Has anyone used this bullet at 7/08-7X57 velocities on game? I shot a couple into dry newspaper the other day and was amazed at how well it penetrated.
Thanks

Fred

I have shot and seen shot a fair amount of deer-sized stuff with the 139 Hornady -- and I can't imagine that adding 10% more bullet weight to the shank would be a bad thing .

You should use them; then report back with pictures. Just please don't have a two-fer... .

Dennis

I have used them in a 7mm Mag on deer,caribou and my buddy borrowed my rifle and my 154 gr interlocks and killed a 500lb black bear.They work amazingly well....

I hit a whitetail doe at around 200 yds with a 154 gr Hornady. It was loaded in a 7x57 and travelling in the vicinity of 2600 fps.

It was an angleing shot that entered in the front shoulder and the bullet was recovered in the opposite hip. My friend that recovered the bullet while butchering the doe said it was a nice mushroom.

Broadside shots on other whitetail deer from zero to 225 yds fully penetrate the deer's body. I've used this load on 5 or six whitetails.


The 154's work well at moderate velocities....

Dan

Thanks- I am going to try to put them to good use this fall.
Fred

I bought a bunch of them when Midway had them as seconds. I use them in a 7x57 at not quite 2800 fps and they work great. I had two one shot kills on deer with them last year and I expect to use them again this year.

I used a single 154 Spire Point in my .280 Ackley, loaded down to 2800 fps, to kill an Asian water buffalo a couple of years ago. Perfect double carotid artery hit and an exit hole in the far side of the neck of about one-inch.

A single well-placed bullet can do magic.

I've killed lots of deer and several elk with the Hornady 154-grain Spire Point Interlocked. It is a wonderful bullet in all possible ways.

In thinking back, I cannot remember ever having the need to shoot twice on any big game animal I've killed with a 154. Nor can I remember a critter struggling more than a few yards.

Heck of a bullet.

Steve

I have been using this one bullet in a FN Mauser 284 Win. for many years now. I have shot Antelope, Mule deer and Whitetails and some wild hogs out in central California with 154 over IMR 4350. It hovers around 2875 fps and has never let me down. I quit trying other bullets and powders years ago. Its the one bullet and powder combo that I know how much to hold over or what distance its going to hit dead on. I am sighted in at 300 yards dead on. I always pick up the FN when heading out west, someday will get an elk under my belt with it. Its no wonder .284 has so many different cartridges that use it. It is the one bullet that can do anything, if you do your part!

I use it in my 280 & 1 of my 7x57. They work VERY well on deer. I have killed several deer with the round nose version loaded in a long throated #1.

A good friend of mine will use nothing else in 7mm Rem Mag. They have accounted for 10 Elk for him. I use them in my 7mm Rem Mag. and they shoot well not to mention kill deer very well.

The 139 and 154 Interlock Sp's like the .257" 100 grain one are fantastic bullets for accuracy and killing.

Friend Steve,

Is this another bullet that is of tougher construction than others in the line - like the 120 grain BT silhouette bullet? We "industry outsiders" need to know such things (please).

-

Actually, I have no idea. I've just had excellent performance with the 154s for many years; even before they were "Interlocked" I was killing elk with them.

In .284" the Hornady 154-grain has always been my "heavy bullet." In this way, it is very much like the Hornady .308" 180-grain Spire Point Interlocked. Hey, it's a great bullet that simply kills stuff.

Speaking only for myself, 120-grain Ballistics and 139 Hornadys work splendidly on deer, antelope and elk. In my experience, the 140 Ballistic is a tad "soft" for elk, but works fine on goats and deer. And I've used the 120 Ballistic quite successfully on good-sized bull elk and moose (100% bang flows on large bull elk).

Anyway, when the opportunity came up to whack an Asian water buffalo, there was no doubt what bullet I would use. I loaded the 154 Hornady down, for the undoubtedly close range, and went afield with no fear.

The shot was about fifty yards and the big bugger was precisely broadside. I held at the point of the jaw and placed the bullet. The 154-grain Hornady penetrated the near-side two-inch thick neck hide, traversed the neck, surgically whacking both carotid arteries, penetrated the far-side two-inch thick neck hide, leaving a one-inch exit hole and .... for all I know the perfectly expanded bullet is still in low orbit of the earth.

For those who don't know, Asian water buffalo are HUGE creatures that taste good. Shot through the ribs, they tend to go for a while. Properly executed, like mine was, they simply fall over and squirt a four-foot blood fountain straight up into the air.

Personally, I'd rather kill a water buff precisely with a 154-grain Hornady and get the job done instantly. A month or so after I killed my buff, several Campfire folks were on a buff hunt in Texas. It was the typical thing of "big bullets for big critters" and shooting in the brown. And, of course, it took a barrage of 400-grain bullets to eventually whittle down the beasties. I'm too old for that crap ... precisely place a 154 and it will just plain kill schit.

My experience has been that the 154-grain Hornady Spire Point Interlocked is simply a great bullet.

I'm kind of amazed that the usual cup-and-core bullet haters and dissers have not injected their usual bile upon this discussion. That's nice.

Steve

Steve,

I have found Hornady bullets work very well too. I have killed a pile of critters with their 130 and 140 grain bullets in 270 and 270 Weatherby.

I have also used their 139 grain bullets a lot in 7mm-08 and 280 with perfect satisfaction.

In 30 caliber,I have used them in 150,165,and 180 grain flavor out of rifles in 308,30-06,and 300 Win Mag.

I have had more dead right there kills with these bullets than any others,and trust me I have used a lot of different bullets.

I often find them just under the offside hide of dead critters and they tend to weigh about half their original weight and expand to about twice their original diameter.

This doesn't impress some people,and they think these bullets failed. Whatever,the critters are still dead.

My friend Van,used the 180 grain Hornady out of his 300 Weatherby to kill more than a dozen Brown Bears that were poorly hit by clients with various wunder bullets from various wunder guns.

I have used them to keep very big,very nasty hogs from hurting people in similar circumstances.

I don't use Hornady bullets exclusively, still like to try other stuff,but when somebody tells me they won't work as well as their homometalic bondage core bullets,I just grin and nod.

Britt

I'm late to the topic,but want to confirm the utility of the Hornaday 7mm 154 gr.. Used for years in my old all-purpose backpacking rifle(that being deer,elk,goats,black bear)Savage 99-F,284W..Used the spire point in that one.and the RN in the win100,284W,when in the pole timber..(the RN can seat out a bit further, still function from mag,and fly well enough for those ranges)..)..a good # ,, Idabull

While I don't use any bullet exclusely, I have a fair amount of experience with this great bullet. About ten years ago I bought nearly one thousand of them at a garage sale. With them my son,my brothers and I have killed enought deer, elk and other stuff to know this is one great bullet. Out of my 280AI it is scary accurate and flat shooting. Two of my brothers took their 7mm Rem Mag. loaded with that bullet to B.C. and killed one each, elk, moose, caribou. Some of the most text book perfect expanded bullets I have in my modest collection are 154gr. Hornady's. Yeah, I like them.

I think I bought 10,000 when they were seconds. I still have an unopened bag/box of 5,000 and a bag of maybe 2,000. I use them in a 7mmTCU @ 1750 fps and in an old M93 Mauser @ 2300 fps, and get outstanding accuracy in both. I've never shot game with either, however, although I'm considering hunting with the 7mmTCU this year.

A couple of questions: (1) what were they before Interlock; and (2) how do you think it will do on deer at 1750 fps?

PS: Did anyone else who bought the seconds find anything wrong with the bullets? Mine were perfect except a few (1 of 100) had what looked like water stains on them, like a sprinkler went off and got some of them wet.

Royce, I've never shot them in one of the smaller 7's but I have used it a bit in the 7 Rem. It's always done very well for me and has always been one of my go to accuracy bullets when it comes to testing a 7 to see if it'll perk.

I did build a load up for a friend (who then did the loading himself) with an A-Bolt with a 26" tube. He's used it to fill more than one ark and just continues to fill the freezer and trophy room with it. That was about 15 years ago or so and I don't think that he'll ever change it.

Side note, to me...the 154 Horn in a 7 and the 180 Horn in a 30 are both incredibly accurate and both perform more like a preme than a standard bullet.

Good luck with it

Dober

If Jon Sundra sees this thread, he can weigh in prett heavily. In an article a few years ago, he wrote that he had taken more game with the 154 Hornady than any other bullet, with 7mmsof all sizes and velocities. I recommende this bullet to a friend 9yrs ago for a plains game safari, and he was tickled with the accuracy and performance in his 7 Rem mag. Another friend loaded some for his wife's 7-08 3yrs ago, and she downed a nice 3x3 elk with one shot. It staggered about 30 yards and dropped.

My Dad which is 83 now and no longer hunts killed...well let's just say for 50 years almost every hog and whitetail that got in his way with the 139gr Hornady interlock in 7x57.Way over 100 deer and I don't know how many hogs.He finally got tired of the challenge and had a 257AI built and used the 117gr interlock...same results! powdr

I like all the interloks myself. I have used the 154 on a couple of deer an one elk. I hit him in the back of the neck as he ran away. The bullet shattered 6 inches of neck bone and down he went. No bullet recovery or exit.

I've used it with great success in 7 x 57s with an MV at 2500 to 2800 fps MV.. new failed me.. In fact the only thing I can saw better about the SP, is how much I love the 154 RN even better.. I sure hope Hornady doesn't quit making that one...

Well, darn you guy's! I just picked up a box of the 154's to try in my new 7X57. What powder do you guy's prefer with this bullet?

You would probably have a hard time getting H-4350 "not" to work.

48.0 grains of H 4350 works for me. In fact, that is my load whether I am shooting 140s or 154s. It is a little on the mild side for 140s but it still gets them to over 2800 in my rifle.

I wish I had not read this thread...now you guys have me itching for 280 rem "Pro Hunter" barrel. The 154 gr Horn would be my starting bullet choice.

Doc

I still use the 154 RN to this day,since I got my first box in the 70's...I don't have any to show,they're went out the other side everytime,including one large Hog....Good pill.

That would be too hot in my Ruger M77MkII. I max out at 47 grains with the Speer 145 grain bullet. I'm not poo-pooing your information, just advising folks to start low (as always).

-

WOW!
Got my query answered in spades! Thanks everybody.
Fred

Friend Fred,

Heck, the 154 is just a great bullet, whether in Spire or Round Nose. It is one that you could shoot for the rest of your life and feel no lack.

Enjoy it.

Steve

Unless of course he started using the 139 Horns flat bases...grins

Dober

I started to add that it is a little on the warm side for 154s. I don't think it is dangerously so as that there are no obvious pressure signs and it is in line with some other data I have seen, but it might be a little warm. On the other hand, it is nice having one powder charge for all the bullets I shoot in that caliber.

It is hard to get in trouble with the 4350s. I have heard that a lot of people used to load 30-06s with those powders simply by dipping the cases into a bunch of powder and shaving it off at the top of the case.

I've used the Hornady 154Gr in a ruger 280 rem for several years on deer. A friend bought the rifle and still uses the 154 Gr. Excellent results. I also used the 139 gr Interlock bullet in my 7SAUM this past year. All bullets have totally penetrated everything from any angle.

The Nosler 7MM 120BT somehow seems to be a tad tuffer that other NBT bullets. I have has good results with them as the open up quickly and penetrate. I use them in both of my 708s.

True, true, true. Man, I could just use the 139 forever and be a happy guy. The 139 surely whacks bull elk dead ricky-tick.

Steve

I am pondering which to use on northern whitetails and mulies, a 7mm 154 Hornady, or .30 cal 180 trophy bonded. The trophy bonded is slightly more accurate out of my WSM, what do you think guys?

Steve
Good or bad, I have come to the point in my life where I want to simplify my rifle situation. After thousands of dollars down the tube, I have come to the conclusion that any improvements over the 308-30/06 family of cases, unless one goes way down to the 223 class, or up to the 375 class are of very dubious significance.
With the 7/08 and its ilk, I can walk into the gun store, throw a cat into the powder selection and have a workable powder. Load developement will be done by choosing a Hornady bullet of an appropriate weight. If they are out of Hornadys, Speer, Sierra, Nosler, Barnes, or cast will work at the velocities I will achieve. Load developement done. If the rifle is in good working order, acuracy will be more than sufficient. If I don't have time to reload, I can go into Capitol Sports, kick the 7/08 ammo onto the floor, pick up the top box and be reasonably sure that I have ammo adequate for antelope, deer and elk, for a cost less than a box of 376 Viagra magnums. And in addition to all that, the bugger is fun to shoot!
I suspect the fact that I can shoot it very well from field positions will outweigh any deficiencies it has when measured by the Taylor knockdown formula or kinetic energy standards.
Thanks again, Steve

Fred

Fred,

I've often written that my wife, Karen, has a simple formula. If critters are small, she kills them with her .223 Ackley. If critters are large, she whacks them dead with her 250 Ackley. Lots of wisdom there.

Simple is better, methinks.

Steve

That's what I love about the 7-08. I've seen my son kill mulies, whitetails, big hogs, and cow elk very dead with a $15 box of core-lokt's. It really is simple.

My late father used them in 7mm Wby. factory ammo and MRP based duplicate handloads to lay out many deer. He often commented on how much "slap" that load put on them.

I use the 154 grain IB over the IL in my 7x57 because they are marginally more accurate 0.7 - 0.8" vs 1.1 - 1.2" not much difference. Had a box of IBs. If I run out of those IBs I will probably load the ILs and be done with load development. I have a 98 Mauser with a 24" Adams and Bennet barrel. I set the bullet 0.025" off the lands in Win cases with Fed 210 primers and 46 grains of H4350 with either bullet for little over 2700 fps. Love my 7x 57.

Fred,

You had anymore time to get out and shoot the new lil 7? Also, did you get the syn or the wood one?

What are you running for powder in it and have you ran them over a clock yet?

Me thinks this could be a way fun lil rig for you for your muley hunt this fall...

Dober

Mark
I got the stainless/syn because the wood on the one that Cap Sports had on the shelf was very drab- Figured if I was going to have an ugly rifle, it might as well be indestructable!
With RL15, I got up to 2650 with the 154 Hornady. With that 154 Hornady, shooting into dry newspaper, I got almost as much penetration as I do with a 180 grain Nosler Partition. That surprised me. I would not hesitate to use that on elk, since I have killed elk with 150 Hornadys out of my 270 at very little above 7/08 velocities. At 425 yards, the old old cow didn't move out of her tracks until she was tits up sliding down the hill.
Brad suggested H4350, and after doing some research, that seems to be the place to start. I have some rounds loaded ready to go to the range, but right now am getting ready for a back packing trip.
One day last week I had to go on an emergency hunt for man eating praire dogs. Couldn't drive onto the property because it was so dry, so I hunted them like antelope, walk a little ways, get 3 or 4, then move some more. Not fast and furious shooting, but went thru 80 rounds in my 243, all from typical antelope hunting positions with the bipod. Every time I take that 243 out, I am impressed with how deadly it is. Thinking I might even use it on antelope with those 80 grain Ballistic Tips. Ever hear of anyone killing a big game animal with Ballistic Tips? LOL
Did you buy a new truck yet? Chevy is giving lots of rebabtes right now, if you are interested in Chevies at all. I have been looking at the Colorado for gas mileage.
Fred

Yeah for some reason or another I think it'll do just fine on anything that we hunt. I feel that it's a super bullet that gets over looked a lot.

I've done some very good work with the 150 out of the 270 as well. It's accurate and always flat out kills game.

Nope, haven't done anything about a truck, buying a different rig for me is about as much fun as fist fights and divorces...so, I'll most likely just buy some new skins for my old F150 and keep er going.

NBT's on game, how dare you..........

Dober

(ps, saw Bill K out at the Willow Creek Cafe last night)

Are you talking about the Speer Throphy Bonded bullet ? As I recall, they are like $1, or more, a piece. Not me. Way too expensive.
Don't get me wrong. I prefer premium bullets, even for the type of deer hunting I often do. But the most expensive ones I'll even consider using are the Swift A-Frames. And then only for elk.
I'm not sure that even the SAF's have anything going for them over the Barnes TSX or the Nosler Partition.
And if I didn't insist on hunting the types of 4 yr. old bucks that I do, I'm not sure the premiums would even give me anything significant for the usual deer hunting conditions. Let's just say I like to indulge myself with the edge that premiums give me. E

The 154 Hornady is a great bullet. It and the 145grn Speer Hot-Core have served me quite well. The "premiums" are just another course to the same meal and are only truly justified by marginal differences.

Hot Dog! I can't hardly believe it. You guys sound like me, their is a bullet that works, that doesn't say Barnes on the box.
I loaded them in my buddies 280 Rem Mtn Rifle for Elk and deer this fall in Wyoming. I will be using the same brand in a 6.5x55 and 7x57. They just flat work.

I just picked up a box of these to try in my 280 Mt. rifle. Sounds like I made a good choice.Loaded some up with R-19 but haven't had time to make it to the range.

I am heartened to see all the positive comments about the Hornady 139gr bullets! I bought about a thousand a few years ago from a gunstore going out of business -- figured to just use them for practice.

Although I often select Sierra for accuracy, these Hornady 139gr bullets have shot like a house afire in two different rifles. Seems I should not be surprised at this either!

A wealth of first hand information on this forum!

John

You guys just reminded me that I bought a couple hundreds of those Hornady 154gr that I got on a trade a couple years ago. I wouldn't use a simple core and cup bullet for hunting but I'm sure they would work on paper! . I should go load a few for the 7mm Rem Mag.

If anybody has any 154gr 2nds they want to sell reasonable. PM me. I bought some from Midway that are technically 150gr but you can't miss the Hornady shape. I could use more.........

Dave

Way back in the falls of my youth as I steadily climbed the cartridge ladder, I stopped at the 7mm RM for awhile and stoked it with the 154s which easily sedated a couple of pick-up loads of S.D. deer. They never failed to work well and though I have no doubt they will work well in the smaller 7s as well I'd be inclined try the 139-gr Horn too.

The 139 just seems to my mind to be a better weight for those cases. I have a new .284 (I'm going back down the ladder) coming my way this fall, hopefully, and I have the Horn 139 and 154-grainers already on the shelf just waiting.

I've found that the Horn Interlocks to be one of the most accurate bullets of all I've tried over the years.

The bullets and the people at Hornady are first rate. I live just 90 miles away ane stop in when I'm close. They sell seconds in the lobby and are friendly as hell. I've even chatted with Steve Hornady in the lobby.

The Interlocks are serious bullets for practice bullet cash. I still have TSX's around but if I'm left with my "practice" load at hunting camp I'm good to go. I think they get overlooked they are accurate and tough. If I need an accuracy load I go to these before anything else.

Got me nodding and grinning too!

The 7mm 154g Hornady Sp is one of the very best kept secrets in the reloading world. They are extremely accurate out of every 7 Mag that I have shot them in.

In the Browning A-Bolts, Win 70's, and Rem 700's, two loads are supurb on deer, elk, and hogs:

63.0g of IMR 4350, Rem Case,9 1/2 primer, bullet seated to touch
the lands at 3050-3100 fps

73.0g of R#25, Rem case; WLR-Mag primer; bullet seated to touch
the lands at 3200 fps

We have killed many elk with both of these loads. The 63.0g load will shoot a hole through both shoulders of a 250 lb hog.

The Interlock on the base of this flat base bullet really works as seen from the bullets that I have recovered.

Well folks,
I have some 154 IL's loaded for my new custom 7X57......

Hopefully I will have a range report soon!

I caught hell for praising the 154-gr Hornady bullets a few years ago.
My, how things change, or how different they are when the posters are those who have used the bullets.

I am loading up some 154-gr SSTs for my 7x64 Brenneke next.

I use the 154 gr. Hornady SP almost exclusively in my .280 Rem with great results. Mostly on deer/sheep sized game. I might go with a heavier/tougher bullet if I were to go after elk or moose sized game, but usually I just go to a bigger rifle. I have never recovered a bullet on deer sized game with that load. Always excellent accuracy as well.

I have about 70 or so 154gr. SST's if someone has some 100gr, .257,IL's or .284 120gr B-Tips... or anything Barnes really..

How will the interlock 154 gr do at 3100-3200 fps?

I saw my brother use them a bunch in his 7 rem mag from deer to moose. One bull I saw him shoot was approx. 300 yards away. One shot broadside high in the shoulder dropped him and came to rest against the hide on the opposite shoulder. The bullet went through at least one shoulder blade. I sometimes thought it was a bit tough for deer, at least compared to my 270 loads.

Great.... but at a bull moose at 100 yards with a MV of 3200????

Good results in 7-08. Should be perfect in 7x57

Fotis FWIW I shot a good number of pigs with the 130g version out of the 270 Win at MV around 3200 fps and they held together ok.

Retained 50% or thereabouts typically. Most shots under 100y. Not that many exits.

Any of you guys monkey with the 162 version?

I have used the 162 btsp out of a 7 mag on a few mule deer. It was decently accurate in a couple stainless model 70s I had. Not surprisingly, decisive on mule deer. Meat loss was very reasonable, certainly not excessive. I tend to aim just behind the shoulder since I like to eat venison! No experience on bigger stuff with that one.

My old elk hunting partner used them last fall on an average sized cow at about 400 yards. They were started right at 2950 or so. Meat damage and bullet fragmentation were fairly heavy after smacking a front leg done on entry. A similar shot from my Mashburn at 250 on the same sized animal and two leg bones (entry and exit) with a 160 Accubonds started at 3200 was much less destructive.

I'm not saying they aren't good but they open pretty quickly. Just what I've seen out of one elk though. Very accurate bullets though.

154 Hornady is one of my favorite bullets. I use it mainly in my 280. But then I shoot the 280 more than my 7x57 or 7mm-08 or the 7mm RM.

My 7x57 is too pretty and the 7mm-08 is a lefty for my wife. No fly's on either of those cartridges.

I also like the 139's, the 162's and the Nosler PT 150 grain bullets. The Noslers are slightly more accurate than the others in my rifles.

I load the 162 Hornady btsp for my STW at 3200 fps mv.

I have killed two bull elk with this bullet. Each was ranged at about 400 yds, so impact velocity would be 2500 or a bit less. I was very impressed with bullet performance. I saw deep penetration, though not high weight retention. A heart lung shot imediately imobilized one bull. I put two more into him before he actually tipped over. Each round impacted exactly on POA and the only meat damaged was in the ribs.

The second bull, a couple years later presented a much tougher shot. The bullet impacted low in the right ham, traversed the kidneys, and came to rest under the skin midway down the left backstrap without breaking a bone. The bull was again imediately anchored and would have finished bleeding out wihin a few minutes, but a broadside hit to the heart tipped him over for good.

The dog got to enjoy about 25% of that right ham, and about 10% of the left back strap.

Resurrecting this thread for a quick question. If there is no reloading data for a particular powder for this weight, can the data for 150-grain be used, starting low and working up as usual?

Thanks.

RM

Yup.

Thanks, Ken. That's what I thought.

You're welcome Rev.

Me too. Sierra have a reputation for accurate bullets but the Hornady Interlock flat base bullets have been consistently accurate for me in a range of different rifles and bullet weights/calibers. When shooting a new rifle I always try Ballistic Tips and Interlocks. And then a few others for interest sake.

The only bullet that I've used more than the 7mm 154 Hornady's is the 30 180 grain Hornady's. For antelope in 7mm (7x57) I use the 139 Hornady's, but usually use my 25 100 grain Hornady's - (RIP).

These bullets perform. I know that the manufacturers try to improve, but it's hard to "improve" a bullet that is this excellent.

I've only seen one case where a fellow used hot loaded 338 WM 200 grain Hornady on a doe and shot her is the Democrat area. The destruction was a little much.

I sold him a 270 and suggested using 130 grain Hornady's. The joke of course was he didn't understand the "gayness" of the 270.

I picked up a few boxes on sale a couple of weeks ago - $14.40 per box, not seconds. I'm going to load some reduced loads for practice - anyone got any good data using 4198? - and then load some to somewhere around Finn Aagaard's favorite load: about 2600 fps. I have a couple of FWTs that might like them, and it should take care of everything I'm going to hunt.

I wish you guys would quit spreading the 'gossip' about Hornady Ils. You're just gonna create more competition. And y'all know it's hard enuff to find good bullets in stock.

Myself, I wouldn't recommend them.



Jerry

See there, now y'all got the Rev. in the fray. sheesh !



Jerry

For $14.40 per box, how can you not???