Any idea on Velocity? 50cal rifle

[rockrat]

Have a Remington MLS that I sighted in today. Final load was 125gr of Swiss 1.5 with the Black Belt (now Powerbelt ) slugs. My jaw is kind of bruised because of the stock, but it sure nailed the gongs pretty hard. Any idea of the velocity of this load. Slugs were the 348gr HP. Thanks

[JeffinNZ]

That's an AWFUL big charge of Swiss even in 1.5Fg granulation. Be careful.

[725]

I have no idea what that load will do to the gun, but please, load to the book specs. Don't want to hear about another gun guy hurt and his gun busted. If that's a book load -- go get um & have fun. As far as speed of the projectile, I'd say, fast enough.
725

[corey012778]

ouch my shoulder hurt just hearing that load. I would see what it would do at a low charge.

powerbelts/black belts are known to blow apart at very high velocities. about 80grs to 90grs may be all you need.

out of my 50cals I am only shooting 75grs of 2f triple 7 and 245gr and 295gr powerbelts and have about 2 to 3 inch groups at 100yrds.

[725]

Corey,
I'm still shootin' your 250 gr Shock Waves w/ 80 gr Triple Seven FFG and it's alot of whoop a$$ and accurate. I don't think I would be putting 125 gr in my Rem ML with a big 350 gr slug. It's a tough rifle but why stress it?
725

[corey012778]

I forgot who bought those. lol

[rockrat]

Remington allows up to 150gr of BP or BP sub. in the ML/MLS with the bolt conversion to use musket or 209's. Have heard the powerbelts won't take much over 100gr of powder, but every shot yesterday hit pretty well where I expected it to hit (little bit of changing wind), so figure the powerbelts/blackbelts are holding up just fine.
See what happens tomorrow, as BP Elk season opens, and this is the first year in many years, I have drawn a tag. If I get one, I get one, if I don't, it was a wonderful walk in the woods!

[frontier gander]

Yeah they are splattering against that steel.

Take a 10x10" or 12x12" box and fill it with sand and lets see how well it holds up at 50 and 100 yards.

I've tested those 348's and can tell you that 80gr loose is Maximum at the moment.

[Underclocked]

Best listen to FG on those PowerBelts - I think he has probably done more testing of PowerBelts than BPI.

"The Remington Model 700 muzzleloader can use up to three 50-gr. (150-gr. total) Pyrodex Pellets, or 150 grains of 2F black or Pyrodex powder. However, we have found our best results came with 90 to 120 grains of the granular blackpowder or equivalent."

[frontier gander]

1.5 grade is cannon powder is it not?

My guess is, that 125gr charge is mostly unburnt and thrown out the end of the barrel.

[rockrat]

the Swiss 1.5F is the grade I use in my BPCR guns. Same as many other people I know.

My measure, set on 110gr, throws the 125 gr charge by weight. I had planned on using the 100gr marking (115gr of powder) but just tried the heavier charge to see how it shot. Shot a little lower and a bit farther (about 1") to the right from the 115 gr charge. Shot 6 shots with the heavier load without any difficulties.

Understand, what I am shooting are "Black Belt" slugs, with a black colored skirt., not the "Powerbelt" branded slugs. I saw the slugs the first year they were at the SHOT show and they gave me some samples to try. Ordered a bunch the next year, but never went over well where I live. Been sitting in shop for years. Maybe they were constructed a bit different than they are now. They work fine , as far as accuracy wise, with the heavier charge. Maybe tomorrow I will know how they perform on an Elk, expansion/penetration wise.

[frontier gander]

blackbelt is the old name. When BPI/CVA Bought the bullet, they simply renamed it Powerbelt and now use color coded skirts and tips. They are pure lead, SOFT and with that big hollow point that the Aerotip fits into, they will come apart easily when pushed to fast.

Same bullet, just a different name

If you must use it, go for a lung shot or a neck shot. stay away from the shoulder and other heavy bone.

[rockrat]

Thanks Gander, for the information. I usually go for a heart/lung shot. No luck today as a bear hunter wandered close to my "honey hole" and the Elk took off to the private land about 1/3 mile away. Try later in the week.

[rockrat]

An update. Since the gun was dirty from my Elk hunt, I took it out with the chronograph. The 125 gr load chrono'd 1550fps and the 112gr load chrono'd 1375fps(348gr bullet). I would have guessed the 125 load would have chrono'd higher.
If the slug was a FP instead of a HP, it would have been the better load, but with the HP, expansion was just too rapid. I was just lucky where I hit the elk, as it performed just as I needed. The slower load probably would have taken out the whole right shoulder.
Will use the 112gr load if I get to hunt elk again. Suspect the slower velocity would penetrate completely

[boommer]

Sounds like it's not sealing the bore to good . 90grs 1.5 swiss with a395 grn conical slug in my great plains rifle crony's at 1485 avg and it just balls up mushrooms. I've used the power belts and went back to plain old lead slugs even in my inline. I cast my hunting slugs at 1/20 mix but you need the heavy charge to bump them up to make them seal the bore. I get decent accuracy with them 2" at 100 yrd with the inline with the scope. I just like the pure lead in front stuffers thats just me !

[crowbeaner]

I gave a guy some RCBS 44-245-KT slugs because his Powerbelts just wouldn't shoot well with (3) 50 grain pellets. I told him he must have a masochistic streak. He's using my recommended load with 2 pellets and a black high speed sabot. 2" groups out of his T/C now. He was lucky to get 6 inches with what he was shooting. I shoot 90-100 grs. of RS pyrodex myself. I can just imagine what 125 of Swiss is kicking like. Yow.

[rockrat]

Kicks like a mule, but I am 6'4" and 310 , so it isn't too bad. Didn't notice it much when I shot the elk.
Can't use a sabot in Colorado