Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Recently purchased Hornady 165 gr IL SP

My solution is and has been to buy all I expect I will need for a given diameter when I am pleased with the performance of a particular bullet. I am all for "technology" and new stuff but these days, IMO, the bullet suppliers are cutting RCH's for hunting rounds.

sbhooper,

You've recovered Nosler Partitions that lost 2/3 of their weight?

sbhooper,

You've recovered Nosler Partitions that lost 2/3 of their weight?

Hornady Interlocks ... but it did matter on the other animal, which had to be shot again because the first didn't make it into the chest after hitting the shoulder joint.

sbhooper,

First, I'm a big fan of Hornady Interlocks and have used them to take several species of big game in weights from 100-250 grains and calibers from .25 to .35. The ones I've recovered have averaged about 50% weight retention, but two separated core and jacket. Once it didn't matter because the animal died anyway, but it did matter on the other animal, which had to be shot again because the first didn't make it into the chest after hitting the shoulder joint.

Second, Nosler Partitions are NOT made to shed the "front half" of the bullet. They're designed to lose the front core, which isn't anywhere near half the weight. The models at the smaller end of the line-up, in caliber and weight, typically lose about 30-35% of their weight, and the heaviest models lose around 10-20%.

This makes a considerable difference in penetration over the Hornady Interlock. I once shot a mule deer buck facing me in lodgepole timber with a 140-grain 7mm Partition. The bullet didn't exit but I couldn't find it inside the buck's innards. Found it a year later when biting into a round steak, retaining 60% of its weight. Also once shot a 200-grain Nosler Partition through the middle of the big joint of a 6-point elk's shoulder as the bull quartered toward me, and the bullet exited the rear of the ribcage on the other side, several feet of penetration AFTER breaking the thickest chunk of bone in an elk's body.

As noted earlier, Hornady Interlocks are good bullets, but they are NOT Nosler Partitions.

sbhooper,

First, I'm a big fan of Hornady Interlocks and have used them to take several species of big game in weights from 100-250 grains and calibers from .25 to .35. The ones I've recovered have averaged about 50% weight retention, but two separated core and jacket. Once it didn't matter because the animal died anyway, but it did matter on the other animal, which had to be shot again because the first didn't make it into the chest after hitting the shoulder joint.

Second, Nosler Partitions are NOT made to shed the "front half" of the bullet. They're designed to lose the front core, which isn't anywhere near half the weight. The models at the smaller end of the line-up, in caliber and weight, typically lose about 30-35% of their weight, and the heaviest models lose around 10-20%.

This makes a considerable difference in penetration over the Hornady Interlock. I once shot a mule deer buck facing me in lodgepole timber with a 140-grain 7mm Partition. The bullet didn't exit but I couldn't find it inside the buck's innards. Found it a year later when biting into a round steak, retaining 60% of its weight. Also once shot a 200-grain Nosler Partition through the middle of the big joint of a 6-point elk's shoulder as the bull quartered toward me, and the bullet exited the rear of the ribcage on the other side, several feet of penetration AFTER breaking the thickest chunk of bone in an elk's body.

As noted earlier, Hornady Interlocks are good bullets, but they are NOT Nosler Partitions.

Gringo Loco,

The Interlock that didn't penetrate was a 117-grain .25 boattail from the .257 Roberts, muzzle velocity a little over 2900 fps. The animal was a mature mule deer doe, standing quartering toward us. My cousin was the hunter, and he put the bullet in the shoulder joint so it would angle through the chest. It would have if it hadn't come apart, but instead what was left of the jacket and core stopped in the ribcage.

The doe turned sideaway after the shot and started limping away, so he shot again, behind the shoulder, and that bullet went all the way through, putting the deer down.

The 250 roundnose Interlock is a good one in the .358 Winchester, though of course trajectory isn't very flat! I used to handload them for one of my hunting mentors for his Savage 99 after Winchester quit making 250 factory loads, and he liked the way they didn't shoot up meta and penetrated well. Among other animals he took a BIG 6x6 elk with them, but also a lot of eating-size deer. I inherited the rifle and used them as well, but Hornady eventually discontinued the round-nose, though I see them at gun shows now and then. I switched to 225 Partitions, which work very well.