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Shockwaves

oakswamper

Member
1,213
109
around Toledo
FWIW, I enjoyed shooting Powerbelts for several years with absolutely no negative results. I think some folks may not have matched up the right bullet with the powder load they shot. That's my guess anyway as I never had one explode on impact likely due to me never loading a muzzle loader to the max powder recommendations.

I've been using Powerbelts since they came out and have never had a problem either. I bought a bunch of them 50% off a few years ago so I hope I never have a problem lol
 

lung buster

Senior Member
2,666
106
hocking county
I used to use powerbelts but had 2 bad results with them. I now shoot 250 grain Shockwaves. My kids shoot 200 grain Shockwaves with only 70 grain of 777 and have killed a pile of deer of the last several years and we have never had one get away with shockwaves. They may not be the best but they definitely work for us!
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,916
274
Appalachia
I started with Powerbelts, but switched due to poor accuracy. I went to the Shockwaves based on the suggestion of a few folks here. They are very accurate, but the last 3 deer have sustained very little damage despite being hit in the 10-ring. All 3 were quartering shots and none of the bullets mushroomed like I would like, especially this last one which didn't expand at all.

I'll be making a change, so if someone wants the rest of my Shockwaves, speak up.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,082
223
Ohio
Accuracy with powerbelts is total shit.

Performance with shockwaves is marginal shit.

I've always loved Barnes expanders... So I'll be switching to those for my muzzy next.
 

Lundy

Member
1,307
127
I would still enjoy some time have a TOO get togther to shoot MZ's , shotguns, caliber legal rifles for Ohio.

For the MZ's I have bunches of different, powders, bullets,sabots that guys could try. I have smokeless MZ's and traditional BP substitue MZ's every could shoot. Guys having issues could almost assuredly have their problems corrected by someone in the group.

There are many little adjustments that can be performed to really fine tune the accuracy and performance of your MZ. However sometimes it really isn't necessary to take a gun that is shooting 2-3" groups at 100yds with pellets and reduce it down to 1" by fine tuning a loose powder charge. I mean we are shooting at a deer that has a 10" x 12" sweet spot, do we really need to be able to shoot bottle caps at 100 yds? some do some don't.

I also have a couple of .357 Max and a .444 marlin rifle for guys to shoot as well as 3 or 4 very accurate 12 and 20 ga slug guns for guys to try.

It would be fun.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Pellet...I would've bet money it was put away clean. I don't put them away until they are clean. I was wrong... I know my dads looks even worse then mine.

Soapy hot water ain't gonna get this job done. I know that.
 

Gern186

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
10,187
201
NW Ohio Tundra
I use some stuff called Barrel Blaster. Its a foaming agent that you shoot down the barrel. Let it sit for a couple minutes and it starts working on the crud. Then I take the pre soaked patches and run them in and out of barrel til it starts cleaning it up. If it still needs work I then use a bristle on the cleaning rod. Then rinse and repeat if necessary. Follow up with a couple dry patches.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
57,033
274
North Carolina
I would still enjoy some time have a TOO get togther to shoot MZ's , shotguns, caliber legal rifles for Ohio.

For the MZ's I have bunches of different, powders, bullets,sabots that guys could try. I have smokeless MZ's and traditional BP substitue MZ's every could shoot. Guys having issues could almost assuredly have their problems corrected by someone in the group.

There are many little adjustments that can be performed to really fine tune the accuracy and performance of your MZ. However sometimes it really isn't necessary to take a gun that is shooting 2-3" groups at 100yds with pellets and reduce it down to 1" by fine tuning a loose powder charge. I mean we are shooting at a deer that has a 10" x 12" sweet spot, do we really need to be able to shoot bottle caps at 100 yds? some do some don't.

I also have a couple of .357 Max and a .444 marlin rifle for guys to shoot as well as 3 or 4 very accurate 12 and 20 ga slug guns for guys to try.

It would be fun.

Kim, we have that already... Come too the summer shoot they'll be plenty of spectators standing by with interest....


 

Ohiosam

*Supporting Member*
11,744
191
Mahoning Co.
I've lost track of how many deer I've killed with SSTs, probably over 10. Never wounded a deer with one, had one small doe go about 75-100 yards but that was a bad hit. Most of the rest were bang/flops. My only concern is they don't always exit if they hit heavy bones.
They're accurate and load very easy in my rifle.
 

Mike

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
15,850
223
Up Nort
I use Hornady XTP Bullets
45 Caliber
250 Grain Jacketed Hollow Points in my Savage ML-II. This is what was recommended and I haven't deviated since. It's dropped everything I've shot at.
 
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jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,082
223
Ohio
I can't say I've had any bad experiences with the shockwaves. Every deer I've hit with them has been recovered. But every one has been a well placed shot too. In that instance it doesn't make a whole lot of difference what it is. My issue is their overall lack of knockdown power. They don't expand consistently, if at all, and therefore don't deliver much of a "punch" to the animal. At least not in my experience, which is about 8 different deer with these bullets.