I'm a new handloader and have been loading hornaday inter-lock bullets in a variety of 30 cal cartridges. I know that nosler partitions and many other premium bullets are supposed to have better performance on game. I am on a pretty tight budget though. My christmas list was comprised of components. My question is are inter-locks a good hunting bullet? I know they arn't on the same level with the Fail Safe and Grand Slam but are they better than Core-Lockts and Power Points? I'm not pushing any of these loads past about 2700 FPS. Most at about 2400 FPS so I don't think I need the latest and greatest techno bullet out there. What do you think?
Since your velocities are not over 2700fps, I'd say that premium bullets are not needed. The only exception to this would be when hunting somthing that can eat you or if you are hunting really big black bear at close range where you want to break bone.
Whether or not they are better than Core Lokts or Power points is totally debatable. I really have a hard time convicing myself they are better having hunted with Core Lokts for years. If you are on a budget, Midway typically has Core Lokt bullets in bulk for reloaders for less than 10 bucks per hundred. I buy them by the 1000 and wait till they go on sale to do so and get the cost per hundred down to around 7 bucks.
If your hornady's shoot good, go ahead and hunt with them. I killed an elk a few years ago with a 150gr Hornady (flat base, not boattail) out of a 308 Winchester. Double lunged the big cow and the bullet exited. She was down and dead within 30 yards.
At those speeds the interlock will perform like a premium bullet. I spend way too much time on these forums and I have yet to see a post that says "bullet blew up out of my 308" or "bullet blew up out of my 30-30"!!
I�ve taken several deer and one elk with Hornady Interlocks � 130 gr. in a .270, 165 gr. and 180 grainers in a .30-06.
They all worked just great. Deer have usually gone down right now, one ran 50 yards which is pretty normal for a heart shot. In fact the big cow elk I shot with the 180 grainer dropped so fast I thought I had missed. She was on the ground before the rifle came down out of recoil, I thought she had run off until I saw one leg sticking up behind a log on the ground. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
I have hunted with interlocks for many years in many calibers. I have never...ever been dissatisfied with their performance. The problem that some guys have is that they don't cost enough. (Hee Hee) Keep you interlocks and have fun.
I figured they would be just fine. A good friend of mine keeps pestering me to buy noslers but I wouldn't be able to afford to shoot as much if I did. I keep telling him he may have better bullets but I've still killed way more deer than he has. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for the input.
The older Corelokts (I've heard that they have softened them up) used to be very similar to the Interlocks in design. Both had a ring or crimp in the case to lock core and jacket together. I have never had either one fail me. I use Hornady Interlocks a lot more now, ever since Midway did away with their "Truckload Specials" from Remington and Winchester. I used to buy Corelokts from them in 500 or 1000 bullets bulk packs.
�That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.� George Orwell
Rick, How about the SST's. Have you used them on game yet? I get great groups(.5 MOA) with my .338-06/ 225's @ 2550fps but havent shot anything yet. I will try the 7mm 139gr SST or Interbond and the Nosler 120 BT when I get the scout built. May even try the 120 Hornady non interlock.
Stay in touch, I'm heading back to the sandbox in a couple of days.
Hornady makes a very fine bullet for the price. I like them in a lot of calibers, and would hunt about any game with them, giving careful consideration to bullet weight and game weight and densityAW
Of all the different cartridges I reload for and hunt with, the only ones that don't get hornady's interloc are the 405 and the 30-30. Those get other brands on account of they don't shoot the hornadys as well. In 308 and 06 the 165 gr bt interloc gives very good results in velocity, accuracy, and have no trouble with them on elk.
the most expensive bullet there is isn't worth a plug nickel if it don't go where its supposed to. www.historicshooting.com
I started loading Hornadays back in the mid 60's...270 and 30-06. 130 in the .270 and 150 and 165 in the '06. We shot mostly deer with them and coyotes and whatnot. My brother and I have tried lots of other bullet brands looking for the bullet holy grail and finally gave up and stayed with what works. I still load only the 130 Hornaday in my .270 and the Bro uses only the 165 in his '06.. He stepped up to the 190 Hornaday for elk and likes it a lot and it kills elk well. I use the 225 grn in my .338 on elk and see no reason to look elsewhere, it's a great bullet. They are inexspensive to buy, shoot well and behave the way they are supposed to on game. Don't let fads and fancy advertising sway you. These deer, elk and other game aren't any tougher than when our grandad's put em down with simple 30-30's and the like. Match the bullet to the game and put it where it belongs...Happy Hunting. BT53 Check out the attachment...270, 130gr Hornaday, 3x9 Leupold
BT53 "Where do they find young men like this?" Reporter Savidge, Iraq Elk, it's what's for dinner....
I took an bull and a mule deer with the 225 grain interlock in my 338wm this year and they both seemed impressed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> tom
"if it's got tits or tires, it's going to give you grief, one way or another."
you guys spend way too much time worrying about bullet performance, when in fact any reasonable bullet will kill any animal in north america , the only time I would buy the super penetrators is if I was hunting polar bears or grizzlies, on this continet, I spent three years In alaska, I never hunted there, but was around many hunters and thry used mostly factory ammo ,rem,winnes,in the heavest load avaible, and had no more problems than people seem to have now( alaska 1956 to 1959), Hubert, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
300 Weatherby factory 165 loads use the interloc. These bullets chronograph 3360 in my rifle. They are superbly accuracte, and at longer ranges (250yds+) they have performed well on deer and antelope sized criters. While I have taken elk with the load, the shots were all 300+ and the shoulder was avoided. I shot 2 large mule deer bucks this year with this load. One, at 200 yds sharply quartering away, the bullet did not exit. Another, at 307 yds quareting away took out a shoulder and did exit through the neck. I would have great confidence in this bullet if starting them out at 2700fps--its only when the velocities get extreme that there are potential problems. In two different rifles, this factory load has shot into 1/2"--I am a real fan of the accuracy!
MCRCRoutdoorsman, I can say nothing but good things for the Hornady bullets you are using. But if you are really on a tight budget, you might consider the Remington Core-lokt. They are sold in bulk paks from Midway USA for close to $10 or $12 per 100 and are available in 30 cal 150 gr, 165 gr, and 180 gr.
People who choose to brew up their own storms bitch loudest about the rain.
I've been very happy with 7mm 154 grain interlocks, its my "go to" bullet for mule deer. No need for expensive bullets here. Performance on paper is excellent too. What was/is the planned target?
.250 AI w/ 100gr .260 Rem w/ 129gr .270 Win w/ 130 and 140gr 7mm-08 w/ 139gr
Great bullets for the money.
John
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
