Hornady whitetail ammo.

[gwes2003]

I've had similar experiences with American whitetail.
From a 7-08 all shots 35-50 yards no exit hole no bullet recovered. Like a grenade going off inside the deer.
On the plus side all four deer dropped right where they were standing.
I've since switched to fusion and have had much better bullet performance in similar situations. Although the deer usually don't get knocked down immediately. They travel further before dropping. No more than 25 yards which I feel is acceptable.

 

[buck knife]

Animal was killed quickly with a short track job, sounds about perfect performance to me.

No ,I'm sorry but that was anything but perfect performance,I don't shoot snimals to waste ,I am a meat hunter who fills his freezer first and foremost,and throwing away that much of the deer is not what I'm looking for.

I've used these bullets for years and always had excellent results until now,I'm not sure if the bullet was to blame or what but IVe never shot a deer behind the front shoulders with any bullet and lost any amount of meat like this .I think I'll swith to copper anmo the outfitter hornady is my next try.

 

[Gman123]

No ,I'm sorry but that was anything but perfect performance,I don't shoot snimals to waste ,I am a meat hunter who fills his freezer first and foremost,and throwing away that much of the deer is not what I'm looking for.

I've used these bullets for years and always had excellent results until now,I'm not sure if the bullet was to blame or what but IVe never shot a deer behind the front shoulders with any bullet and lost any amount of meat like this .I think I'll swith to copper anmo the outfitter hornady is my next try.

I shoot 30-06 180g soft point works good usually winchester ammo but I have also used rem. Corlokt before without issue never had a bullet do that usually goes right through

 

[dgradinaru]

Maybe that batch of cartridges were lemons? 308 win with 165gr at 100 yards shouldn't be acting up like that. I've been using interlocks for several years and never had any issues with them.

 

[7mag]

Maybe that batch of cartridges were lemons? 308 win with 165gr at 100 yards shouldn't be acting up like that. I've been using interlocks for several years and never had any issues with them.

This is true. I have had 2 major failures with Federal and Remington factory ammo in the past. Split brass and way over pressure. Mabey this is an issue of that particular bullet? I would say keep running them and see what happens on the next deer?? Especially if hou haven’t had issues in the past.

 

[A-bolt243]

I just tried some interlocks this year since I found some for cheap given the current reloading component situation. It was 150gr interlock in a 270, MV around 2900fps and the deer was about 175 yards. Great expansion and the bullet did exit but nice size holes left in the cavity. I was thinking about making that my go to bullet for non magnum cartridges.

 

[mimile]

I just tried some interlocks this year since I found some for cheap given the current reloading component situation. It was 150gr interlock in a 270, MV around 2900fps and the deer was about 175 yards. Great expansion and the bullet did exit but nice size holes left in the cavity. I was thinking about making that my go to bullet for non magnum cartridges.

Great choice.

 

[Raton57]

Any chance that the bullet could have hit anything before it hit the deer. Bullets are fickle some times. One can work well one decides to blow up. Had similar happen to me shot a white tail at maybe 100 years maybe a bit less or more and when I skinned the deer could not find a hole period but under the skin on the side I shot at was covered in blood. The deer dropped like a rock.

 

[Suther]

If you've used the ammo for years without issue, its probably just a fluke. Sometimes bullets just don't behave the way we expect them to, especially cup and core bullets. I wouldn't put too much concern into a sample size of 1, but if this has you so shaken that you refuse to use this bullet again you could always switch it up. 140gr Federal Fusion @ ~2950 from my 7mm08 dropped my deer on the spot, both lungs and the liver were soup.

 

[Southcountryguy]

No ,I'm sorry but that was anything but perfect performance,I don't shoot snimals to waste ,I am a meat hunter who fills his freezer first and foremost,and throwing away that much of the deer is not what I'm looking for.

I've used these bullets for years and always had excellent results until now,I'm not sure if the bullet was to blame or what but IVe never shot a deer behind the front shoulders with any bullet and lost any amount of meat like this .I think I'll swith to copper anmo the outfitter hornady is my next try.

There is lots of “what ifs” in your comments. Was it 100 yards or 80? Was it quartering? Etc.

Bottom line is your bullet did its job quickly dispatching the animal. I will take that all day long. Front end of a white tail is pretty light and tight anyways, minimal loss. Yes I am a meat hunter as well. Head shots equal zero blood shoot.

You can go copper and enjoy full penetration and possibly much longer and harder track jobs. Or shoot monos high in the shoulders and lose most of the front end anyways. Choices….

 

[DGY]

I’d say no, unless the intention is to have it ruin a bunch of meat. Nobody likes chewing on lead fragments.

100% with you!! Killing is not my only goal, harvesting as much meat as possible is my main goal along with a clean kill!

 

[buck knife]

Interesting enough,I've used the 150 grain hornady whitetail ammo for years,this season there was none to be found so I went with the 165 grain,never had a single issue using the 150 grain ammo for years.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Is the Interlock the bullet they use in those loads? What ever happened to Interbonds?

 

[Suther]

Is the Interlock the bullet they use in those loads? What ever happened to Interbonds?

Interbonds just got discontinued I do believe. Perhaps so they can bring out a new model with the same tip as the ELD bullets?

But yes it is the basic interlock used in the American whitetail ammo. Its pretty much the cheapest ammo Hornady makes as far as I am aware, similar in price to something like Federal Fusion, somewhere in between the real cheap stuff like Federal Powershok and the expensive stuff like Federal Premium or Hornady Precision Hunter. Shot good in my 243win but never took game with it...

 

[dand883]

My son used them in a 7mm08 until I had enough brass to reload for it. 140g…. Always worked well!

I've had 2 success's with the same, worked really well for me this fall

 

[conor_90]

100% with you!! Killing is not my only goal, harvesting as much meat as possible is my main goal along with a clean kill!

You lose a lot of meat if the moose runs off…

 

[DGY]

You lose a lot of meat if the moose runs off…

Hahaha you know what I mean… of course I want it to be dead, but not at the cost of loosing an entire side of meat! So I choose good quality proven bullets and I shoot for the boiler room or neck!

 

[Simpson302]

Have shot two big bucks with it, 165gr in .308. Performance was great on both, recovered one under the opposite hide. A full pass through on the whitetail buck, I shot the mulie buck twice. One passed through the other I found while skinning, great expansion with minimal meat loss. Both were 70-75y shots, broadside or quartering away broadside. WT buck made it 30-40y and the mulie made it 10ft before dropping, I’ll use interlock’s again.

Here’s some pics, haven’t bothered to weight the bullet for weight retention.

Nice Bucks!
This was almost my exact experience as well, 308 165gr broadside shot right in the boiler-room from ~100y. Dropped right in his tracks. Bullet recovered in far side hide and looked just like yours photo'd. Meat loss was nothing but the heart!

 

[Butcherbill]

Nice one!^^^