I managed to get another couple of quick tests in yesterday with the 225 Lehigh Extreme Penetrator. This bullet should and will enhance the capabilities of 45/70 in the extreme. And, it will seat in the case deep enough so that the cartridge works through the Marlin. Looking at these yesterday, I have some doubts about the nose projection of the 250 Lehighs being short enough. Will investigate that today I hope.
Now, since this is exploratory and these bullets are not growing on trees, I am only testing 2 rounds. In addition to that, I am testing from a 1 lb container of non blended or tested RL 7. Today, before I proceed, I have to mix up this batch, I think its close to 12 lbs, mix it, blend it, and then go to work with it. Because the next 1 lb container may be totally different, and it may be totally different than the 2015 blend I have been working out of. So I have to blend this damn batch of RL 7 before doing anything else with it.
The first test yesterday with the 225 Lehigh I started with 59/RL 7 and Winchester Large Rifle Primer. 2355 fps at 28800 PSI. Very low pressure, and expected in part because Weight Equal Pressure, and 225 is light........
Next I jumped to 62/RL 7, and the first shot gave a serious 2512 fps at 41500 PSI... Damn near Perfect. But the second shot was flawed and gave 2465 fps at 33000 PSI. This is WAY out of Spec in both ES of velocity and serious stupid ES in pressure. Not acceptable at all. ????? I think, not 100% sure, but I think maybe one of the Lehighs, the second shot, might have been undersized?? Something went wrong, and that comes to mind at first. Could be something else as well. Once I get the powder blended, I intend to retest this, and also measure the bullet diameters.....
If we can get this to run at 2500 fps this would be a serious load in 45/70..... the bullet has extreme terminal performance, and will enhance greatly what one can do with 45/70s..........
Now, since this is exploratory and these bullets are not growing on trees, I am only testing 2 rounds. In addition to that, I am testing from a 1 lb container of non blended or tested RL 7. Today, before I proceed, I have to mix up this batch, I think its close to 12 lbs, mix it, blend it, and then go to work with it. Because the next 1 lb container may be totally different, and it may be totally different than the 2015 blend I have been working out of. So I have to blend this damn batch of RL 7 before doing anything else with it.
The first test yesterday with the 225 Lehigh I started with 59/RL 7 and Winchester Large Rifle Primer. 2355 fps at 28800 PSI. Very low pressure, and expected in part because Weight Equal Pressure, and 225 is light........
Next I jumped to 62/RL 7, and the first shot gave a serious 2512 fps at 41500 PSI... Damn near Perfect. But the second shot was flawed and gave 2465 fps at 33000 PSI. This is WAY out of Spec in both ES of velocity and serious stupid ES in pressure. Not acceptable at all. ????? I think, not 100% sure, but I think maybe one of the Lehighs, the second shot, might have been undersized?? Something went wrong, and that comes to mind at first. Could be something else as well. Once I get the powder blended, I intend to retest this, and also measure the bullet diameters.....
If we can get this to run at 2500 fps this would be a serious load in 45/70..... the bullet has extreme terminal performance, and will enhance greatly what one can do with 45/70s..........