip inside the hollow point to help them open. If you're happy with the 348 and 405 aerotip then the hollow point should perform similar.

Two years ago, I bought a card of the 405 lead Flat Points. Haven't tried them yet because I still had a few of the 405 Aerotips left. But Powerbelt has been "sold out" of the Flat Points for over a year. I think I only have three Aerotips left, so it looks like I'll be trying the lead Flap Points. I hope they group.