Power belt 295 blow up.

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stringnut

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I have shot 5 deer with power belt 295 over the last couple of years. The first three were bucks that would have been over 150 lbs, but, less than 200. Those three were all broadside fro 50 to 75 yards. Nothing was hit but ribs. Quick kills ,but, the bullet did not pass thru. Found all three under the hide and they weighed around a hundred grs.

The last two were does around 150 lbs or a bit less. The first was at fifty yards and I hit her in the spine right behind the shoulders as that was what I could see. Bullet blew into tiny fragments. Nothing even made it to the hide on the far side. The second was at 80 yards quartering towards me. Put it in to the front of the shoulder. Once again nothing but fragments. A few small pieces made it into one lung. Had the bullet held together that should have got both lungs as well as the shoulder. Should have been a quick kill. As it was she went about 200 yards with thin blood trail.

Anyone else have similar results with power belts? I want something that penetrates better. Not pushing them that hard. 110 grs by volume of blackthorn 209..
 
I have heard similar complaints about powerbelts, although all of my kills have been with round ball which has no such issues. I would change bullets. You could try a cast bullet like a maxi ball. If you are stuck on jacketed, try either the new Hornady bore driver or go with a lead free monolithic. One of my buddies shoots the federal monolithic and the other shoots the powerbelts version. They expand on impact and hold together well.
 
I like 300 gr 45 Cal XTP-HP (not the MAG-XTP) in a sabot. I have shot several larger deer with that bullet from my muzzle loader and have never had them fail to exit including a 200+ lb buck that was quartering towards me. The bullet broke his shoulder and a few ribs going in and exited on the far side just in front of the opposite hip. He still went farther that would have thought possible but the blood trail was easy to follow.
 
You don't say which series of Powerbelts you used. Aerolite Platinum are designed for magnum loads and are what I use, but I'm loading a little light at 120gr.
 
mcb said:
I like 300 gr 45 Cal XTP-HP (not the MAG-XTP) in a sabot. I have shot several larger deer with that bullet from my muzzle loader and have never had them fail to exit including a 200+ lb buck that was quartering towards me. The bullet broke his shoulder and a few ribs going in and exited on the far side just in front of the opposite hip. He still went farther that would have thought possible but the blood trail was easy to follow.
Click to expand...
Had good luck with 240 Hornady Xtp in previous rifle. In 44 mag rifle also. However this rifle hates them. It is a TC a strike and seems to prefer bore diameter bullets. I think I will try the Hornady bore driver. It is constructed similar to a xtp
 
I just want everyone to know the term for 1 female deer or many female deer is doe. Not does. Play the tune on a piano; doe a deer a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun.......................... There has never been a plural of the female deer by just adding an s.
 
I bought these for target play. They shoot as accurate as the the powder belts. They work great for my flintlock and my inline. If i don't get my deer this week. I'll be using them in my flintlock for the late season. Were only allowed bow or flint lock in the late season. But they are a soft lead. I can see them expanding well in a deer.
https://muzzle-loaders.com/collecti...onical-bullet-50-caliber-240-grain-lead-h6617
hornady-pa-conical-bullets-50-cal-240-grain-lead-bullets-h6617_2_1097x700.jpg
 
Don Van Winkle said:
I just want everyone to know the term for 1 female deer or many female deer is doe. Not does. Play the tune on a piano; doe a deer a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun.......................... There has never been a plural of the female deer by just adding an s.
Click to expand...

Ok grammar nazi you are correct. . However most people put an s on it to make it plural when speaking. Doesn’t make it right, but, life is harsh that way.

However , posting something that is not related to the thread , is called hijacking and is considered rude. Just pointing this out in fun. Probably just as your grammar correction was meant.

So do have anything relative to the thread to contribute?
 
I looked up Power Belt 50 295 and they are all copper based.

https://powerbelt.bpishopping.com/

bpi-ac1595cad_n_2.jpg

I am honestly surprised that a 50 caliber, blackpowder rifle, (I assume) is pushing copper bullets fast enough to cause them to fragment. Personally I would use lead round balls.

Don't sweat the spelling, as long as we understand you.

“Mairzy Doats” Lyrics

I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty,
others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:

Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?

If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing “Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy”

Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?


https://allnurseryrhymes.com/mares-eat-oats/
 
Power belts are not copper. It is not thick enough to be called a jacket. The two does I shot this year were the first time I put them into any solid bone. The first three were in the ribs. The bullets hitting bone actually shattered.

Patched round ball wouldn’t work out well. Rifle is twisted 1-28. Would have to drive them awfully slow to keep the patch from stripping in the rifling. Maybe I could patch with Kevlar? Lol.
 
Slamfire said:
I looked up Power Belt 50 295 and they are all copper based.

https://powerbelt.bpishopping.com/

View attachment 1046947

I am honestly surprised that a 50 caliber, blackpowder rifle, (I assume) is pushing copper bullets fast enough to cause them to fragment. Personally I would use lead round balls.

Don't sweat the spelling, as long as we understand you.

“Mairzy Doats” Lyrics

I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty,
others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:

Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?

If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing “Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy”

Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn’t you?


https://allnurseryrhymes.com/mares-eat-oats/
Click to expand...

They look to be copper plated. I'd guess with a fairly hard lead core, hence the tendency to fragment when they hit heavy bone.
 
Don Van Winkle said:
I just want everyone to know the term for 1 female deer or many female deer is doe. Not does. Play the tune on a piano; doe a deer a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun.......................... There has never been a plural of the female deer by just adding an s.
Click to expand...
doe
[ doh ]
See synonyms for doe on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural does, (especially collectively) doe.
the female of the deer, antelope, goat, rabbit, and certain other animals.

And from Miriam-Webster


doe
noun

\ ˈdō \
plural does or doe
Definition of doe
(Entry 1 of 2)

: the adult female of various mammals (such as a deer, rabbit, or kangaroo) of which the male is called buck
 
brewer12345 said:
They look to be copper plated. I'd guess with a fairly hard lead core, hence the tendency to fragment when they hit heavy bone.
Click to expand...

I’m also am thinking the core is fairly hard and with huge hollow point causes the bullet to fragment. Pure lead tends to hang together. At least has with patched round balls. Jacketed bullets have harder cores. This works because the jacket is what limits expansion.
 
Have done a bit of follow up testing. My test media is several inches of magazines. For a bit of extra torture I taped a piece of 7mm laminate flooring to the front.
Shot two 295 grain Powerbelts at the left target and two 300 grain Hornady bore drivers at the right. Powder charge was 110 grains for all four shots.

All four started shedding small fragments of lead almost immediately. The plating for the one Powerbelt was just under the laminate. Measured how deep the max penetration was and collected the fragments at this point. Powerbelts penetrated around 1 7/8 to two inches. Large cluster of fragments from each bullet at this depth. Weighed the remains of each powerbelt bullet and one was approx 90 grains and the other 110 grains. The Bore drivers major fragments were 2 3/4 to three inches in. The remains of them were 120 and 150 grains.

This is not very scientific, but, does seem to indicate better penetration and weight retention. Now to sight in with bore drivers and wait for deer season 93C75E4D-C543-4801-B521-BCA6908733A2.jpeg EA528CD2-BF1C-4630-9F1F-10EC539F5984.jpeg
 
stringnut said:
Have done a bit of follow up testing. My test media is several inches of magazines. For a bit of extra torture I taped a piece of 7mm laminate flooring to the front.
Shot two 295 grain Powerbelts at the left target and two 300 grain Hornady bore drivers at the right. Powder charge was 110 grains for all four shots.

All four started shedding small fragments of lead almost immediately. The plating for the one Powerbelt was just under the laminate. Measured how deep the max penetration was and collected the fragments at this point. Powerbelts penetrated around 1 7/8 to two inches. Large cluster of fragments from each bullet at this depth. Weighed the remains of each powerbelt bullet and one was approx 90 grains and the other 110 grains. The Bore drivers major fragments were 2 3/4 to three inches in. The remains of them were 120 and 150 grains.

This is not very scientific, but, does seem to indicate better penetration and weight retention. Now to sight in with bore drivers and wait for deer seasonView attachment 1088066View attachment 1088062
Click to expand...
Were the magazines wet? I assume from the shallow penetration they were dry.

Not sure I would be happy with that level off fragmentation in my big game bullets.
 
stringnut said:
Quick kills ,but, the bullet did not pass thru. Found all three under the hide
Click to expand...

I've had the same exact experience several times with the 295 grain PB bullets.
I've shot several doeS and a 6 point with them.
I use a pretty light load (80 grains of loose Pyrodex) and have had the same results on deer from 50 yards to about 170 yards. Distance doesn't seem to matter.

I've been wanting one that would penetrate completely, but the PBs are so darn accurate in my Optima Elite.
 
mcb said:
Were the magazines wet? I assume from the shallow penetration they were dry.

Not sure I would be happy with that level off fragmentation in my big game bullets.
Click to expand...

Magazines were dry. Not crazy about the fragmentation, but, pretty harsh bullet test. That laminate flooring is tough. Other bullet testing , with the laminate, seems to show it gives them quite a workout. The bigger pieces , more weight at deepest penetration, and 50% more penetration makes me a lot more confident in the bore drivers.

In the past I have had good luck with Hornady XTP. However this rifle hates them. Have tried several different sabots and the groups run four inches or more. The Powerbelts are around two. The Powerbelts have not punched all the way through on 5 deer in a row. In my experience, if a bullet won’t penetrate all the way through on rib shots , it is really iffy on bone and lengthwise shots. The Powerbelts seem to prove this to be true.Hopefully the Bore drivers will do a better job.

Time will tell. If the Hornady bullet shoots well that is what I am going to run. Sure wouldn’t want to slam either into an elk or bear.
 
I would just use lead either round ball or conicals however could it be that you are pushing the bullet too fast? I know my .454 pistol jacketed hollow points have a upper and lower velocity threshold for effectiveness? And obviously range has an effect on this as well as muzzle velocity.
 
Lead round ball won’t work. Shooting an in line with a 1-28 twist. Can’t imagine any patching material that would hold up unless a powder charge so small was used that velocity would be to low for hunting. Patches stripping is a real thing. Shot tons of round balls when I was a kid. A 50 caliber ball from a 1-66 twist could be used with a higher charge than than 1-48 almost always. 90 grains of powder would shred a patch from a 1-48 twist. Most of the 1-66 , or better yet a 1-72 , did great at that charge.

Cannot find a recommended velocity range for either. However the charge I am using is hardly a magnum one. One of the deer was shot at around 100 yards and the powerbelt still exploded on the shoulder. Having a ballistic coefficient little better than a brick it should have been down to a velocity the bullet could easily tolerate.
 
Just an Idea I don't know all the variables. But if you are getting too much expansion look at a different bullet or how fast the bullet you are using is traveling when it impacts. JMO Just My Opinion.
 
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