I have been unable to do much shooting at all for the past couple of months, due to work and heat! The work has mostly ended since the students have returned to the University - the HEAT - well it is still here so I made a predawn run to the rock pit to get some shooting in. The pit in this type of weather is a pretty safe place to shoot - especially shooting a ML.

A month or so ago Lehigh Dave made a couple of new bullets - all copper/no lead. He designed and made a 452x240CF-HP and a 451x230CF-HP, these bullets compliment the 452x265CF-HP that has been available for some time now.

The 451 came about because one of the forum members wanted a CF bullet that he could shoot in his NULA, which has a tight bore. If I remember correctly that rifle also has a 1-32 twist??? Anyway when I was told about the bullet I suggested to Lehigh Dave that maybe he could make it so that it could also be shot from a 1-48 twist. From those two requests the .451x230 was born... And it appears really to be a very good bullet!

It will shoot very well from a 1-48 twist TC Renegade. The target was set at 75 yards





Just so you know shot #4 was my fault - actually it was the set-triggers fault - I forgot how light the trigger is when you set the trigger....

I have had a chance to get out with that bullet for further testing in a 1-28 twist Knight Ultra Lite



Today.. or this morning I took a Knight Mountaineer and headed to the pit.... I actually had to goals in mind - 1 - I wanted just to shoot some birds @100' on the rock wall - it has been such a long time!!! and 2. I wanted some velocities with the 230 both with 120 grains of T7 and BH for a comparison...



Still this morning I knew I had to hustle to beat the heat... when I got to the pit the first thing I did was to set some birds...



This was the tailgate work bench



Just a few birds but they were no match for the new bullet... 6 shots - 6 birds...

Next I set up the chrono and paper target @ 50... the plan was to shoot 3 rounds with 120 grains (volume) of T7 and 120 grains BH (volume). Well after the shooting I computed the numbers... T7 velocity avg. 2150fps - BH-209 velocity avg. 2210fps.

From that and just for the heck of it I ran the numbers through the ballistics program and came up with these print outs. And just for the heck of it I extended them out to 300 yards... The sheets are computed with +/- 3" Point Blank Range...

Here is the T7 chart



And the BH sheet



Not a whole lot of difference all the way through the ranges...

I personally have a whole lot of confidence in this new bullet for deer hunting...

If you might be interested in this bullet - Midway has the Lehigh line and they are less expensive from Midway than Lehigh Defense

Just so I'm clear, it's the 230gr .451 that I want to get for my Renegade right? I think Alex wants to try them out in her Impact as well. Those .458 220gr Lehighs shoot great out of her impact but loading them is just a bit of a struggle for her. Even with the crush rib sabots. But they size nicely for the smokeless demon spawn and I have a screaming load for them. They just don't shoot well past 200 yards. 200 and in I can cover the group with a quarter. At around 250 it's starting to shotgun. But it is a rare even that I have a shot past 200 on whitetail anyway so that will be fine.

Correct the .451x230 - I tried the .452x240 in the Renegade and it did not stabilize...

Remember to look at Midway for them - they are cheaper and free shipping the last time I looked...

Thanks. I'll look them up right now while my mind is actually on them and functioning. Just Tuesday and it's already been a long week. Have 4 teams over seas and their checkins are around 2am for me.. Up late then up early for the past several days. Beginning to use the old mans favorite phrase, I'm to old for this chit.

I wont be shooting them much faster than that in my NULA. Maybe around 2250 to 2300fps max. Im just waiting on a few cool days when i dont need to work in the garden.

I have no need for a high BC bullet atm and even less of a need in the NULA. All the ML lottery hunts are pretty much still or blind hunting. The lower recoil will be a huge plus considering the NULA is only around 7lbs ready to hunt.

2250 to 2300fps That is HAULIN the mail! Never heard of a NULA? What exactly is it?

Sabotloader, Looks like fun! And good shootin!

Ultra Light Arms Model 20 50cal smokeless ML. Weighs just under 5lb bare but mine is a custom with a longer barrel. 41gr of N110 clocks close to 2400fps with a 225gr bullet but i normally use a little less powder. I dont think Melvin Forbes is still making them. Last ones i saw were $1500 or $1800.

Gm, That is a NICE lookin setup!! How do you like that Redfield Scope? I had 2 of them and they were both fantastic for me, I had the higher end model made in Oregon (Leupold) and the cheaper one made in the Philippines, (i lost them in buy, sell, trade but wouldn't hesitate to buy another) They were great optics for the price. I even bought a pair of their binos and they are excellent as well. How is Recoil with that rifle running full tilt with 225 Gr bullets?

I bought 2 of the Redfields the first year they were offered again. At that time they were made in the USA and under $150. No complaints at that price point.

Recoil isnt bad at all with a 225gr but when you step upto a 275gr it thumps a little. I could not get the older Lehigh 220gr 458 to load easy enough since my bore is tight and sabot choices for 458 are limited.

A 451 fits no problem with a few sabots and the 230gr is short enough for the Douglas 1-32 twist. The 452 240gr CF might be ok too but i know the 230gr should according to the calculators and i know someone else that shot them in his NULA.