9mm Lehigh 90gr Xtreme Defender and 115gr Xtreme Penetrator Loading

[padom]

Ive been reading a lot about these 2 bullets lately. More so the 9mm Lehigh Defense 90gr Xtreme Defender loaded by Underwood in their 9mm 90gr +P Xtreme Defender ammo..

I also have been reading the crazy penetration the 9mm +9 115gr Xtreme Penetrator ammo for hiking/fishing/backwoods carry that penetrated over 30" in gel..

I decided to grab 200 of each to play with and see how they performed out of my guns..

I used Lehigh's Load Data page as a starting point. I decided to start with Power Pistol under the 90gr Xtreme Defender and Longshot under the 115gr Xtreme Penetrator.

All loads were loaded in new factory primed Norma 9mm brass that I ran through my Dillon carbide sizing die (no decapper pin) then run into my Mighty Armory 9mm flare die.

I fired everything at 10yd standing (no rest) over my Garmin Xero out of my SIG P320 Daniel Horner with DPP.

https://lehighdefense.com/355-diameter-90-grain-xtreme-defense-bullets-100-count.html

New Norma primed brass
90gr Xtreme Defender
Power Pistol
1.105" COAL

6.0 - 1329 SD 9
6.2 - 1345 SD12
6.4 - 1369 SD 18
6.6 - 1385 SD 12
6.8 - 1407 SD 7

For comparison, factory ammo with same bullet...

Underwood 9mm
90gr Xtreme Defender
1400

Underwood 9mm
90gr +P Xtreme Defender
1475

Top end charges are right there with the Underwood standard pressure ammo with good accuracy. I have to work up a little more or switch to a different powder to get the Underwood +P velocity of 1475..... Doing some research, Underwood uses Silhouette in their ammo....

Its crazy how there was virtually zero recoil with all of these loads. Shot great, and zero recoil. I may switch from my go to 147 HST factory load to these 90gr Xtreme Defenders. The wound channel is nasty on the testing Ive seen and penetration is 18" meeting FBI requirements...

https://lehighdefense.com/355-diameter-115-grain-xtreme-penetrator-bullets-100-count.html

New Norma primed brass
115gr Xtreme Penetrator
Longshot
1.10" COAL

5.1 - 1045 SD 14
5.3 - 1083 SD 24
5.5 - 1129 SD 19
6.7 - 1133 SD 20

For comparison, factory ammo with same bullet...

Underwood 9mm
115gr Xtreme Penetrator
1150

Underwood 9mm
115gr +P Xtreme Penetrator
1275


These Underwood charges were underwhelming in speed and accuracy... Im going to bump charges up a little bit and also probably try a different powder. I want to match the 1275 Underwood +P velocities with excellent accuracy to make this my new hiking/ fishing load where brown bears arent present and can carry a 9mm vs my 10mm...

Penetration testing Ive seen shows 30" of penetration with this Underwood factory load which is awesome.

Some more data...

My go to plinking/practice load that I run 10's of thousands on my automated Dillon that I shot today for a data point

124gr Xtreme HP
4.0gr Titegroup
mixed brass
ZSR Turkey Small Pistol Primers

1063
SD 11

 

[padom]

Loaded up some more rounds to test today


Stepped up charge weights of Power Pistol under the 90gr Xtreme Defense trying to hit the Underwood 90gr +P factory load velocity of 1475....

Shot 3rd each shooting the 2 highest charge weights i tested yesterday and the next 2 higher charges weights at 10yds out of the same Sig p320 DH.

Power Pistol hit a wall at 6.6gr essentially. Anything over that and no real gains in velocity.. have to switch to a different powder for more velocity to match Underwoods +P load..

Current speeds match Underwoods standard pressure 90gr Xtreme Defender ammo with this same bullet. Accuracy at 10yd is excellent and some crazy low single digit SD's!


Im very happy with the results of this combo.

also, for some more data, I tested the 6.6gr load out of my SIG 365 X Macro and velocity was 1203 out of its 3.1" barrel

 


90gr Xtreme Defense
Power Pistol
New Primed Norma
1.105" COAL

6.6 - 1389 SD 20
6.8 - 1384 SD 1.2
7.0 - 1383 SD 15
7.2 - 1391 SD 5.8






I also bumped up the charges and retested the 115gr Xtreme Penetrator with Longshot...

Accuracy wasnt quiet as good as the 90gr but I got the velocity close to the Underwood 125gr +P Xtreme Penetrator ammo and low single digit SD's..

Ill play with seating depth and see if i can tighten up this 6.3gr 1232 charge.

115gr Xtreme Defense
Longshot
New Primed Norma
1.105" COAL


5.7 - 1173 SD 13
5.9 - 1183 SD 21
6.1 - 1217 SD 10.8
6.3 - 1232 SD 1.1