Lehigh 50 cal Sabotless

sabotloader · 11-29-2010, 08:29 AM

I should call this a developmental bullet, as it really is not complete. Lehigh ran some sabotless bullets based on their DOA series of brass bullets. It still is not available for sale but maybe in the future.

Anyway I received a bundle of these and have been trying to find a 50 cal barrel that they will fit correctly. I believe they are a bit loose in my 504 White U-Mag, but the they shot really well from it to 125 yards (that was the longest shot i made while testing). I also aquired a slightly used MK-85 awhile back and decided to try it there. It is not a perfect fit as it is a bit tight but it loads well and shoots better.

Here are a couple of pictures of the bullet...

This shows the bullet after it has been run through the bore. You can see the engraving on the heel and ogive of the lands.

I sat down and ran this ballistic report this morning. The BC of the bullet was computed using the calculator in the Barnes Ballistic program. The calculator came up with a BC of .163 - I really think it is higher than that but I do not have the experiance or the numbers to argue.

This gun is equipped with a Williams FP peep site and fiber optic front sight, using #11 mag caps. I feel comfortable shooting a whitetail to 150 yards in the right conditions, but I would add my normal shots here in north Idaho would probably average 60 yards.

This morning I used the information I collected yesterday and ran the ballistics information

MountainDevil54 · 11-29-2010, 08:57 AM

have you tried them with blackhorn? 1875 FPS with 100gr T7 3F just seems a little on the low side. I figured the 3f would give it some more grunt than that.

Semisane · 11-29-2010, 08:58 AM

Sabotloader, do you lube those bullets? They sure are pretty. Would make a nice neck pendant on a silver chain.

sabotloader · 11-29-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainDevil54

have you tried them with blackhorn? 1875 FPS with 100gr T7 3F just seems a little on the low side. I figured the 3f would give it some more grunt than that.

Jon, I have not tried BH with these bullets - remember I am shooting a #11 cap in a short 24" barrel. Also this is a plunger gun - so you can push the plunger back with higher charges

Also I do not think that BH would add very much to the velocity of this weight bullet - in a grain for grain swap. BH certainly works better with the heavier bullets but it is about 150-200 FPS increase.

This chart kinda shows what I am talking about, it was shot with a 300 grain bullet from a longer barrel but you get the idea...

It becomes even more evident in these lighter bullets....

MountainDevil54 · 11-29-2010, 09:09 AM

ahhhh shoot! im sorry, i over looked the #11 cap set up.

sabotloader · 11-29-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semisane

Sabotloader, do you lube those bullets? They sure are pretty. Would make a nice neck pendant on a silver chain.

No lubrication... Brass is a self lubricating metal -> what ever that is...

The miltitary and others use the same bullet in centerfire rifles.... look at this 50 cal BMG - this would hurt when it hits you....

http://www.lehighbullets.com/

sabotloader · 11-29-2010, 09:47 AM

MountainDevil54

I am sitting here thinking - 1875 really is not that bad for a 270 grain full bore bullet with a 100 grains of T7. The 100 grain shots were right at 1900 fps and the 90 grain shots were in the 1800 area so I used 1875 as an average.

What are you thinking the velocity should/might be?

Here is a velocity target shot with 110 grains of BH and a 250 grain bullet. The bullet I was shooting is 20 grains heavier and only slightly slower than the BH loads..

Here s the MK target with 90 and 100 grains of T7-2f

cayugad · 11-29-2010, 11:01 AM

That is still great shooting and excellent velocities. Notice with the BlackHorn 209 how the velocity increases at the fouling gets more and more. I think that is why when I was shooting BlackHorn 209 the first three shots were not as tight as say the last three shots of the day.

I think that MK85 and that conical would put a world of hurt on anything you want to shoot.

If you're looking for a .503 bore... do you have a fast twist GMB?

sabotloader · 11-29-2010, 11:22 AM

cayugad

Quote:

If you're looking for a .503 bore... do you have a fast twist GMB?

Not sure if you were asking me - but yes, i have 3 of them GM-LRH barrels - do not know why I have 3 but at the time itseemed like a good idea...

What I need is a bore in between the White .504 aand this new MK which is also listed as a .504.... Actually the MK bore is almost perfect for these sabotless bullets. With the short start I can with a good rap push the bullet in all the way past the the fourth gas ring - then the ogive needs a tapping to get it started in - then just pushing with the ram rod slides the bullet down just like a snung sabot.

Gm54-120 · 11-29-2010, 11:31 AM

1875fps for that bullet weight and charge is pretty good actually.