Post by: Sabotloader on March 14, 2018, 05:27:19 PM
Lehigh Dave has been trying to develop a higher BC bullet for muzzleloaders. There were some growing pains in the development. It took 3 different modifications of the tip design to get the product that he wanted.
The latest version is modification #3... It now has been tested by several different people and they have reported very good success with the bullet. The big thing was to get the same 'Terminal Performance' that the standard open hollow point provided. But the goal was to increase the BC of the bullet to offer longer range opportunities.
Lehigh Defense offers 3 different all copper ML hunting bullets.... a .451x230CF, .452x240CF, and a 452x265CF. All three of these bullets offer the opportunity to insert an Aluminum Pin in the nose of the hollow point. It is not the normal aluminum that we might think. It is a very hard aluminum, labeled 7075-T6.
These new ML bullets are not the first bullets Lehigh has produced using the Pins. The have been producing bullets for the .308 Blackouts for several years. Now he has used the same technology in these ML bullets.
This picture shows the bullets.
(https://s26.postimg.org/956orr8k9/Lehigh_LP_s.jpg)
The tips do increase the BC of the bullets. Listed below is the normal HP BC and the BC with the pins inserted:
Lehigh 451x230CF-HP .160
Lehigh 451x237CF-LP .250
Lehigh 452x240CF-HP .180
Lehigh 452x247CF-LP .260
I personally have not harvested an animal with any of the Pinned bullets but I have done several range trips shooting ranges out to 250 yards. I can confirm the bullets accurate!
The gentleman and his son have sent pictures of their Harvests... along with written descriptions of the harvest.
Quote
My Grandson Shot this Mouflon at 267 yds. With the prototype .451, 237 gr. bullet that you sent: created extreme internal damage lending itself to tremendous terminal performance. It also passed through but with the aid of the fragmentation, the animal was disabled immediately and expired immediately after.
(https://s26.postimg.org/gxxcjo1nt/Hawaiian__Mouflow.jpg)
Quote
My Son Shot this Axis Buck at 363 yds. With the prototype .451 MZ bullet in his Smokeless Muzzleloader, with an average velocity in his rifle: 2963 fps. The spotter saw the deer bellied up immediately when it got shot: it too, passed through, but internal damage was massive.
Performed perfectly and to my utmost expectation.
(https://s26.postimg.org/xyg8sc6zd/Hawaiian_Axis_Buck.jpg)
Quote
This Doe Axis Deer was Shot at 173 yds. With a .451 prototype bullet. As you can see small entry but major internal damage occurred. Once again, terminal entry was maximized.
(https://s26.postimg.org/k4rw39r8p/Hawaiian_Axis_Doe.jpg)
Grouse has confirmed several harvests with the 452x247CF-LP also. He was using a non-smokeless ML. I do not remember the ranges that he shot.
Me, stuck here in Idaho - I get a chance at one deer a year - and in some years 2 so I have to wait until next hunting season to get the opportunity. Although I might get to use it on a few ground squirrels this spring.
Post by: Mfowl on March 14, 2018, 05:34:15 PM
Post by: Sabotloader on March 14, 2018, 06:20:48 PM
What bullet starter do you need for these? Does Lehigh make one to accomodate these bullets?
Lehigh does make a loading jag that will fit them. But, the common old TC Super Jag and the Regular Spin Jag all work with them also. Any jag designed for a spire point 45 cal. bullet will work
(https://s26.postimg.org/d4e04khhl/Lehigh-_Jag_Fit.jpg)
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on March 17, 2018, 10:32:21 PM
Post by: Sabotloader on March 18, 2018, 07:16:46 AM
Wow - are those legal?
In the State of Washington and just about everywhere other than Idaho and Oregon - they are!