Power belt 295 blow up.

[Hugger-4641]

I'm less concerned with penetration than expansion. This cull buck I took last year didn’t care that the 250gr power belt didn’t quite exit, but lodged under skin on the far side, or at least what was left of it did. 110gr of RS from CVA Wolf

 

[stringnut]

This is drifting a bit from my original post. The big issue is the Powerbelts completely disintegrated when striking bone. The one striking the shoulder only had a couple of tiny holes in the impact side lung and they weren’t through both sides. This resulted in a huge surface wound and little damage to the lung. Split the lung and there was very little blood in it.

If the bullet does not exit, but, makes it through the chest cavity you are good to go. Have found several bullets in the 240 gr range , 44 or 45 caliber, from muzzleloaders and rifles under the hide on the off side. The ones that hit heavy bone still penetrated vital organs. The Powerbelt in question did not penetrate vital organs in any significant way.

 

[LoonWulf]

Not super helpful.....but have you tried .458 dia bullets in thinner sabots? The 10ml2 i just got dosent like 240gr 452s but does quite well with 325gr .458s

 

[LaneP]

Agree with @damoc, I would try a traditional design conical like a maxi ball and test it in the same medium side by side. I am far from the expert on that subject but I would expect a pure lead maxi to punch mostly if not all the way through, a deer from any reasonable angle.

 

[noelf2]

I have never used powerbelts of any sort, so I have no relevant response, but I do use Hornady SST sabot slugs and T/C Shockwaves. They have never failed to pass through with 100 GR T7, and every deer was DRT.

 

[hawg]

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.

Maybe in some rifles. I used a 90 grain charge with a PRB out of a .50 Investarms Hawken with a 1:48 twist for many years. I used pillow ticking for patches. I never found a shredded one. Frayed around the edges yes but I get the same fraying from my .54 with a 90 grain charge with a 1:66 twist.

 

[Hugger-4641]

The Powerbelt in question did not penetrate vital organs in any significant way.

Ok, well the spine shot you describe is not unusual, I've had rifle bullets do the same. The front shoulder shot you describe would be a little more concerning, but a 200yd trail is not unheard of. Did the deer die there or require a finish shot?

I know that I'm pushing the 250gr about 1800fps using 110gr of RS or Blackhorn. So I'm guessing your 295's are probably down around 1600. I agree that up close, they should penetrate more.
I've also got some Bore Drivers and ELR's I'm gonna try this year. Keep us posted how they do, as will I.

 

[AJumbo]

I used a Hornady Great Plains (I think that's the name) on my last elk, and two deer before that. All three bullets sailed through bone and meat and may still be going, for all I know.

We all love expansion. More expansion is never bad. How much of it do need, however, when your bullet is starting out at a .45 diameter or larger to begin with?

 

[stringnut]

Not super helpful.....but have you tried .458 dia bullets in thinner sabots? The 10ml2 i just got dosent like 240gr 452s but does quite well with 325gr .458s

May be more helpful than you know. My brother has been having good luck with thinner sabots and larger bullets. He won’t give any up for me to try! Attempting to not buy a bunch of components that don’t work.

Ok, well the spine shot you describe is not unusual, I've had rifle bullets do the same. The front shoulder shot you describe would be a little more concerning, but a 200yd trail is not unheard of. Did the deer die there or require a finish shot?

Deer was dead , but, I dressed the other one and then spent an hour tracking. Have killed probably 12 to 15 with assorted 240 to 250 grain sabot bullets from the muzzleloader and 240 Xtp, from the 44 mag rifle. No matter what kind of bone was hit the bullet always made it into the chest cavity. Very small amount of blood in the chest cavity when dressed the deer. Split the impact side lung and there was 2 or 3 small damaged areas on one side. Have also had bullets come completely unwrapped when hitting the spine. We used to use Speer 150 gr 308 boat tails at 2800. Called them the super exploders!

I know that I'm pushing the 250gr about 1800fps using 110gr of RS or Blackhorn. So I'm guessing your 295's are probably down around 1600. I agree that up close, they should penetrate more.
I've also got some Bore Drivers and ELR's I'm gonna try this year. Keep us posted how they do, as will I.

With the extra inch of penetration the bore drivers give I think they will be ok on deer. Slamming a slug into a piece of laminate flooring and then dry magazines is pretty tough on them. When I get some time, and another stack of magazines, I am going to try a 240 gr Hornady Xtp out my 44 mag Ruger Number 1. Pushing them about 1750 over the chronograph. Going to try the wife’s 357 Marlin also. 158 Xtp at 1900.

 

[LoonWulf]

May be more helpful than you know. My brother has been having good luck with thinner sabots and larger bullets. He won’t give any up for me to try! Attempting to not buy a bunch of components that don’t work.

With the extra inch of penetration the bore drivers give I think they will be ok on deer. Slamming a slug into a piece of laminate flooring and then dry magazines is pretty tough on them. When I get some time, and another stack of magazines, I am going to try a 240 gr Hornady Xtp out my 44 mag Ruger Number 1. Pushing them about 1750 over the chronograph. Going to try the wife’s 357 Marlin also. 158 Xtp at 1900.

If you'd like to try some of them, PM me and mailing address and I'll send you a handful of mine.......I....MAY have gone a little overboard on ordering components, So I've got plenty to share.

 

[I like star wars]

I have the CVA stag horn magnum with the 1/32 twist and it shoots the 295 grn. power belts with excellent accuracy that and 2- 50grn. 50 cal. pellets . its the only muzzle loader I hunted with 21 years

 

[paul harm]

My 54 Bill Large barrel with .015 deep rifling will handle over a 100grs of BP with a patched RB. His barrels were all 1 in 48 twist. One year when shooting the Silhouette match at Friendship, because the distances were greater than anything I ever shot, I ask Bill what load to use. He ask me what I was using now and I said 90grs of 2F. He said just go to 120grs and use the same sight picture for the 150, 175, and 200 yard targets. I tied for first place.
So maybe not for a 1 in 28 twist, but a 1 in 48 will work with increased loads if the rifling is deep enough.