Postell on Hog/Deer

[warf73]

I'm getting real serious about making me a bolt action 45-70.
Have it fitted with an 18-20" barrel and there you would have one heck of a brush gun.

Heres the deal I know the Postell bullets are meant for target only shooting since there a RN. But everything I've read about the bolt 45-70 it has feeding problems with none RN bullets.

So I was thinking (gets me into trouble every time) if I would cast my bullets out of pure lead. Wouldn’t I still get the deep penetration since it is a RN bullet but get some decent expansion since its PURE lead?

I know I want the best of both worlds but what do you guys think?

The slug would run around 1200-1400 FPS and the gun wouldn’t be used on anything beyond 100yards. The actual use of this rifle is meant for inside of 75yards. So it would be my stocking rifle while in the thick stuff for hogs/deer.

If needed I do have a hallow point mold and just use WW but don't know if the hallow point will help the WW bullet expand?

Your thoughts please.

Thanks Warf

[frank405]

I would not use the postell as a game bullet. Maybe if they were cast of 20:1 or softer and hollow pointed you would get some expansion. Try the Saeco #022 a 500 grain bullet with a small flat. This would a much better game bullet than a pointy one. Also a little work might get the rifle to feed about anything in bullet style.

[Castaway]

I think if you used wheel weights in a hollow point, your expansion would be minimal as the nose section would be brittle enough to shatter off on impact.  Unless you paper patch, pure lead bullets in that heavy of a bullet would lead the barrel quickly.  As stated, a 20:1 mix should be pretty close to ideal for white tail, or anything else that comes your way with tushes, fangs or claws.  If you do have feeding problems, a soft, postell bullet would still give expansion, as if you really needed it it in a 45 caliber bullet.   In all likelihood, a RNFP will feed reliably from a magazine in your proposed bolt gun.  Good luck and let us know how things work out.

[The Shrink]

I'm mearly repeating what I've read, having no experience.  I would think that, with a .45 cal bullet expansion is not especially necessary.  Out of BP Cartridge guns folks are getting through and through shots on buffalo and killing with one shot.  I imagine the same thing would be true with a deer.  Look at the design of those old bullets.  They were mostly round nose bullets, and the Sharps formula was 16/1.  That combination managed to decimate the buffalo herds.  I imagine that it's adequate to kill a deer out to a bolt gun with smokeless powder pushing it, and without significant expansion to boot.  

Wayne the Shrink

There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

[jhalcott]

My thoughts are WHY NOT? many people are running around killing deer and hogs with 454's and heavy loaded colt pistols.The only thing you need is an accurate bullet/load. A muzzle loader shooting a pure lead slug has no problems killing deer why would you?It doesn't matter what you use IF you have confidence in your load and ability.Try to "catch" one of these Postells with a stack of phone books about as thick as a deer or hog! Put a thin 1/8" piece of plywood or two between the books for grins.Then tell ME it won't kill a deer.

[rdnck]

warf73--A Postell cast 30-1 at 1140 fps will shoot completelty through deer and hogs from any angle.  It usually doesn't knock them down, but I have never seen an animal go 100 yards if it is a solid hit.  Most go about 50 yards or less. Entrance hole is the size of your little finger, exit hole is from 7/8 inch to 2 inches.  I have never recovered a Postell from any animal I have shot.

 A flat nosed bullet may indeed make a larger wound channel, but the Postell is so accurate in my 45-70 Shiloh Sharps that it is what I hunt with if I shoot a grease grooved bullet.  I have a friend that shot a 5x5 elk at 175 yards last year in Idaho with a Postell at 1137 fps out of his 45-70 Shiloh Sharps.  The exit wound was 2 inches in diameter.  The elk was shot through both shoulders and went 40 yards and fell on its nose.  The bullet was not recovered.

The Gould hollowpoint out of wheelweights will blow up inside deer, and will not reliably penetrate the shoulder of a good hog.  A Lyman 457193 FN at 420 grains and 1300 fps will shoot all the way through deer and hogs if you need a lighter bullet.  Shoot straight, rdnck.