New Lehigh .452x265gr. CF ML Bullet

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Nov 30, 2012
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Northern Idaho
Grouse has already introduced you to this bullet and there is not a lot I can add to it, but I do have some information I want to add...

The bullet samples arrived this morning... I opened the package and looked at the bullets and really had as lot of excitement for them. The first thing I did was to try one in a 45 cal Super DISC... I was sure it would be to big but I had to try - it was to tight to load - I need a .4515 to get down the bore. From there I took the bullet to the shop to run it through a .452 sizing die. Lubed the bullet placed it in the die and tried to push it threw - not happening!!! So now I am back to what the bullet was intended for shooting on a 50 cal. ML.

When the bullets arrived and after my initial inspection I really wanted to get the farm and do some shooting - problem was mother nature was not co-operating - it was raining...on and off!!! Twice I made the dash to the farm as the weather was good in Moscow, but at the farm it wasn't... Finally around 2 in the afternoon the sun came out and everything was good! Made the decision that I knew the time might be short so I was just going to shoot a few bird just to see how the bullet would shoot from my rifle.

I immediately setup 4 birds - one at 75 yards and 3 at 100 yards. By the time I got the bench up and in place - things were changing... as this next storm started rolling in...



I really felt my time would be short before the rains would come again. I loaded up the first shot and sat down at the bench - set the rifle in a 6 O'clock hold on the 75 yard bird. To my surprise I shot the heart out of the bird!!! From there I moved to the 100 yard birds. The first two shots exploded the two birds... I load the fourth bullet and I wanted to make the adjustment to shoot the heart out of the last bird out. This time I held slightly below the bird and took the shot. Heart gone!!!



After this bird shooting it really appeared to me that I had time to get some velocities as well as punch some holes in paper that I really do not like doing. So I got the chrono and target set up. I set the target at 75 yards for the velocity checks. I was so pleased with the 75 yards results I decided to move the target to 100 yards. Got in two more shots with excellent results... and yes I really believe I got lucky! You noticed I did not take the third shot that might ruin the good thing.



After this first shooting event I would write a open note to Lehigh Dave stating for years I have always believed that the Lehigh/Bloodline .458x275 grain bullet was by far the best all-around bullet he had created. After this shooting I would easily say this new bullet could and will surpass the versatility of the older 275. Of course before I can stand on that statement - I need to see the 'Terminal Performance' of the bullet on a few animals.

I would also like to include a few additional pictures in this collection that might provide some additional information about this new bullet.



This is a picture that shows today work bench



Really hope to get out more for further testing - but the rifle deer season starts on the 10th. At this time I will use the new bullet for these hunts... and I know Grouse is using it in Colorado.

Availability of this new bullet - still is a question that I can not answer. I do know that Lehigh Dave is very conservative on releasing much of anything until the product has been proven.
 
Do you happen to know if Dave is making a slightly heavier version of this? Like in the 280-300 range?
 
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Do you happen to know if Dave is making a lightly heavier version of this? Like in the 280-300 range?

At this time I would say probably not right now...His facility is so busy with contracts I am not sure when he would get time - I was surprised this bullet happened this late in the year...
 
Do you happen to know if Dave is making a slightly heavier version of this? Like in the 280-300 range?

When I talked to Dave I believe he at his maximum weight with the 452 bullet and still have the petal length and Terminal Performance. I think he could go to a 458 and get the extra weight but that would be way down the road.

The one thing that may put the bullet over the top and somewhat equal to the energy delivered by a 275/300 grain bullet is the tip that he is making for the bullet.

With that tip installed and the bullets BC improves and the ft./lbs. of energy goes from 983 @200 to 1246 @200 which would actually be greater than the 300

Also as he mentioned increasing velocity will make a greater improvement in energy than does increasing weight.... His quote as stated " Double the bullet weight the energy doubles. Double the bullet velocity, the energy quadruples" There is not much I can do with T7 to increase velocity since I am using 120 grains now. BUT! if you are using BH and 120 grains you will get another 100 fps than I am getting and that would also get you above 1000 ft./lbs. @ 200 and with the tip you might get into the 1300 ft./lbs. @200 which makes the bullet an easy candidate for 250 yards + shot on a elk.
 
When I talked to Dave I believe he at his maximum weight with the 452 bullet and still have the petal length and Terminal Performance. I think he could go to a 458 and get the extra weight but that would be way down the road.

The one thing that may put the bullet over the top and somewhat equal to the energy delivered by a 275/300 grain bullet is the tip that he is making for the bullet.

With that tip installed and the bullets BC improves and the ft./lbs. of energy goes from 983 @200 to 1246 @200 which would actually be greater than the 300

Also as he mentioned increasing velocity will make a greater improvement in energy than does increasing weight.... His quote as stated " Double the bullet weight the energy doubles. Double the bullet velocity, the energy quadruples" There is not much I can do with T7 to increase velocity since I am using 120 grains now. BUT! if you are using BH and 120 grains you will get another 100 fps than I am getting and that would also get you above 1000 ft./lbs. @ 200 and with the tip you might get into the 1300 ft./lbs. @200 which makes the bullet an easy candidate for 250 yards + shot on a elk.

Awesome.

When you say tips are you saying he's going to add a poly tip to them?

That would be bad ass. Coincidentally, I was going to do the same thing to some 300 bloodlines before you posted about this new bullet. I read the article that harvester put out a while back where they did the same thing and was really impressed with the results. I think that is the only short coming of these bullets (the b.c.) so increasing that would make these my #1 choice for sure.
 
Awesome.

When you say tips are you saying he's going to add a poly tip to them?

That would be bad ass. Coincidentally, I was going to do the same thing to some 300 bloodlines before you posted about this new bullet. I read the article that harvester put out a while back where they did the same thing and was really impressed with the results. I think that is the only short coming of these bullets (the b.c.) so increasing that would make these my #1 choice for sure.

Yes the poly tips are in the process of being built right now. When they are complete and available I am sure the bullet and the tip will come up on the web site.

I do not know what the exact packaging or pricing is going to be yet but I am pretty sure these will be less expensive than the Bloodlines...
 
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