Lehigh Defense Bullets Load Data

[cory]

I'm starting this thread to document my load work up for Lehigh Defense bullets. I'm planning an elk hunt out west in '24, so I'm in search of the best possible 6.5 Grendel hunting bullet on the market for my 16" Precision Firearms Bartlein barrel primarily and my 11.5" Lilja barrel as secondary. All intelligent discussion is welcomed as well as any load, range, or on target data anyone has for Lehigh Defense bullets.

16" Precision Firearms Bartlein Barrel Data


11.5" Lilja Barrel Data


Velocity collected with a magnetospeed at yesterday's range trip.
16" Barrel

11.5" Barrel

[cory]

Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos 110gr
These have a lot of promise in both barrels.

Loading Data
16"

11.5"


Targets
16"

11.5"


Unfortunately I was unable to see my target well enough through my spotter to keep track of which hole was which bullet. I took a Razor HD 27-60X85 (ANGLED) spotter I recently picked up used. I was really disappointed in the scope to the point that I'm sending it in to Vortex to get it inspected. The scope obviously lived a hard life before I got it.

Post Brass Picture:https://www.65grendel.com/forum/show...015#post306015

[cory]

Reserved for future Lehigh Defense Bullet

[Bigs28]

I hunted with the 110 controlled chaos and after a lost deer and 2 hogs with no exit wound or blood trail i decided i would never hunt with them again and went to the 110g maker t rex. I witnessed the impact on the deer right at the vitals. Really thick brush it ran into. Hair at the spot he was hit but no blood anywhere. Hogs were in more open area and was able to watch them drop to retrieve thankfully.

[cory]

I hunted with the 110 controlled chaos and after a lost deer and 2 hogs with no exit wound or blood trail i decided i would never hunt with them again and went to the 110g maker t rex. I witnessed the impact on the deer right at the vitals. Really thick brush it ran into. Hair at the spot he was hit but no blood anywhere. Hogs were in more open area and was able to watch them drop to retrieve thankfully.

That's unfortunate to hear, but exactly the data I'm looking for in this thread. Do you know what your muzzle velocity was or the range you were shooting?

[Bigs28]

https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?17607-Official-Grendel-SBR-Pistol-Velocity-Thread&highlight=Controlled+chaos

The deer was shot at less then 20 yards and my hunting load was around 2350 fps. Give or take. It was several years ago. Hogs were under 50 yards.

[Pootyng]

[BluteEhre]

There are 2 versions of that bullet one being the original copper version and the other being brass I believe. The brass one doesn't kill nearly as clean from what I've read but probably punches deeper. For the 110gr copper versions my best groups .6" at 100yards were with 29gr H335 loaded to 2.26" out of a 20" tube they were running 2487fps average.

[cory]

Long overdue range trip and update. I have high confidence in the velocity data this time. I was running a Labradar and had the opportunity during the day to run it next to a guys new garmin. The Labradar consistently ran 3-5fps faster.

110gr Lehigh Defense
16" Barrel
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11.5" Barrel
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Target
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The brass started showing signs of pressure at 32.8gr, so I'm going to back up from there. 32.5gr shows a lot of promise even if it is flirting with the edge. I'm going to load up some at 32.5gr and test different seating depths in the 11.5" rifle. Has anyone played with the seating depth of this bullet?

Spent Brass Rows 1-4 from the bottom
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[LRRPF52]

I have mainly worked up some loads with the 95gr Controlled Chaos, which shot phenomenally from my 17.6” Lilja Grendel at 200yds.

First time I grouped it at 200yds, it printed a 5-round 1.4” group.

You also might want to look at the Cavity Back bullets for your hunt. They expand down to 1600fps with really wide pedal opening and good structural integrity.

[cory]

The Cavity Back bullets are interesting! I didn't know they existed. Has anyone confirmed the BC or the opening velocity of the 118gr projectiles?

I was charting some numbers from the ballistics calculator at 9,000 ft elevation and 40 deg F and I found something I wasn't, but should have expected. When looking at energy on target 123gr SST and 140gr SST are the kings followed closely by the 129gr ABLR. The Hammer Absolute 123gr, Hammer Absolute 109gr, and the Cutting Edge ER Raptor 110gr were my front runners before seeing the numbers. I'm honestly not sure which route I'll go at this point.

53851969891_e269705526_b.jpg

[kmon]

Might use the custom search engine and find some of that. I think I remember something like that discussed. It has been a while back.

[LRRPF52]

The Cavity Back bullets are interesting! I didn't know they existed. Has anyone confirmed the BC or the opening velocity of the 118gr projectiles?

I was charting some numbers from the ballistics calculator at 9,000 ft elevation and 40 deg F and I found something I wasn't, but should have expected. When looking at energy on target 123gr SST and 140gr SST are the kings followed closely by the 129gr ABLR. The Hammer Absolute 123gr, Hammer Absolute 109gr, and the Cutting Edge ER Raptor 110gr were my front runners before seeing the numbers. I'm honestly not sure which route I'll go at this point.

53851969891_e269705526_b.jpg

BCs have to be adjusted to reality though. 123gr SST is .462 G1/.230 G7.

The Litz data for the 129gr ABLR is a bit different and Nosler adjusted it after that as well. I think you have it, as it was originally something like .592 G1 if I recall. Those perform as-advertised.

Another one to look at is the Fort Scott 123gr TUI, which has the highest BC of any 123gr at .571 G1. They have loaded ammo as well.

You could also shoot the 80gr Tipped Hammer from Hammer bullets, which will do 2950fps from a 16” Grendel (2897-2996fps spread at max, depending on barrel/chamber).

There’s a thread in ammo and reloading on Lead Free Projectiles with testing with the Cavity Back bullets.

SST and ABLR will still work fine though within appropriate distances.

[cory]

BCs have to be adjusted to reality though. 123gr SST is .462 G1/.230 G7.

The Litz data for the 129gr ABLR is a bit different and Nosler adjusted it after that as well. I think you have it, as it was originally something like .592 G1 if I recall. Those perform as-advertised.

Another one to look at is the Fort Scott 123gr TUI, which has the highest BC of any 123gr at .571 G1. They have loaded ammo as well.

You could also shoot the 80gr Tipped Hammer from Hammer bullets, which will do 2950fps from a 16” Grendel (2897-2996fps spread at max, depending on barrel/chamber).

There’s a thread in ammo and reloading on Lead Free Projectiles with testing with the Cavity Back bullets.

SST and ABLR will still work fine though within appropriate distances.

I've updated my 123gr SST results with your BCs and the other BCs in my spreadsheet to reflect the BCs that my AB app was using. Thank you for that.
53852987897_a6bcdafb19_b.jpg

I'll look into those bullets. If you could only choice 1 lead core and 1 solid copper for an elk hunt based off the MVs I'm seeing which would you select? Then would you use the lead core or the solid copper?

I should add that I'll be in Grizzly country, in or near the Grand Teton National Forest. Either this load needs to double as bear defense or I'm going to work up a 2nd load and carry a 2nd loaded magazine.

[LRRPF52]

What barrel length are you taking?

When I did my last elk hunt, I was using those cut-down 94gr Hornady GMXs at 2750fps from the 17.6” Lilja Grendel.

Didn’t get any shot opportunities on elk.

People have used 123gr SSTs to kill cow elk and bulls for years, some with 1-shot DRTs, other with multiple shots taken at distance all on-target/through vitals.

Mark LaRue filled his bull elk tag with the 120gr TSX loaded by AA from a 20” Grendel at 405yds.

For bear defense, deep penetration seems to be the name of the game, and people have taken charging Grizzlies with 10mm pistols.

Common attack vector is for them to orient on your kill, then pounce on you at or around the kill site since they want the meat as well.

No reason to need 2 different loads.

I like the idea of a bonded or monolithic bullet for the bear scenario, rather than relying on the SST.