Hornady interloks

Nosler Ballistic Tip is a good cup and core as well.

They've never been my choice of hunting bullet. The only times I used them were 140gr NBTs out of a 7mmWby. Too much expansion for my liking and quite a bit of meat lost on the offside (shots were broadside on whitetail does at 150-220 yards). Killed like Thor's Hammer but my habit of holding tight to the back line of the shoulder resulted in the loss of offside shoulders. If I could hardwire my brain to leave 3" of daylight behind the shoulder I'm sure that it would only have resulted in pulped lungs and very little meat loss. Alas, muscle memory is what it is. But they might be a dandy 7mm-08 bullet running several hundred FPS slower.

I haven't used the Interlock, but I have a few boxes for my 9.3 for no other reason than they were abundant and well priced. Even if they're not great on game (time will tell) they'll still make good practice bullets. No sense in ramming premiums into gongs or rocks.
 
Based on observation, it seems to me that the cores of the newer .30 caliber ILs are on the hard side, no doubt to counter complaints that the bullets expanded violently when impacts exceeded 3000 fps. Bullets have a useful impact velocity envelope they will work effectively within, and those limitations should be published and available to handloaders. Woodleigh publishes a recommended velocity range for each of their bullets, and it would be useful if other manufacturers did likewise. Norma, makes both a hard and soft bullet in certain bullet weights within caliber, based on the intended game density, but it is also a useful way to make a bullet for a high velocity cartridge. Its not impossible to build a lead core bullet that will expand reliably across a broader velocity range, but they will cost you more than Interlocks will.
 
The old Hornady's in the dark red box were great.The Modern ones in the bright red box ,not so great.Many bullet blowups and core separations from several calibers between 6.5 to 9.3 Had a 286gr RN from a 9.3x62 turn to confetti on a moose shoulder bone at 200 yards and cause a surface would failing to penetrate the chest cavity.....I called Hornady and of course they claimed nothing had been changed in regards to bullet construction.Several hunting friends called them with the same problems but ,they claimed it was the first complaint they had heard....BS they cut corners somewhere...Harold

Harold,

there is something sure we are all waiting for the test on 9.3 bullets and the hornady ones. gmx wont be that much a surprise and hope the 286 grains will work. i have heard too how fragile they are so will see .... what was your speed or load on your 9.3?

Phil
 
If i care about animals i hunt (meat in deer,bear and moose) it is almost never soft point ammo.
Love and in 95% i use only abarnes TTSX. Interloks,partitions,and so on with lead exposed hardly see my gun other than coyote or wolf,groundhogs and target or mainly rifle sight in
 
I had the same results as the OP. Bullet went through the deer and a tree. The deer ran away, luckily he circled back a I found him almost where I had first shot him. Went in the chest and hit the liver on the way out, no sign of expansion. 7mm-08
 

This was 58gr-RE#15/286gr Hornady blew apart on cow moose shoulder knuckle at 190 yards 9.3x62 velocity unknown.WT deer and wolf were all bangflops with no bullets recovered.
Will switch to Partitions for larger game......Harold
 
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I've had great results with Interlocks. Not only are they some of the most accurate bullets I've worked with but deadly as well.

A friend of mine here in south east BC, who is a very experienced and successful Elk hunter (but not a reloader) has a Tikka in 300 wsm that he's had trouble finding factory ammo that shoots well in his rifle.

I worked up a super accurate load for him using a 180 grain Interlock SP, and every year since, he's taken a 6 point bull at ranges between 200 - 300 yards with those Interlocks, usually the Elk will take less than 20 steps before dropping dead.

I've tried giving him Accubonds and Interbonds to shoot, but he keeps coming back to those Interlocks, as nothing else works as good in his gun.

As others have mentioned here and elsewhere, it's important to keep jacketed bullets below 2900 fps.


For my rifles I do prefer Accubonds, Interbonds, and TTSX's, because I'm hunting in grizzley country here,
but I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with Interlocks.
I usually work up new loads with inexpensive bullets like Interlocks, then switch to a bonded or copper bullet, then do a little tweaking.
 
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i done extensive testing with Cup an core projectiles on Game out of the .270 Winchester.

ive Ran them at factory speeds which we will say is the higher end of 3000 fps, an then I ran them with a fast powder a lot slower, around 2800 fps.

the difference was chalk an cheese, projectiles worked 100% as advertised when not pushed FAST -2900 fps and I used them out to 370 meters on Sambar deer (elk sized).

as someone mentioned the impact velocity is what is important in some cases, but if One was to use a C&C as an All rounder then I would suggest one kept a MV of under 2900.


Talking Interlocks specifically, I am about to use 139gr in 7mm for the little Seven.

expecting good things

WL
 
I suggest you look at each post in this thread wrt velocity of the round used.
I know from experience that the Interlock has performed flawlessly for me in both the 30-30, and 308, at the 170, and 165gr bullet weights respectively, on moose, black bear, and deer.
The same may not be true of higher velocity rounds.
 
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