Willie
PMA Member
I'd have to say let your gun decide. Lots of bullet options out there - get a selection and head to the range. My brother and I had the same gun and he was able to shoot powerbelts with great accuracy and I couldn't get them to group on a pie plate. I ended up using the sst's in that gun.
With my new Encore I have tried precision rifle bullets and sst's. Both grouped well - I'm going to give the barnes expander a try too this spring. Good luck!
With my new Encore I have tried precision rifle bullets and sst's. Both grouped well - I'm going to give the barnes expander a try too this spring. Good luck!
Liv4Rut
Active Member
Ive shot powerbelts, barnes expanders, precision rifle, knight red hots and Hornadys out of my gun all of the bullets shot about the same. It seemed like all would be a good choice out of my gun, but I've leaned towards powerbelts, they slide in so easy, group the best and I have had the best luck with bloodtrails with them out of my 45. But mentioned above, let the gun decide for you
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
you have a copy of that article or any way I can see it or read it, I am just curious to read it. Here is another article I have found, I think lots of it is opinion but this guy says just the opposite, seems about everything goes that way!!!!!! I prefer sabots WAY over powerbelts, they just have a better BC and seem to leave more damage behind, I particuarly like the Barnes bullets but the Hornady are pretty nice too!
Powerbelts
Powerbelts
Earl E. November
Member
The Power Belt is a sub bore size, headed lead bullet with copper plating. The SST is a copper jacketed swaged lead core bullet. With a drawn copper jacket, the engineer has several options to use to get accuracy and terminal performance. A lead bullet is just that a lead bullet.
The power belt being sub bore size, depends on a tight bore and a heavy charge to swell the base of it, to engage the rifling. I would bet a steak dinner if you took ten rifles at random used good sights and proper loading and shooting procedure the sabot and the copper jacket would out shoot the power belt 8:2.
Shots at 50 yards, it probably doesn't matter. If you plan on reaching out to touch someone, the sabot has it all over the power belt. The copper jacket bullets have much higher BC's as well, that means less drop and higher energy at extended ranges.
Dry dirty bores or those with heavily lubed bores and cold temperatures are the biggest contributor to hard loading sabots. Sabots will however take more pressure to seat than the power belt, they have too. You are actually cutting plastic while seating it.
Hornady also sells a set of go, no-go gauges to check bore size. Most quality muzzle loaders should have a .500-.502 bore, but with all the import stuff out there, you can find bores of all dimensions. I've seen them as small as .498 as big as .504. I have seen power belts actually fall out of a larger bore barrel when the muzzle is pointed down. But it was easy to load.
Speaking of cold temperatures, those under 20 F, many sabots will get stiff and actually shatter on ignition giving oviously poor performance. The Hornady LNL Speed sabot has been tested to well below that with no failure.
The power belt being sub bore size, depends on a tight bore and a heavy charge to swell the base of it, to engage the rifling. I would bet a steak dinner if you took ten rifles at random used good sights and proper loading and shooting procedure the sabot and the copper jacket would out shoot the power belt 8:2.
Shots at 50 yards, it probably doesn't matter. If you plan on reaching out to touch someone, the sabot has it all over the power belt. The copper jacket bullets have much higher BC's as well, that means less drop and higher energy at extended ranges.
Dry dirty bores or those with heavily lubed bores and cold temperatures are the biggest contributor to hard loading sabots. Sabots will however take more pressure to seat than the power belt, they have too. You are actually cutting plastic while seating it.
Hornady also sells a set of go, no-go gauges to check bore size. Most quality muzzle loaders should have a .500-.502 bore, but with all the import stuff out there, you can find bores of all dimensions. I've seen them as small as .498 as big as .504. I have seen power belts actually fall out of a larger bore barrel when the muzzle is pointed down. But it was easy to load.
Speaking of cold temperatures, those under 20 F, many sabots will get stiff and actually shatter on ignition giving oviously poor performance. The Hornady LNL Speed sabot has been tested to well below that with no failure.
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
Great information, Earl. First, I have never tried the Powerbelts as I read too many bad reviews on them. Too many bullet options out there to start with a problem child. In regards to sabots, Del Ramsey, owner of MMP Sabots offers a wide range of custom sabots that allow one to shoot a wide range of bullets. If all the options seem a little confusing, just ring up customer service and explain your situation. I'm sure they have the solution.
I have no financial interest in MMP, just a satisfied customer.
Earl E. November
Member
Del makes most all of the sabots in the country, and yes he has several different thickness of sabot. Most thinner not thicker than standard. Problem with going too thin is the sabot may slip the bullet. The problem with lubing the bore is it may slip the sabot to the bore. Both conditions give less than optimal spin and accuracy suffers. There again, 50 yards or less on deer size targets, most will never know. Then again under 50 yards a punkin ball and a smooth bore will generally get the job done too.
Central Iowa
Life Member
My .45 Encore has shot 6 bucks and 6 does from point blank to just over 250 yards without any problems. I like them. At point blank the bullet entered the heart and exploded into little pieces. Outside that retention and penatration was great. I have used the hollow point and Aero tips pushed with 150 grains of Pyrodex pellets
hillrunner
PMA Member
I struggled with accuracy out of my gun until I switched to powerbelts. I agree that you need to let your gun decide, it took me a while to find the right combination, but now Ive got it shooting great.
bushman
New Member
you must also take into consideration the legality of the bullet you choose to shoot. For instance in Colorado, you can not use a sabot. make sure you check the local regs for where you plan to hunt. i shoot powerbelts in my omega and they shoot great. Just another factor to coinsider when choosing your bullet.