Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles No more 190 BTSP Interlock?

I thought this bullet was pretty well regarded among 30 caliber cup and core hunters. I guess it must not have sold as well as I thought.

The two moose I killed with them failed to stop either; one at less than 50, one at 400.

It's not listed on Hornady's website, it was a good bullet I hope that it isn't gone now.

I have a partial box I won't use if you want them. If so I will see how many are in there, but guessing 75 or more.

Figures. They probably did away with them, so that they can sell more of the SST crap.

My favorite .30 cal. bullet for moose and elk. I have 200 left, so I guess I'll have to use them sparingly. In March of 2014 the folks at Hornady told me that they would be making a run of them in June, however they removed them from their website instead.

I've only ever heard good things about them, and mostly from guys using them for elk in some magnum. Never tried them, but kind of wishing I would have now.

Bummer. Everything changes, some at faster rates than others. Seems that the shooting world, which made few changes for decades, has changed much in the last 10 years. The next 10 may bring even greater change. If I had the moolah, I'd stockpile what I plan to use for the rest of my years, with a pile thrown in for the kids.

It only causes me concern when companies that also claim to be trustworthy sportsmen use the same PR tactics as every other soulless corporation does. What happened to integrity? We aren't talking about the limitations of one person here, but rather, a significant group of people, making decisions to mislead their customers. Not good.

Crap, my 308 Norma loves those. Guess I better see if I can find some more and stock up, down to less than 200.

Again, PM me if you want the ones I have. I'll get a count and just give me something for gas and mail.

I had hear that the 165 SP (flat base) had been dis-conned so I was looking around on their site. Turns out the forecast still appears to be okay 165-wise, but no more 190 Interlock. I don't think I've ever been without at least a partial box of those.



Was plinking sea ice push-ups a few years ago with 200 NABs and 190 Interlocks. The distance was approx 175 yards. Not too bad for cuppys.

I had heard the same thing about the 165 flat and was disappointed, as I had decided to try those out. Glad to see the 165 listed. Never used the 190, but I don't own a magnum.

I'd jump on them, but then I'd run the serious risk of liking them a lot, and not being able to find more! I'll let others have a shot.

I'll let you offer them to whomever gets there first if wish. But thanks…

I have 3-4 boxes in storage in colorado and I don't even own s 30 caliber anymore.

What are you going to do with all those?

I have 3 or 4 boxes I will have to try them in the 06 and the .308.

As much as I love Hornady bullets the 190 BTSP never go tried here. My 30 Gibbs just wouldn't shoot a boattail of any flavor is the real reason. My wish was that Hornady would build a 200gr SPT or maybe semi-spitzer.

They are a good bullet and I use them in my 30-06 and used to shoot them in a 308 Norma.

But in seriousness its hard to see how you'd be left wanting by subbing a 180 BTSP into the same job.

A 200g BTSP I can see some sense in because it is more of a jump up.


I have about 100 of the 190 grainers left but won't miss them too sorely if they don't run them again.

Looking at their online catalog, it doesnt show any Interlocks below 8mm. Did I look at it wrong or is it a printing mistake?

You may have just missed a link. Start at the bottom half of page one and there are 6 pages of them. They have definitely reduced the numbers of Interlocks, they stopped the .243 100 SP flatbase for one, but there is still at least one in each caliber and more as you go up in size.

Hornady Interlocks

Got it, thanks. I went to Interlocks on page 43. That was a continuation of the list.

I picked them up at a gunshow in Alaska when I had a 300 WSM. I also have a [bleep] of the 8mm 220gr SPFB bullets. They discontinued those in favor of the 195's.

Hornady has a bad habit of canning the old tried and true stuff, for all this new 'better' stuff.. as that is what sells...

society has migrated from Tried and True, to believe in "new and Improved" BS...

give me a good old round nose any day, as I don't need a 500 yd load, I need something that performs at 250 yds or under, regardless of impact velocity...

Color is a marketing tool. It works too.
Shiny nickel cases with black bullets.....
Blems aren't shiney enough.....
Plastic tips can be un any bright color.....
Silver Tips were part of the transition
Shapes too, make a bullet different, boat tails, hollow points almost too small to exist, Boat tails, releif grooves, things you can't see like bonding, ogive changes, BC's beyond need, retained weight?
What maket segment have I missed?

And then you see a thread on the rediscovery of the humble .30/30 using factory ammo. If we want to be as good as our forefathers, maybe we can drop the camo and these endless anti human pong sprays, also incidently in bright colored spray top bottles and grab a pair of bib and brace overalls with matching flannel shirt and leather work boots, the extravagence being, 2 pairs of sox.

It can cost an aweful lot to kill a deer because of all these improvements and, don't forget your cough silencer......

Maybe we are just a gullible generation but I do like warm sox and boots and a warm jacket that breathes and......

Here is what Hornady sent me in regards to the 190 gr BTSP.



"We definitely appreciate the feedback as we are always looking to improve upon our products. Unfortunately the 190gr BTSP is obsolete and we understand how one feels when something they have used with great success is no longer available. We appreciate your business."


I can't believe they would call the bullet "obsolete" I prefer the regular flat base and BTSP Interlock's to anything else they make. I guess I must be in the minority these days.....

To be obsolete I'd have thought there'd need to be a better, very similar product at the same or cheaper price within the same brand.

Maybe I've missed it, but not sure what that is?

The 180g BTSP Interlock is the closest but it isn't better. And it has been around for donkeys' ages too.

Dammit. I dislike options going away. Thanks for clarifying from the source, Gerrygoat. Their reply sounds to corporate for me though.

Uhh, they've got Zombie Ammo. How did you miss that vital detail? (You don't even have to hit with it; all you need to do is get close, as long as you do it fast and frequently.)

Sounds like Armalite Marketing from 50 years ago.

Damn. i really liked the 190 BTSP in my .300 H&H

Ingwe
If you have a 7x57 and a .300 H&H, that almost obligates you to top it off with .465 Royal H&H Double?

That bullet was the heat on elk and accurate to boot!!!

They did the same thing with the 220 gr 8mm and the 375 300 gr BTSP

Bummer. I have 200 of them I bought for my 300 WSM and .30-06 but I haven't worked any loads up for them yet.

I'm not a big fan of Hornady BTSPs, that being the only one I've cared much for in a hunting bullet. Next up, they'll probably drop the 139 SP in 7mm and the 129 in 6.5 since those are the two other Interlocks that see more use in my rifles.

The good news is that we have lots of bullet options today. The bad news is that some of the old standbys are being dropped.

I just emailed Hornady regarding 100gr 257 interlocks and 120gr HP Interlocks. The answer was that the 100grainers are scheduled for production in July. But they don't have the 120s scheduled "at this time "

The 6.5 mm 129 gr Interlock is one of my favourites too, accurate in any 6.5 mm gun that I have ever tried and works well on game too. About to try some in the new 260 and expect good things.

My old '06 shot the 190 BTSP like it was a target bullet at 2800 fps. I sold the rifle before I got the opportunity to try the bullet out on elk. But am convinced it would not have bounced off.

I replaced the '06 with a Ruger #1 in STW, and it shoots the 162 gr BTSP as well as the '06 did the 190. And I have successfully used the 162 on a couple of bulls. I was very pleased with the results.

But alas, I am one of the customers who drove Hornady to declare the BTSP an obsolete design.

I have two hundred STW cases presently loaded with the 160 Nosler AB from Shooters Pro Shop, and the cabinet is devoid of the Hornady BTSP.

I'm thinking the 180 btsp is more popular and probably contributed to the demise of the 190. I gave the 190 a fair chance in about 5 of my 30 cals and to be honest, the 180's shot better. There's little to no gain in going to the 190 vs. the 180 and I'm sure Hornady feels the same way as they reviewed sales of the 2 bullets.

Sure, I saw a picture of you the other day in my Barnes manual.... Don't let them know you've been using plain ol Hornady's in that H&H..

True, can't believe that eluded me!

I actually wet newspaper tested the 168g Zmax (which I believe is just the Amax with a green tip) vs a 180g Interlock and the Zmax ain't no Interlock that's for sure.

It didn't perform poorly, but I was not pursuaded to walk away from Interlocks.