load for 535gr postell

[pittbull46]

Hello I need a black bear load for my BC with the 535gr postell and smokeless Thanks

[Ranch13]

I don't think the postell would be a very good hunting bullet. The government bullet is a much better choice, but having said that, take a look at Accurates web site for 5744 data, or get a Lyman Reloading handbook , 48th and 49th editions both have 5744 data for the postell.

[Graybeard]

I used IMR3031 when I was loading that bullet. Cast it relatively soft and it should do OK as a hunting bullet. I prefer to hunt with flat nose cast bullets with large meplats but the Postell should do OK. Don't cast it too hard tho it needs to be soft enough to mushroom.

[Ranch13]

I don't think a postell will mushroom on a critter unless maybe it's cast from purelead. I've had them cast from 20-1 pass thru 24 inches of cottonwood log 25 yds from the muzzle. Shooting that same bullet into old kerosene tanks at 800 yds they'll perforate the near side and leave a relatively good likeness of themselves in the far side.
 There are much better bullets for hunting.

[Graybeard]

No doubt there are better. Lyman sells them in boxes of 50 I think cast soft. They sent me some for review long ago. They were soft enough to mushroom. Dunno what they were cast of really but am guessing pure lead. They include a small load sheet with loading data with the bullets.

I cast them of linotype to shoot in my Browning BPCR long ago.

I'd want to aim to hit bone with them but then I prefer to do that with cast bullets anyway.

Venturino seems to use nothing but old BP rifles for his hunting and I've seen articles by him where he shot buffalo and other game with a bullet not unlike the Postell. I've never shot game with them myself only targets but if cast soft I'd not be afraid to do so. Definitely wouldn't be my first choice tho.

[Ranch13]

I'm a big fan of the original Sharps style bullets,especially in paper patched rounds. They are quite similar to the government bullet only the nose is a bit flatter, and deliver a blow like thors hammer on larger game like elk, but the only thing you get back from antelope is a loud whack and then they do the 50 yd dash death run...

[pittbull46]

Thanks for the info can somebody tell me what the government bullet is and where to find them?

[Ranch13]

12th from the top, Saeco 881  http://www.montanabulletworks.com/BB_45_caliber.html
3rd from the bottom here, 512 gr http://www.cheycast.com/catalog.htm
I believe lyman list the mould as 457125

[Graybeard]

This is the Postell.


and this the government bullet.


and my personal favorite Lyman 457643.

[gcrank1]

I have some fancy and expensive equipment that I have used to modify some bullet noses to flat tipped, but you can do it to those postells, since you have them, with a small hobby saw and maybe touch up to flat and square with a decent eyeball and a file. A few grains weight one way or the other isnt likely to change the performance at fair hunting ranges for you.
That way you can dance with who ya brung.

[pittbull46]

Thanks for the advice I think I will use the rems for this season and work on the reloading one more ? does anybody use a smith ladder sight if so what front sight do you use?

[gcrank1]

On my 38-55 TM 'Hunter' Im using the little Williams peep, same as yours, and the 'shotgun aperture' or none at all would give a ghost ring, and replaced the globe front with an ivory bead front.
It gives a good, quick sighting, though too coarse for target work, and good out to some 140yd.

[Ranch13]

I use the ladder sight on my Sharps rifles, and prefer the blade front.

[gcrank1]

I should mention, I have tried the globe front in the past for hunting and just do not like it; it can obscure too much of the critter, or make it hard to find, and in certain light, especially the woods, it can be hard to even find the front sight, much less the critter.
Also, for hunting with a rear peep, you are best served by shooting with both eyes open, as long as your lead eye is the one looking through the sights.
FWIW, I dont think the ladder (even though I like the one on the old '98Krag, will be of much use on 'close up bear'; and if you try to use the open sight part of it that close to your eye you likely wont be able to get any focus on the notch. If you want to find out how it would work for you, and have another open sight in the bins just set it up there with a little stickum and try to see on down to the front.

[Ranch13]

There's no difference in focal length between the open sight of the ladder when folded down and the ladder stood up. Some folks take a small swiss file and open the notch in the rear sight up to let a bit more light in, and see the front blade better.

[gcrank1]

The difference Im alluding to is that between the ladder sight mount well back and an open barrel sight. A lot of us older eyed shooters just cant see that sight so close to the eye, its nothing but a fuzz ball.
Just mentioned it in case the OP had not considered that part of the mix........., best to try it with a test sight before ordering I thought.

[Ranch13]

The smith is full buckhorn ladder sight, that bolts in place of the sight that is shipped on the BC's, and pivot in the bottom of the buckhorn , so there's no change in focal length. It's actually a very good sight for those rifles.http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=164015&CAT=4077

[gcrank1]

Yes, it screws onto the same place the Williams is, thus putting the buckhorn part right back close (too close for many of us) to the eye, just like I previously described, rather than on up the barrel like a 'typical open sight 'would be. If all you really want the Smith for is the peep/ladder, fine, but I doubt the buckhorn would be of much use bear hunting.
I have NEVER seen ANY guys here putting an open sight right back on the breech of any of their rifles. Peeps, yes, open sights, no. And even the Krag sight ,that is not dissimilar to the Smith, is well forward of the action. If back on the breech was the best place for it Im thinkin' Springfield Armory would have used it there.

[Ranch13]

Best I can tell you crank is you may want to get one, install and use it. Experience is a very good teacher. Much better than keyboard guesstimation.

[gcrank1]

So you are saying, if I interpret your vague implications, that you can see clearly and use the buckhorn open sight portion of that so close to your eye, even though most of the rest of the shooting world cannot?
If so, Im truely happy for you. I KNOW, without a doubt that it wont work for me, no guessin' about it.
If the OP buys one on your recommendation and finds he, like most of us, cant use it, are going to reimburse him for it?

[Ranch13]

Yeh right, Smith has been building those sights for years, Buffalo Arms and others have been carrying those sights in inventory since they came out. Many many people have purchased, installed and used those sights and been highly satisfied.
 Experience tells me those sights work pretty good.

[gcrank1]

Just what I thought.

[quickdtoo]

I for one find the buckhorn on the Smith sight about as useful as teats on a boar!  It's waaay too close for my old eyes, the ladder worked fine once I got a decent slider for it, the first one came with the aperture off center making is appear as an open sight would, the hole was too close to the edge, many emails and a couple phone calls to Smith finally got me a replacement that worked.

FWIW, the smith sight is normally mounted in the mid barrel position on most rifles, comes with a dovetail for mounting where normal barrel sights mount, the Wesson and Harrington version is likely the only one mounted so close to the eye on the breech end of the barrel.

Tim

http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=164010&CAT=4077

[Dinny]

I did a little research myself and found 39gr of 3031 recommended a few times. One person is even loading 45grs, but I would relook the numbers on that one before going with it.


I'm gonna load some of my Postells tomorrow and see how they shoot outta my Handi.


Thanks, Dinny

[Ranch13]

Dinny those postells shoot fine out of the handirifle and offspring[provided you get them up to the 1100 fps+ mark,so that they'll stabilize. You may not like the recoil they'll generate.

[Graybeard]

Looking back over my data I was loading from 39.0 to 41.0 grains of IMR3031 with the Postell bullet in my Browning 1885 BPCR.

[Dinny]

Looking back over my data I was loading from 39.0 to 41.0 grains of IMR3031 with the Postell bullet in my Browning 1885 BPCR.

Bill,
  Do you have any notes showing velocities? If so, what was the barrel length of your 1885?


Thanks, Dinny

[Graybeard]

Sorry Dinny I don't see any chrono data on them. Dunno why perhaps I never shot them over my chrono. It was back in 2001 I think the BPCR had a 30" or 32" barrel but guess that doesn't help since I don't find evidence I ran them for velocity. Some times I do and some times I don't. I haven't used the chrono in several years but back then I was using it regularly so am a bit surprised the data isn't in my log book.

[Ranch13]

I have a velocity of 1175 with 70 grs of 2f express blackpowder and 1190 with 25 grs of aa5744 from a 28 inch barrel. About the only time is use 3031 is with jacketed bullets, and I don't do much of those except for barrel breakin proceedures. Looking at the data in the Lyman 47 and 48 manuals I'ld expect the velocity with that 3031 load to be right there from 1175-1200 fps.

[gcrank1]

Please explain how you got 70gr. of black powder behind that bullet into a modern (non-balloon head) 45-70 case.