Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Anybody shooting 270 - 290 grain 50 Cal Powerbelts and 777?

If so, what powder charge does your ML favor (if you wouldn't mind sharing).

Buddy is using 100 grains with 270 grain

90grns blackhorn 209 and the 295 powerbelt hp with the aftermarket insert in the hp. deadly in my triumph

Well, I don't use 777, but I do use 295 grain Powerbelt HP's. On top of two 50 grain Pyrodex pellets, 50 yard groups are on ragged hole out of my T/C Omega.

I use the 295 gr PB in a TC Black Diamond in line, 100 gr of 777. My 50 cal Hawkin does not like them.

Wow,,,You picked one of the worst combo,s out there.. Please dont bash me, as this is my personal opinion,,and have used this combo many years ago.. It might be good for punching holes in paper and shooting tin cans.. Try using Prodex Select, with the Barnes bullets ,,110 or 120 grains..

its not a bad choice. Ive killed plenty of deer. Seeing how they shoot on paper is only a bonus.

300gr Powerbelt Platinum with 100gr BH209 is an awesome load in our rifles. We go a step up to the 338 Platinum for elk.

Not bashing,but my loads have been killing elk quite effectively. Can't see paying Barnes price for the bullets at muzzle loader velocities. Everyone, though, is entitled to thier own opinion and what they think is best. The OP asked if any one was using BP's and the load, not Barnes

Shot 295 to 405 powerbelts at 90-100 gr 777 until they came out with Hornaday FPBs (300 and 350 gr). Lead alloy of the FPB helps them hold together better than powerbelt (pure lead). And only $16 for 15 at Bass Pro.

As far as barnes being more expenisive, where are you paying more for them? Cabelas has Barnes sabots for $27 for 24 bullets. They charge $22 for aerotips (15) and hollowpoints (20). Seems pretty comparable in price.

And Thors (barnes full bore) run $22 list price for 15, but he has been charging me $20 for 2 or more packs. So they are pretty comparable to PBs as well cost wise, but are a much superior bullet in the field.

So bottom line for me is Yes, I have shot the PB/777 combo, but I have moved on to what I consider superior bullets. To shoot pure lead bullets, I want bigger bullets.

I have typically paid about $14-$15 for PB pack of 15.
Still, the OP wanted to know about PB's not Hornadys or Barnes

My CVA Wolf loves the 295 gr. powerbelts over 80 gr. of 777.




135 lbs. field dressed. Taken at 60 yds. with the fiber optic sights.

maddog

dang. looks like the thing took a blood bath!

Yep!

nah the worse combo would be a TC trying to shoot a conical

I have no use for conicals/PBs. I prefer sabots because they don't move off the powder and create a dangerous obstructed barrel situation.

Thanks everybody, and Saddlesore is correct! This is the only combo I am interested in as I have the components here. Got a hunt coming up and don't have time to be trying a bunch of other stuff.

Thanks again!

Sabots are illegal in CO.

Swampmann700,Brucie,

I have shot the .45 powerbelts in my T.C. Omega for the last four years. 275 grains over 100 grains of loose 777. One hole groups at 50 yards, 2 " or less groups at 100, and have shot through two deer standing side by side on one occasion with it. Switched to BH209 last year. Same results with 85 grains of loose BH209 and winchester standard 209's. I have not recovered a "soft powerbelt" from any of the 16 deer shot with it, including the double. The "bad combination" works well for me.
And I have never even heard of a proper fitting conical or powerbelt moving off of the powder. Where did you hear this?

Renfak,

We do not shoot the lighter weight 50 cal powerbelt bullets. We shoot the 348grain aerotips over 90 grains loose BH209 and win std 209 primers. One ragged whole groups at 50 yards, @ 2 inches at 100, (exactly what I get from my .45 cal Omega) with T.C. Omega three weeks ago.

I have found that the Power Belts do not shoot well in the Hawkin type rifles with the slower twist meant for maxiballs. However, they do shoot extremely well in the faster twist and tighter barrels of the inlines, like my TC Black Diamond