Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 190gr Hornady

I tried this in another area, but would like to ask you reloaders...anyone ever use the 190gr Hornady on game? If so, please share your experiences/details. I have a ruger #1 in 30/06 that likes most anything - 150's, 165s, 180s and even 200s. It's most accurate load so far features 57gr of IMR4350 with a 165gr Hornady SP. Some have reminded me that the 165gr Hornady is not a bad place to be at all, but I like to be a little different and those 190's seem very cool. Plus, they have a little more weight to them (maybe better for an all-around load). And even though I've only tried a couple recipes so far, it looks like they may be as accurate as those 165s in my rifle. And the big kicker for me, for $20 +or-, I can get a box of 100 here locally. Funny thing about my boys, the older they get the more and more I have to feed them. When I get that extra $20, it's nice to be able to develop a load, sight in, and still have 75 or so pieces of lead in the box.

The 165 Hornadys shouldn't be any more expensive than the 190 gr. Are the 190s a match HP bullet or a hunting bullet?

I was thinking more of a price comparison with other all-around options like Noslers or Barnes Xs. The Hornady 190gr is their Interlock Boattail.

I ran those 190 BTSP's in my 300 Win Mag many moons ago, killed moose and deer like no bodies business, never recoverd a slug, Also found the did'nt blood shot the deer near as bad as the 139's out of my 284Win.

Thanks for the feedback! I got some recipies loaded up with that 190 grainer and I head out to the range a week from today.

A friend of mine used those in his .30-06 for all his elk hunting maybe 15-20 years ago, loaded to about 2700. Worked well.

JB

I killed a 5x5 bull with the 190 Hornady in my 30-06 a couple of years ago. I hit him tight behind the shoulder, half way up the body. He ran no more than 50 yards, and was only on his feet a few seconds. The bullet completely penetrated the bull.

I've spent a good part of this week shooting various bullets into the ballistic test tube. I've mostly been testing Nosler Accubonds and Partitions of various weights. Today, I decided to test a Hornady 180 SPBT Interlock. I was so impressed with the results, that I intend to test a 190 next week, and see how it compares to the 180 Hornady, and the Noslers.

FWIW,
Steve

My first moose fell down in mid-stride to one of those 190 spbt bullets from my '06. Bullet sailed through too. That was more than a couple of dozen bulls ago and is a feat I've yet to repeat. More often the bullets don't exit and rarely do moose drop straight down - at least for me.

Hey Wally...I'd love to hear the results of your tests with those 190s. I'm not a big student of ballistics, but when one looks at all the numbers, this bullet seems to have it all. Better than average BC, better than average SD, good construction, the expansion qualities of Hornady SPs, the momentum and penetrating potential of 190 grains, etc., etc. And if some can get 2700fps out of a standard length barrel, the 26" barrel on my Ruger #1 should do at least as well - which would mean trajectory with that highly areodynamic chunk of lead should be good too - out to any distance I care to shoot at game anyway. There may be many bullets that can claim the same, but how many could do it for $20 a box of 100? Please post your results when you get a chance.

I was able to get 2,700 with the Hornady 190 pushed by IMR-4831 through a 22 inch barrel. If I ever load this bullet again, I will probably try a Reloader powder or Ramshot Hunter.

Expat

AZ,

I'll let you know how the expansion and penetration characteristics look, as soon as I shoot the test. Like I said, the Hornady 180 SPBT Interlock looked real good. Taking my personal experience and other anecdotal evidence into account, I don't anticipate much of a problem with the 190.

I'm looking forward to doing the test myself. Hornady Interlocks were my bullets for years. I've killed more game with them than any other bullet. I mostly use cartridges in the 2600 to 2900 fps velocity range, but have had good results with them in 7 Rem Mag, and 300 Win Mag. Then I heard somewhere I needed to be using premium bullets.

With a little luck, I may get to do the test sometime this weekend.

Steve

I have taken several large whitetails with them when I lived back in Minnesota.. in both the 06 and the 300 Win Mag...

They did as well as the 180s....

They work just fine and shoot accurately. Never shot a deer with one, but got a moose through both shoulders at 225 yards. Bullet was found under the hide on the off side, perfectly mushroomed. I prefer the 180, but the 190 works fine too. Also no flies on the 165. I load them for a buddy that shoots all kinds of game from deer to moose with his 30-06 Remmy 760. He won't shoot anything else.

One thing I seem to hear about those 165 Hornadys is that most that have used them for a while really like them - and for about everything. One thing I hear about the 190s is that no matter what they hit, they typically keep a good mushroom. They may not always exit, but they are found past where that mushroom has already done is job. Typically my '06 will put those 165s inside an inch at 100 yards and about 2 1/2" high. Last time I shot those at 200 yards my group was the same - 1" center to center, and 2 1/2" high. That was great to see, but for some reason I wanted more weight. I only tried the 190s once and it was toward the end of a session and I had to rush to get back home. I sent a few down range and they were all over each. I made note and am ready to make a serious run with those to see what happens. Nowadays I hear that a good 165gr out of an '06 will penetrate about as much as anything heavier. On the flip side, it seems that a properly selected 180 or 190grainer will fly just about as flat as a 165 gr bullet. It makes it a little tricky deciding which way to go, but everyone's input really helps. Thanks.

Both. I have both but haven't done much with them. The match version is extremely accurate in several of my .30 caliber rifles and the 190 gr. hunting version, so far, has been a very close second place. If I ever draw an elk tag, I might get a chance to try them out.
Paul B.

I saw a carribou shot with one behind the shoulders at about 200yds. It left a decent sized exit hole and did blood shot the meat pretty good around the hole but it was only rib meat. I wasn't impressed with what I saw but all the above posts make me think this might have been an unusual result. I certainly wouldn't put them down as a killing bullet. The thing about a big bullet going a little slower is you are most likely not going to get too much of a blow up. Hornady makes good bullets and I would not be afraid to use them on anything up to elk.

It is an excellent bullet. I have shot a lot of big game with it and the 200 gr. Noslers in my 06 and 300 H&H..