Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 270 grain Hornady Interlock

I’ve been playing around with my 375 H&H AI. I have not shot anything but paper, rock and steel with it. Anyone use 270 Interlock bullets in their 375’s on game? What did you shoot? Are you happy with the results?

Not much help here, just a couple deer and pigs over the years, quick kills with exits, load runs an easy 2700 over RL-17, iirc Ingwe has used that bullet on a myriad of heavier game, maybe he will chime in.

Thanks I bought several hundred from Midway several years ago. I have other weights but this may be the bullet I load the most. I loaded up a batch a day or two ago and am waiting for the rain to stop before I bring it out. I just shot those loads off my deck to check for function - 86 grains of H4350 and Winchester magnum primers. I have an old Farmall M hub hanging out about 100 yards and it did some damage to that old wheel.
I was thinking I might try that bullet in my 375 Whelen AI too. But was hoping for a review by someone who has used them on game.
Thanks for the reply.

I used quite a lot of them in the 1980s from my Mauser in 375H&H.
I used both the spire points and the Round Nose styles. The RN was a better performer on elk and bear, but both did OK.

The jackets are a bit too thin in the ogive on the spire points and they do break up some, but being that it's a 270 grain bullet that is 3/8" in diameter, even those that come apart 50% or so sill kill well. I would never use them if i were going on a buffalo hunt, but for anything smaller or less muscular, they are ok. I had exits on every elk I ever killed with them but I would find a few chunks of lead and jacket metal in the wounds and around the exit side, so I knew they did break up a bit. Mow much I can't say and I didn't care as long as I have exits. When you have exits the "retained weight" is irrelevant. They are also very accurate.
My favorite load was a magnum primer and 69 grains of 4064.

375 is a medium bore not a big bore.

I've taken 3 or 4 deer the the Hornady 270 grain back in 1985 or so. They did fine on the deer.

I use a factory load 270 grain in 375 Ruger. 1 shot killed on a nice interior grizzly. It went thru the shoulders & took out the lungs & exited. The bear went @ 30 yards & piled up.

I’m thinking of a Texas high fence exotic hunt. I heard that Cape in Texas may be more expensive than in Africa & I want a Cape. The manager of benefits that lives with me would like Texas better than Africa. Maybe I’d be satisfied with a Water Buffalo. I have a box or two 300 grain round nose and a box or two of Barnes and same with Partitions - for Cape - but no solids. I had two boxes of factory Winchester solids but I was told they didn’t have a good reputation. I used them for fire forming. I got them cheap at gun shows (typically 18 loaded and 2 once fired) at around $7 to $10/box. The 270’s I have are spire points I suppose - pretty blunt for spire points. Sounds like the 270’s would be good for most anything less than a Cape. Oh yeh, I annually put in for bison tags - if I ever draw one I’m buying lottery tickets!

If the 375 is a medium bore, then I’ll call this an express rifle. 😁😁
I’d entertain arguments regarding that this isn’t an express rifle.

I used a 300 grain Nolser partition for my 2 cape buffalo. They worked just fine. 2 dead bulls.

I've used them on one leopard and a red hartebeest in a H&H. They worked, but I went back to A-Frames.

At AI speeds, I wouldn't consider them for anything big. I have happily shot several Cape Buffalo with 270 grain Swifts, again with a 375 H&H. I've used 300 grain TSXs in a 375 Weatherby on a few buff and was impressed. I'll probably use them next year in a 375 RUM I'm putting together.

I don't think there are any "bad" 375 bullets, especially at H&H velocities, but some are better than others!

For me, the Hornadys are damn fine practice bullets!

I loved my Hornady 270 SP’s (interlock) in my .375 H &H! When I stepped up the velocities with my .375 AI, I was very disappointed with it’s performance at close range. The bullet stayed together, gave the perfect, classic, picture perfect mushroom…..but, the rapid expansion, very large frontal area, and weight loss (about 65% retained ) hindered penetration.

I shot a spike bull elk at about 60 or so yards with my AI, broadside, behind the shoulder. Yes it was a very quick kill…..but the bullet failed to exit after only hitting a rib. A spike bull is not that thick through the chest, a rib , rib meat, and lung tissue does not offer a great deal of resistance! The bullet failed to exit!!! I expect much more from my .375 AI!

I have a lot of the Hornady 270’s and will continue to use and enjoy them in my H&H, but, they won’t be used in the AI…..except for fire forming cases!

I went to Barnes X Bullets for the next seasons hunt (1992 or ‘93) and have never been disappointed. My suggestion is, at AI velocities consider the Barnes 270 LRX. I don’t think that you will ever regret it! memtb

in my 375 ruger for caribou and black bear. moving to 250 grains gmx or cx.

Sounds like those 270 grain Hornadys would work rather well in my 375 Whelen AI

You should post this over in the Alaska section. I'll get more folks there that shoot larger game than deer.

One Yukoner I know (and trust) did not give them a good report on heavy game.

Cup and core are all velocity dependent. The 270 Hornady has a good reputation at 375 H&H speeds and would likely be very good in the Whelen as well for all the logical reasons. The 250 Hornady 358 is great in a 35 Whelen on larger game. The rn open a bit sooner than do the spire points but still penetrate well.
As with all bullets there is those pesky anomalies.

Runs 2550 from my steyr carbine.
Still using a supply from the mid 70s for loading.
Can't imagine anything inside the NA continent that wouldn't quickly expire with one through the vitals.

I have shot coyote, mtn goat, and several elk with the 270 gr hornady in my H & H, all one shot kills and complete penetration. They work well in my .375 JDJ at about 1900 fps also; 3 elk complete penetration one shot kills. Super accurate also in both. I really like 270 gr. Win power points in the H&H but they are hard to find for reloading.

First thing I thought of was 300 TTSX for what you're describing