Bowling Pin target and Lehigh Xtreme Defender test result..

[fortyshooter]

Well the Bowling Pin popper target test started out great but shortly the Henry 357 rifle found it's weak spot and these were mild like 38+P 158 gr. loads in magnum cases. You can see in the short video that stronger mounting hardware will be needed! https://youtu.be/KQqqgtHKlwk

I was excited about the Ballistic Gel test of the Lehigh Defense Extreme Defender 120 gr. bullet in 45 ACP. I used the BBR 1911 and my Springfield XDE as the test pistols for both the Lehigh and Hornady XTP bullets. The results as you can see were much the same with no large wound cavity seen from the often hyped Extreme Defender bullet. I guess if you want XTP 230 gr. bullet performance in a light weight 120 gr bullet with less recoil the Xtreme Defender would do that in pistols with barrels in the 3 inch range. I used Lehigh load data which was 8.0 to max of 8.5 Unique and all their load data showed speeds from 1250 to 1325 FPS. thru a 5 inch barrel 1911 pistol. Looking at my results the BBR with 3 inch ported barrel did as well as the XDE with 3.3 non ported barrel as you can see in the gel block. Save your money and just go with the 230 gr. XTP bullet if using less than a 5 inch barrel!

Back to my bowling pin target it was a mounting hardware failure and I will move up to larger sized thru bolts for the repair. Was using 1 inch long 1/4 inch dia. lag screws which pulled out of the board. Hey you don't know till you test it!

That 357 Henry sure has nice CCH !

[Sir Henry]

Beautiful rifle! I think you are right about using bolts. Did you figure out why the pin didn’t reset?

[Travlin]

A 120 grain bullet in a .45 A.C.P. ? I would think maybe a double round ball load would be better.

[fortyshooter]

Was hoping for something like this with that 120 gr. bullet. https://youtu.be/ZucsRIgULCY

Now I was at the starting load of 8 gr. Unique. The Max is 8.5 and speed listed as 1250-1325 for either load out of a 5 inch 1911.
Does 2 inch less barrel make that much difference? Might try it with my Ruger 1911 4 3/4 barrel or even my Highpoint Carbine.
Lehigh load data https://lehighdefense.com/ld-load-data

[DsGrouse]

Thanks for the post. I learned long ago, that even 3" lag screws don't hold up to sustained use. The constant pressure against the wood from hits will rip them free. I have stepped up to through bolting and having my stuff hang from chains. Of which, now after 3 years is time to rebuild the range.

I wish I had a kriss crb in 45 acp to test rounds like this. The longest barrel I have is the 8" of my bnt. I'm not sold on these rounds being significantly better than today's hollow points, (caveat here,) out of a 5" or less gun. I think in the area of carbines, though, the Leigh defense and ruger's arx, might just find their sweet spot.

[fortyshooter]

Thanks for the post. I learned long ago, that even 3" lag screws don't hold up to sustained use. The constant pressure against the wood from hits will rip them free. I have stepped up to through bolting and having my stuff hang from chains. Of which, now after 3 years is time to rebuild the range.

I wish I had a kriss crb in 45 acp to test rounds like this. The longest barrel I have is the 8" of my bnt. I'm not sold on these rounds being significantly better than today's hollow points, (caveat here,) out of a 5" or less gun. I think in the area of carbines, though, the Leigh defense and ruger's arx, might just find their sweet spot.

Yep they need the speed to function correctly.

[fortyshooter]

Made improvements to the mounting hardware using 3/8th bolts so that should take care of that issue.
However from looking at the hinges the hits from those 38/357 rounds was starting to twist the hinge flanges so I will use this target for Rimfire only.

Nothing wrong with another rimfire target!

[Headhog]

Thanks for the testing Forty. I agree with your comment about the need for speed. There is a significant drop in velocity from a 3' 1911 as compared to a 5". Using some back door interpolation from "Ballistics By The Inch", you can expect about a 10% (or more) reduction in velocity. Maybe if you raised you load to 8.4 gr of Unique, you might see better performance.

Paul

[Sir Henry]

Made improvements to the mounting hardware using 3/8th bolts so that should take care of that issue.
However from looking at the hinges the hits from those 38/357 rounds was starting to twist the hinge flanges so I will use this target for Rimfire only.

Nothing wrong with another rimfire target!

I’ll second that!