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powerbelt bullet

6K views 27 replies 12 participants last post by  hayman 
#1 ·
Just this morning I killed my 3rd deer with a powerbelt bullet. Using 95gr. of Jim Shockey Gold and a 225(223) gr. .45cal., it puts 3 shots just about touching at 50yrds. However, 2 shots were double lung with a quarter sized hole. This one hit just behind the closest shoulder, and pancaked on the opposite shoulder. No blood trail, I'm lucky I saw it go down. By the way, this is THE only bullet that will go down my barrel without a HAMMER. I find it odd that T/C would make a barrel that does not take it's proprietary bullets without gunsmith preparation first. Any T/C reps want to expalin this? I've tried all sabots and bullets available in the MidwayUSA, Cabela, and BassPro catalog, none will go down without a hammer except Powerbelt, and they won't go thru a shoulder at 19yrds. Patched round bullets pattern like a shotgun. I could take the barrel to a gunsmith for firelapping, but my factory instructions did not say to do this in order to shoot proprietary bullets. I have questions, any factory reps got answers? Does anybody else with a T/C G2 .45cal. barrel have this problem?
 
#2 ·
A lot of people have been led to believe that if they bought a T/C they had the best and that is not true. I have two of them both hawkens and they are not that accurate past 50yds and they are not my 100 - 200 yd rifle. I am not surprised that T/C's do not shoot the ball and patch very well, they don't in my two rifles either. This is the very reason I am having a cap-lock rifle made for me. I am tired of spending money on factory stuff that does not meat expectations.
 
#3 ·
I am surprised if you have tried some of the super glide sabots or the MMP HPH-24 sabots as they are really loose..

If I had that rifle and could not get things to load easy, I would be contacting T/C and want them to explain what's going on. I do not have that rifle..

I take it, you went to Shockey powder so that you would not have to swab. And that might be the problem right there... congratulations on the does.. that sounds like a good accurate load you have there. I too would be concerned that you are not getting pass through.
 
#4 ·
I read an article on barrel bore size consistency. Basically most manufactures were oversized by a few thousandths and had some variation. TC's were dead on with little or no variation. This was thought to be a sign of good quality, but obviously it may have some drawbacks as well. It would be interesting to see if your barrel was slightly undersized for some reason.
 
#5 ·
Terry why don't you just firelap it? Doesn't sound like it would hurt anything at this point. Marshall wrote this up in the tech notes, that's what I'd do with a contrary muzzleloader.
 
#7 ·
Well, haven't had a shot over 30yrds. in many years, so, none. Very accurate combo. My beef is it is the only bullet(15 bullets for 20bucks) that will go down my barrel(none made by T/C), and I think the bullet opens up too easy. Double lung with no bones is a fine shot, but a shot that may include large bones I don't think this bullet will do it. Where I hunt, northeast Okla., it is so thick that if a deer runs more than 30yrds. it is out of sight and will require blood trailing. Gotta have 2 big holes!
 
#8 ·
My experience with powerbelts on a shoulder shot at 30 yd was not good: no deer found. Later that evening, shot a doe at 70 yd behind shoulder and she went down quickly, but bullet resembled aluminum foil when it was found and had "planed" back into the paunch, resulting in a broadside gutshot. 295 gr bullet should penetrate straighter and further, with more than 50gr retained weight.
just my $.02

God Bless, Ryan
 
#9 ·
Powerbelts from what I have read preform best with 70-90 grains of powder. You do not want them moving too fast or they will tend to splatter when they hit. I have never shot a deer with them so I can not comment from experience.

If I wanted to plant a deer I shoot them with a large conical. Normally out of my White I shoot a 500 grain pure lead conical on top of 70 gr of 3f powder. When that hits deer, it expands, goes through them, makes a good blood line, and excellent wounds. They tend to just go down if you place it.
 
#10 ·
I am surprised by your results with the Powerbelts. I have had nothing but excellent results from them. I am using .50 cal, so I can't comment on the .45 bullets. I load 100gr pyrodex pellets and have pass-through on both shoulders from the 295gr HPs. This is at ranges from 20 yds to 100 yds. I, knock on wood, have not lost any of the last 20+ deer I have shot with Powerbelts. In fact, I will be using the 270gr Platinum Powerbelts in my .50 Beowulf this year for deer.
 
#11 ·
I'd love to shoot a conical, at least I would feel like a primitive firearms hunter. Not without a hammer to get the bullet down the barrel...Maybe I'm shooting it too fast, I'm getting in the range of 1950-2000fps. I recall shooting powerbelt's at lower grains, but they did not group well until I got to 95grs, and they are Real accurate at that point. I will keep trying new bullets, in the meantime, I'll just take double lung shots and dream of the day a conical or hard-cast .40cal bullet-sabot will go down the barrel.
 
#12 ·
If you could slug your bore and know the bore size... Bull Shop conicals could make conicals that would fit perfect in your bore. I shoot them in my Whites all the time and they shoot real well out of my T/C Black Diamond. I have some .451 conicals in 460 grain that might work for you...
 
#14 ·
I hate to see anyone with a quality of that rifle to firelapp it. The amount of metal you'd have to remove might actually effect the accuracy of the rifle. I would just slug the barrel with an egg sinker, measure the ridges off that and then you'd have a good idea of the diameter of the barrel. You could then get a slip fit conical that might shoot well.

I ordered some .45 caliber Barnes Expanders for my .451 but I have a feeling they might be too tight for your rifle from the way you describe it.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the info on Bull Shop. That is VERY interesting. I think slugging my barrel is in my future. I really enjoy the "one shot only" of primitive firearms. However, with 209's, BP substitute, sabots...I feel like I am getting away from the idea. Shooting a conical would be great.
 
#19 ·
He was shooting 1 pyrodex pellet (50gr), shot was about 50 yds from my treestand to the ground. He hit a little high due to angle and buck fever. It entered just on the edge of the spine and exited down by his shoulder. Oh and these were the aerotips not regular HPs. Thanks for the nice comments.
 
#20 ·
I am also going to recommend a conical bullet. You can get Lee sizer dies for less than 20 dollars. If you don’t have a reloading press to put them in a used press can be found cheep or a new cheep lee press is about 20 bucks.
You can buy any lead conical and size it or you can make your own for very little money. Lee moulds are about 20 bucks, a lead furnace is as cheep as a cast iron pot on a turkey fryer to a Lee melter under 50 dollars.
I make my own 45 bullets. You can use 45 pistol bullet moulds or 45-70 moulds. Since you are going to put them through a sizer you can use about what ever you want. You can also adjust the hardness of the lead. In short if you want the best bullet make it your self. I make 500 S&W bullets that I paper patch and shoot in a 50 cal ML. I make 45-70 bullets to shoot in my 45 and paper patch them. Making your own bullets is rewarding and fun to do. Ron
 
#21 ·
I had LEE MOLD Co. make me a custom mold for my White Ultra Mag. It turns out a .504 diameter 450 grain all lead conical. I also have sizers to bring that down to size so I can shoot in out of Knights, T/C, and some of the other rifles..

I then cast a .457 405 grain (actually 423 grain in pure lead) made to shoot out of a 45/70 Government and I size that down to .451 and shoot them out of my White .451 Model 97 with exceptional accuracy. And that 423 grain bullet really does a number on anything it hits...
 
#23 ·


Starting from left to right...

the first on the left is my custom mold. It throws a .504 diameter 450 grain short mag I call them. I then size them down to what ever I want. The next conicals are made by Bull Shop Conicals. These are .5045 diameter for my Ultra Mag. The second in line is a 460 grains. Next is a 500 grain conical. And last is a 560 grain conical. All of them shoot excellent in my White Rifles... 70 grains of Triple Se7en 3f and those conicals are deer medicine..

I hope this helped..
 
#24 ·
good looking bullets. I really enjoy making my own bullets. I can make them and get as picky as I want. I can make them as perfect as I want to. All I have to do is put in some time. I turn on the old rock and roll radio station and make bullets. I will pour at least 100 bullets sometimes 200 and I might keep 20 or so. Most of the time I weigh them and only keep the one's that are +-.3 of a grain. I also look for only the best looking bullets. Making bullets are fun I think. Ron
 
#26 ·
Fire lapping and slugging...

To find the diameter of your bore, take a ball or lead weight slightly larger then the bore (and I mean slightly) and drive it into the bore to a point you know it is engaging the rifling. Then pull it or in the case of an inline remove the breech plug and drive it back out. Now measure the widest and narrowest part of the marks on the slug with a caliper. This will give you the measurements of the bore. This will help to order slip fit conicals.

Fire Lapping is when you want to smooth a bore out. Fire lapping is a serious thing. Because you are actually taking barrel metal out of the bore. So only do this if there is a problem in the rifle. Some people will fire lapp new rifles. Their rifles.. so knock yourself out. I would rather polish the bore. Jewelry polish, JB Bore Paste, even Comet on a small piece of scotch brite used to be used..

To fire lapp. Take a conical and remove all the lube. Then apply a valve grinding compound on the conical and shoot about ten of them. Then you clean the bore with solvents until spotless. Be careful. Too many of the valve conicals can remove more metal then you want. Remember.. a little is a long way when doing this. I personally do not do this unless the rifle is in bad condition.
 
#27 ·
Power Belts no good.....In my experience they were the worst grouping bullets that i used....Sure that go down easy but you need to think about what kinda pressure your gonna get when the bullet pushes down that easy.I use barnes expander mz's and they shot pretty well and are killers....If that deer doesnt drop there plenty of blood to find it.You may wanna give them a try, yea loading will take a sec longer but when your using barnes you only need one shot...
 
#28 ·
I haven't killed anything with the Expanders but have tested them. Great bullets. Expand beautifully. The Powerbelts are very accurate in my Triumph. Using 80-90 grns T-7 with the 295 and 348 grn Areo's made clovers at 50-100yds. Some groups were one holers. As tight as my .270. Can't drive the PB's too fast, that's why I went to the Expanders(285) and will use them for my elk hunt next year. Unless I find something better, and theres plenty of time to keep testing.

Eddie
 
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