MZ bullets?

[Boll Weevil]

I've shot Powerbelt Platinum for years and while I've never lost a deer with them, have never dropped one on the spot either. They always run. Accurate out of my Traditions, good blood but rarely exit/pass thru, short track job...go get the ATV.

I've heard mixed results though about expansion and solid blood trails. What has been your experience, and are there another bullets I should consider?

 

[Ladys man]

I use 245 grain hp powerbelts out of my cva wolf never had go more than 15 yds

 

[Deer Assassin]

i am no expert

here is the low down on the fpb


back in 08 105 loose 777 chronoed 1650 ish fps



deer one

10 point field dressd 177 lbs pass thru

shot 40 yds 1/4 too shot ran 30 yds hit the ground cough spit blood got up walked 20 yds single lung

deer 2

8 point dressed 175

shot 10 yds broadside pass thru

ran about 100 yds but left a blood trail ray charles could follow

deer 3 11 pt


shot 45 yds broad side pass thru

dressed 177 lbs
ran about 50 ish blood trail was awesome

deer 4 80 lb dressed spike(nubbn Buck) 54 yds

double shoulder punch ran no where




last year


i did 105 loose different ml with the 300 fpb

prolly about 1800 fps might be a lil less

killed a spike at 10 yds ran 30 dead

also shot a wild dog med size mix at 50 yds

devistation but he hollered for about 30 sec but never took a step



please note body weight on the 3 bucks was over 220 live weight each




also recommend

405 lead hp powerbelt
465 no excuses conical
300 PR dead ctr bullet
250 hndy sst and reg ml speeds and over 2600 fps smokeless
300 sst reg ml speeds and almost 2400 smokeless

 

[Mike Belt]

I shot PBs for several years and killed quite a few deer. In most cases I didn't get pass throughs and sometimes sparse to no blood trails but I always killed my deer. They were also very accurate in my rifle. I switched over to Barnes bullets. They aren't quite as accurate but I get pass throughs and blood trails. They put the hurt on a deer. Although I killed and recovered my PB deer the chance was there that one might run farther and die without leaving a blood trail and I'd lose him. I didn't want to chance it any more.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Deer Assassin...thank you sir. That's just what I'm looking for. They all run on me; they're all dead but they all run. Maybe that's par for the course. Ain't complaining just looking to see what others are seeing.

Very fine deer, sir. Thanks much for the insight and additional recommendations.

BW

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I had TERRIBLE results with powerbelts, both at the range and with deer. Terrible groups are all I have ever seen with them (in my gun and others). I tried a bunch before landing on Barnes 245 grain spitfire boattail bullets. 1 1/2" groups at 100, 4" groups at 200" with 78 weighed grains (shows 105 on a volume measurer) of 777. They are devistating on contact too.

 

[turf08]

IMO there is only one mz bullet to shoot.
100gr loose Blackhorn209
Barnes 300gr. Expander-MZ
And use a hot shotshell primer, CCI 209m, Federal 209a

 

[Deer Assassin]

Deer Assassin...thank you sir. That's just what I'm looking for. They all run on me; they're all dead but they all run. Maybe that's par for the course. Ain't complaining just looking to see what others are seeing.

Very fine deer, sir. Thanks much for the insight and additional recommendations.

BW

what mike belt said about powerbelts i agree 100 % with the exception of the 405 lead hp

bsk will agree how ever he uses 405 copper aero tip power belt motor oil is motor oil

i have killed several with 245 and 295 no way in heck i will go to the woods with them

all the bullets i mentioned i have killed with and was tickled with performance all pass through

i forgot to add barnes expanders 300 gn hp very accurate but like this in the smokless at 2396 fps deadly in a reg ml at normal speed i have only killed one dropped in tracks no pass through

all of the kills with those bullets listed above was with loose 777 from 80 to 110 grains i like loose powder to tailor accuracy and speed

 

[Ladys man]

On my post I should of been more specific none of my deer were over 135lbs idk if that matters or not but it has a lil something to do with it in my mind.

 

[TN Larry]

I will second the fpb bullets. They are good bullets.

 

[Boll Weevil]

One thing I'm piecing together from these responses; maybe I am pushing them a little too fast? 270gr, AeroTip, 150gr of Triple Seven. Pellets vs loose powder. Maybe the bullet is going to pieces...no pass thru.

Like I said, the gun just absolutely loves the combo when it comes to accuracy and I have quite a few stands where I can shoot a fur'piece. I ain't too proud to try something else if it kills more reliably and can still hold a solid, repeatable group at moderate distances.

 

[BuckHunter511]

Barnes bullets with two pellets of 777.

 

[TheLBLman]

I shot PBs for several years and killed quite a few deer. . . . . I switched over to Barnes bullets.

x 2

Most muzzleloaders I've tried would get decent accuracy with PBs. I just prefer a little flatter trajectory and the Barnes bullets. This year, I'm using the Barnes Spit-Fire 290gr T-EX with the Barnes supplied blue sabots in everything, as this particular Barnes has been the best-grouping bullet ever for my Savage smokeless.

 

[Nealmeally]

245gr AeroTip PB.. With 100gr pellets.. Never had a problem with em and I'm very confident at 175 yards. And have hit good at 200 on targets. A lot of drop though to be shooting a deer that far. Bottom really falls out at past 150..

 

[travle]

I shoot the 295 grain powerbelt hp out of my cva buckhorn. At 100 yards I can group 3 pretty close without cleaning between shots. Never failed to get pass through or blood trail. The majority I have shot have dropped where they stood.

 

[deerhunter10]

I like the sst's switched about3 years ago you don't regret switching IMO. But I've only heard of very few deer being dropped with a ml but I never got a pass through with a pb. I have never not gotten one with a sst

 

[rem270]

Never had luck with powerbelts.

Hornady SST's or TC Shockwaves for me from now on.

 

[mike243]

when you push them fast with max loads they wont pass thru most of the time with standard pb,i have never lost 1 and 50y is the average run. had many drt and a full 1/2" hole lets blood out really well unless the shot is high and then no other bullet will either, gut shots tend to get plugged up also and a pass thru might help let blood out better with 2 holes

 

[wsm]

100 grains of BH209 and 250 hornady sst out of my cva optima, deadly.

 

[MUP]

My old stand by for years was a 260 gr lead conical, and used 90 gr Pyro. It worked fine shooting 100 yds or less.