Powerbelts?

[Tarheel]

Does anybody have any info about powerbelts. Will they work with smokeless powder?

[mshm99]

The power belts I have seen are just copper washed lead bullets. A friend ,who shot them out of his T/C Encore bragged about how good they were. I politely disagreed and suggested I could prove it with one shot. I set up some bone in front of wet news paper and invited him to shoot the bone. He did and the bullet failed miserably.

Unless they have changed the way they make bullets,I can't see how pushing it 450 fps faster than the T/C would make the bullet any better.

I would think there are better things to spend your money on.

Just my opinion.

mshm

[savedbyjc7]

SOME SUCCESS WITH A SUB BASE UNDER THE BULLET HAS BEEN USED. I HAVE NEVER SHOT THEM IN MY SAVAGE, AND WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT. MISFIRES/POOR BULLET PERFORMANCE AND I'M CERTAIN OTHERS WILL CHIME IN TO REPORT.

[hunter]

I tried them in my old rem. 700ml 4-5 years ago and they would not group under 3" at 50 yards using 100 gr. of pyrodex and my usuall groups were in the 1" range.

[blackhawk7204]

All 3 of my Rem 700ML will shoot a 295gr powerbelt under 1" at 100yds with loose pyrodex. Every deer shot with them was either a DRT or went no further than 10-20yds. All shots were broadside to slightly quartering away. Recovered several bullets just under skin on far side if any bone was hit and passed through if no bones were hit. Expansion was always dramatic but because they are soft lead they hold together, BUT they are not meant for magnum or Savage speeds. My prefered load was 90gr of Pyrodex select.

[Harley]

I only shot them in my Omega, but remember a couple of things about them: 1. loading Powerbelts and pelletized Pyrodex is simple to do; 2. maybe one deer in five lived to walk a few steps; 3. they all exploded like grenades in the body cavity; 4. accuracy at 100 yards was minute of deer.

When I switched from Power Belts to SST's, group size really tightened and penetration was greatly improved.

Harley

[whyohe]

i have not used them in smokeless and dont recomend them for smokeless. the wont sit tight enough for consistant ignition and accuracy. if i remember right the lead is too soft also and would frag bad.

[rjhans53]

shucks fella's if you want to pop em out of a savage ML just sit em on top of some BH and see what they do. Be advised, much harder to break the breech plug loose.

[jims]

I did not have good luck with them in my Savage with smokeless.

[ourway77]

I have had respectable groups with them out of my Knight Master Hunter. Killed a really nice Buck with them. But still always go back to my precision bullets with sub bases. lou

[olsmokey]

The problem with power belts is they load easy and the bullet has a tendency to work away from the powder. The last time I shot a powerbelt I was shooting at a downward angle and the bullet came loose from the sabot and fell out of the barrel. If this happens on a smokeless and slides part way down and you shoot, you can kiss your barrel goodbye.

[davewolf]

Don't know about smokeless but have shot and dropped three whitetails with them, although I don't think they are as accurate as others at 100-yards. Got a little better performance with Plantium, I spined and animal with one, and of course it went down in its tracks--and the 175-grain passed completely through,

But, I'm now using TC's shock-wave and they far out preform--traget wise, Powerbelts.
Have a great day!
Dave

[huntingmike]

I think I read that savage considers them sabot less and they void the warranty.