Hornady interbond ballistic tip on game.

All the reviews I've read indicate that the Interbond opens up VERY quickly, and expands a LOT, so penetration is somewhat limited (compared to other types of premiums). According to Hornady, their bonding process also anneals the jackets making the quite soft, which accounts for the rapid expansion. It also means that these bullets expand reliable even at very low speeds.

Considering that the IB's produce bigger holes than other premium bullets, I'd expect them to drop game somewhat 'better,' providing you use 'enough' gun. Given the rapid and large expansion and comparitively limited penetration, I'd suggest that means that 'enough' gun for an Interbond is bigger than 'enough' gun for the same game with a partition or TSX. So, if you would consider the 'minimum' for a TSX to be a 243 with 100 grainers, then maybe jump up a couple steps to a 7mm08 with 154 Interbonds.
 
I've been using round nose jacketed ammo for my 303, but just bought a box of Nosler partion, also for my 338wm. The partitions really clean up outta the 338, so I figure on a slower gun like a 303 bullet design can really improve your ballistics. the Partition does good on game, mine have been broad side shots and all through and through, no excessive damage, unless you hit bone, then no matter what you're gonna have a messy hole.
 
I just starting using 180gr interbonds in my .30-06. It performs well on paper and the bear I shot two weeks ago, did not take one extra step.



5 shot group @ 100 yards
180gr Interbond, 56.5gr Imr4350, win case, wlr
56.jpg
 
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gitrdun said:
Geez...you guys are scarring me a bit here. I just switched my .338 to 225gr Interbonds, I'm pretty happy with accuracy but I haven't any experience with them on game. Seems like "extensive meat damage" is the general experience with these bullets. I don't like to waste meat.
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I think we have some confusion in the title of this thread.

Hornaday Interbonds are not ballistic tips.

I loaded 165's over 40grains of IMR 3031(I think that was the recipe)Nosler balistic tips a few years ago and did so much damage to the meat that I decided to not use them again. They exploded when they hit and shredded everything in their path. I'll not use them again for hunting big game applications.

Interbonds do not blow up. Rather the jacket and the lead are bonded (hence the title interbond) so they retain much more of their original weight upon impact (I've never weighed a round after impact but I've read they retain 75% to 85% of their loaded weight)

gitrdun no worries buddy, the Interbonds are a great round for minimal meat loss and high percentage bang flops.
 
Goose, don't change anything about your rifle or load. What you have in your hands should be good enough for any game animal in North America out to any sane range. You seem to have what everyone strives for and few achieve: the perfect rifle and load.
 
Republic of Alberta said:
When they first came out I found some 165Grain 30 cals with loose tips in a 2 different boxes of bullets.


I have never shot any game with them but did test quite a few. If you want deep penetration at high velocity this is not the bullet for you. Because they are bonded they hold a very large mushroom, at high velocity about 2900 or 3000fps and up, they peel almost all the way back.
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I shot just one buck with the 165gr IB out of my .30-06. It was about 175-200 yards. The bullet hit dead center of the lungs on a broadside shot. It went right through the deer and the hole was pretty much identical to what I get from the 165gr BTSP IL...BIG hole, dead deer.

I didn't see enough reason to continue using them though. The "ol' faithful" 165gr BTSP is the way to go, IMHO.
 
A few deer and half a dozen bears did not like the interbonds in my 06. Very good bullet. buddy switched to them in his 300weatherby.....drops moose well too. Just working up a load in my .338 with them.
 
I used 225 gr 338 Interbonds in my 338 RUM last year and shot a moose and 3 deer with them; they dropped the deer quickly and blew right through not surprisingly. The moose was at 243 yards, quartering away and head down on a bit of a slope so I recovered that bullet in his spine, it had expanded to a bit of an oval shape roughly 0.860" x 0.765" and retained 166 gr or 74% of its original weight. They are also very accurate out of my rifle and will use them again this year.
 
Shot a bear with 165 IB, 30.06 recently. First bullet not recovered from a broadside heart lung shot. Nice sized exit hole. Range was about 75 yards. I did find a petal on the far side. Rib ?

He moved off at the impact so I put a second into him and he flopped. Recovered this one from the spine where it had dug a channel for 6 inches. Petals were peeled way back and the lead was a perfect mushroom.

Good accuracy out of my rifle.
 
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