Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .308 cal Ballistic Tip, Game King and Interlock

All being 165s...How do these compare as far as toughness and perfomance? I'll have all 3, and will be loading for .300 WSM, .30-06 and .300 Savage. I've had good luck with the Interlock's accuracy in other calibers, and the WSM shoots them pretty well. Are the Game King or Ballistic Tip any better, performance-wise? Have heard good things about BT and GK accuracy as well, but haven't tried them yet. This will be for deer and elk in all 3 rifles.

Main elk gun will be .300 WSM with 180 Accubond or TSX (both are shooting fairly well. The 165s will be mainly for the .300 Sav and .30-06, but I want to try them in the WSM too.

Sounds like a loaded question. Here's how I'd roll with those choices:

1. 300 wsm: 180 accubond or tsx (not saying the 165 wouldn't work great though on deer and antelope and even elk).

2. 30-06: I generally only use 165 interlocks in mine and have had good luck. Good pass thru's, excellent accuracy and minimal meat damage.
However, any of your choices would work great (bt,gk and interlock)

3. 300 savage: 130 ttsx.....sorry, I know that wasn't a choice but I think that's about the perfect combo for the little 300. My first choice for the 300 savage has generally been the 150 hornady flat base interlock SP bullet but the 130 ttsx sure has me re-thinking things....

In my opinion, the 165gr Interlock is the tougher of the three you asked about, followed by the Gameking, they don't seem to expand quite as violently as the Ballistic Tip or Gameking. I'd chose the Interlock over the others for elk, although, I'm sure there are plenty others that have taken elk cleanly with the other two, if you take your time and make a good shot, I'm sure they will all work, just my two cents, others mileage may vary.

My thought was to use whatever shoots best in each rifle, but assuming all else is equal, which would do a better job going through bone (not that I'm aiming for bone) and staying together. Looks like 1 vote for the Interlock over the others, so far.

The 165 NBT is the toughest and would be my first choice of the three you mention.

The Sierra would be my second choice.

Another vote for the interlock too then....

Mine too.

Shoot the 165 Interlock in all three rifles.

I've only shot deer with 165gr Interlocks and Ballistic Tips out of a 30-06 and haven't seen that big of a difference in small samples. Couldn't tell ya on game bigger than deer.

I can,t tell any difference in the three on whitetails, but if I had to pick one for elk, I would go with the Interlock. It has the reputation of being a tougher bullet. ( Assuming all three shoot well in your rifle.)

The 165 NBT is by far the toughest of the bunch.

Shoot your Ballistic tip in the 300Savage.
Shoot your Sierra in the 30-06.
Shoot your Interlokt in the 300. powdr

I'd shoot either the GameKing or the Hornady simply because they are cheaper. If I need a tougher bullet, I'd go to a Nosler Partition or a Federal Trophy Bonded which, BTW, is only availiable in factory ammo. E