Lehigh Defense .45LC Maximum Expansion Ammunition

[MR_22]

I just got my shipment of Lehigh Defense .45LC Maximum Expansion ammo to try. Note how long the bullet extends above the shell casing. These are designed ONLY for .45LC guns like the Judge and Governor and takes advantage of the longer cylinder made to accommodate .410 shells.

These rounds feature lead-free copper bullets that are scored down the sides to expand into four-point stars. All of these photos are mine, featuring my Ultra-Lite Judge, except the last one, which comes from their website and shows the massive expansion of these bullets.

I can't wait to try them out. Check YouTube for some pretty awesome ballistics tests on this ammunition. I'm going to do some testing, but at about $4 per round, it won't be extensive, LOL.

(Also note that the rounds I have seem to have the bullet pressed into the shell a little bit further--or perhaps they bullet is slightly smaller?)

Also, here's a great video showing the ballistics of this wild ammo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bLonprIWm4

[OV-1D]

  WOW !!!!!!! Gotta get me some of them , now thats defense ammo , multiple holes going throughout the target . It looks like it may whistle when on it way wouldn't that be cool  . I know HeyJoe is going to get some .

[heyjoe]

  WOW !!!!!!! Gotta get me some of them , now thats defense ammo , multiple holes going throughout the target . It looks like it may whistle when on it way wouldn't that be cool  . I know HeyJoe is going to get some .

they dont fit in a ruger vaquero ov. they would fit in a bond arms though.

[m82a1pa]

Where'd you buy them at?  The one place I found them on the web would have cost me $85 for two boxes.

[Dinadan]

MR_22 - I have not ever really craved a Judge or Governor, but just seeing those rounds makes me want one! They would sure look impressive on a cartridge belt. On the other hand, at $4 a round they should be impressive.

[redhawk4]

An interesting concept, I assume the bullets are that long because of using the less dense copper. Is the idea behind them the way they expand or to give better accuracy with the shallow rifling in the Judge barrel? Given the size of the 45 case and how a normal 240 - 260 gr bullet fits it's an unusual development to fire 220 gr, but I can see it's visual appeal.

[TwoGunJayne]

MR_22 - I have not ever really craved a Judge or Governor, but just seeing those rounds makes me want one! They would sure look impressive on a cartridge belt. On the other hand, at $4 a round they should be impressive.

That's .460 S&W price territory, there. Then again you're looking at 2000-3000 FPE from a 10" or so barrel with the .460.

I wonder if they cost too much for people to post a lot of tests with them?

[MR_22]

  WOW !!!!!!! Gotta get me some of them , now thats defense ammo , multiple holes going throughout the target . It looks like it may whistle when on it way wouldn't that be cool  . I know HeyJoe is going to get some .

they dont fit in a ruger vaquero ov. they would fit in a bond arms though.

The manufacturer says to not to use these in Bond Arms derringers. I don't know why.

[MR_22]

Where'd you buy them at?  The one place I found them on the web would have cost me $85 for two boxes.

Yeah, that's it. Crazy expensive. But it's crazy wild ammo!

http://www.lehighdefense.com/index.php/shop/ammunition/maximum-expansion/16/45-colt-judge/governor-220-gr-maximum-expansion-ammo-detail

[OV-1D]

  WOW !!!!!!! Gotta get me some of them , now thats defense ammo , multiple holes going throughout the target . It looks like it may whistle when on it way wouldn't that be cool  . I know HeyJoe is going to get some .

they dont fit in a ruger vaquero ov. they would fit in a bond arms though.

What was I thinking , the only thing in common with Colt is the rimmed casing . I guess we all need to buy a Taurus , that hurt to write that , but that's the only six shooter I believe .  Hey I do have one of those double barrelled Leinards and one of those you turn six or is it five shooters . Now gotta find some locally .

[Dinadan]

  WOW !!!!!!! Gotta get me some of them , now thats defense ammo , multiple holes going throughout the target . It looks like it may whistle when on it way wouldn't that be cool  . I know HeyJoe is going to get some .

they dont fit in a ruger vaquero ov. they would fit in a bond arms though.

What was I thinking , the only thing in common with Colt is the rimmed casing . I guess we all need to buy a Taurus , that hurt to write that , but that's the only six shooter I believe .  Hey I do have one of those double barrelled Leinards and one of those you turn six or is it five shooters . Now gotta find some locally .

I kind of like the idea of the 11" Leinad side-by-side .410. I just do not like the way they look! That would be a very cool round out of one of  those guns. 

[redhawk4]

[/quote]

The manufacturer says to not to use these in Bond Arms derringers. I don't know why.
[/quote]

The chambers are likely too short because they are machined for standard length ammo where as the Judge has a lot of chamber to spare when the spacing comes from the case rim. it's still a lot shorter than a 410 case.

[heyjoe]

i have a 45 colt/410 barrel for the bond arms.

[OV-1D]

Just in case Joe wear thick gloves , hold at arms length ,put on helmet , wear eye protection (two pairs) and most of all turn your head away with closed eyes . One last thing say your prayers . HaHaHa . But please keep us up to date . 

[heyjoe]

thats how i usually shoot!

[MR_22]

MR_22 - I have not ever really craved a Judge or Governor, but just seeing those rounds makes me want one! They would sure look impressive on a cartridge belt. On the other hand, at $4 a round they should be impressive.

Did you watch the video on these? They're pretty amazing!

If you DO get a Judge to shoot these, don't get the UGLY 3-inch magnum-cylinder version. Get the original 2.5-inch shell cylinder, like mine. You would waste the extra length on the cylinder if you didn't use the 3-inch magnum shells anyway.

[MR_22]

The chambers are likely too short because they are machined for standard length ammo where as the Judge has a lot of chamber to spare when the spacing comes from the case rim. it's still a lot shorter than a 410 case.

My Judge is chambered only for the 2.5-inch shells, not the magnum rounds. These .45LC rounds are shorter than the 2.5-inch .410 shells I use for self defense. I think they Bond Arms .410/.45LC derringers are chambered for the exact same rounds my judge is.

[coopercdrkey]

I load a Lehigh Max Expansion in the #5 hole of my "ugly 3" chamber Judge" and refer to it as my "Alamo round!"


It is preceded by two .45LC's, then two Hornady Critical Defense .410's.  (The Hornady is an interesting round, too.
First out of the shell is a slug which expands enough to engage the rifling and impart some accuracy to the shot, followed
by two round shots, probably 00 or 000, I forget which.)

[bbgun]

Coop,    That sounds like a 7-shooter.   I'm sure as hell not going to break into your house!!!!

[heyjoe]

its probably not recommended for the bond arms because of the locking mechanism for the barrel as opposed to the more substantial locking mechanism for the judge.

[redhawk4]

The chambers are likely too short because they are machined for standard length ammo where as the Judge has a lot of chamber to spare when the spacing comes from the case rim. it's still a lot shorter than a 410 case.

My Judge is chambered only for the 2.5-inch shells, not the magnum rounds. These .45LC rounds are shorter than the 2.5-inch .410 shells I use for self defense. I think they Bond Arms .410/.45LC derringers are chambered for the exact same rounds my judge is.

That's true if the Bond is designed for 410 too, these rounds didn't seem abnormally hot a 220 at 800 fps, so I'm not sure why a Bond wouldn't handle them. Could the bullet being so long, cause abnormal drag in the rifling and a higher pressure spike that would be too much for the Bond?

[tocsn40]

I have a circuit judge and I load it with pdx1 Winchester

[G50AE]

I have a circuit judge and I load it with pdx1 Winchester

That is reminiscent of the English pit bull load or "buck and ball".

[OV-1D]

I have a circuit judge and I load it with pdx1 Winchester

    Have those also PDX1's and they shoot amazingly well for all that loaded in them , another gastly round not to be in front of . I would bet you could shoot limbs off with these , a very ugly spread at twenty feet or so .