I did a lot of research looking for a self-defensive bullet for my AR. I think the LeHigh Controlled Chaos was the best. I was looking for them and found the brass bullets were replaced by an all copper bullet since I loaded 200 for myself over a year ago. Here is the email I just got back from the company:
"We are changing a lot of our CC line over to copper, as we have found that we can get a much larger velocity range where the bullet will properly fragment. The Brass needed 2,000fps to fragment, while the copper will fragment down to about 1,500fps. This allows you to get better performance out of shorter barrels, or at longer ranges. Other than that the general design of the bullets is very similar or the same, and terminal performance is very similar as well, so it’s really a win-win to go to the copper, as you lose nothing, but gain a wider operating velocity and some consistency in performance."
The older 55 grain is the 2nd one down here. The new copper bullets are available in 38g, 45g, 55g, and 62g.
The new copper bullets.
Loaded hot, the older brass 55 grain bullets in My 16" / 5.56 chambered AR15 with a COL of 2.260" had an average velocity of 3,045 fps with 28.4g grains of CFE223. With a COL of 2.300", 28.8 grains of CFE223 fired at 3,050 fps. I also loaded a few with Varget at 2.300", 26.0 grains fired at 2,845 fps.
I'm going to reserve judgement until I see some test and comparisons of the older and newer bullets. Hope they are as good if not better in performance. In ballistic gel, the brass bullet fragmented and left a large cavity while the rear 1/3 stayed intact and penetrated like a mini shotgun slug almost the entire length of the gel block. Here is a good video:
I hope it never happens but if I have to use my AR to defend my home, I want the most effective round I can get or make.
"We are changing a lot of our CC line over to copper, as we have found that we can get a much larger velocity range where the bullet will properly fragment. The Brass needed 2,000fps to fragment, while the copper will fragment down to about 1,500fps. This allows you to get better performance out of shorter barrels, or at longer ranges. Other than that the general design of the bullets is very similar or the same, and terminal performance is very similar as well, so it’s really a win-win to go to the copper, as you lose nothing, but gain a wider operating velocity and some consistency in performance."
The older 55 grain is the 2nd one down here. The new copper bullets are available in 38g, 45g, 55g, and 62g.
The new copper bullets.
Loaded hot, the older brass 55 grain bullets in My 16" / 5.56 chambered AR15 with a COL of 2.260" had an average velocity of 3,045 fps with 28.4g grains of CFE223. With a COL of 2.300", 28.8 grains of CFE223 fired at 3,050 fps. I also loaded a few with Varget at 2.300", 26.0 grains fired at 2,845 fps.
I'm going to reserve judgement until I see some test and comparisons of the older and newer bullets. Hope they are as good if not better in performance. In ballistic gel, the brass bullet fragmented and left a large cavity while the rear 1/3 stayed intact and penetrated like a mini shotgun slug almost the entire length of the gel block. Here is a good video:
I hope it never happens but if I have to use my AR to defend my home, I want the most effective round I can get or make.
