mark-hunter
AH ambassador
So, have you used Hornady interlocks, what caliber, how many grains, and at what game?
Experiences?
Experiences?
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Hornady interlock, have you used it on anything?
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MS 9x56
AH legend
I have used interlocks in my 358 winchester, 30-06 and 308. I found that if using lighter bullet weights at higher speed that wounds were massive with much meat loss. In addition core jacket separation was not uncommon. However by using heavier for caliber bullets at more sedate speeds they were very effective. Both light and heavey weights were very accurate.
Tbitty
AH elite
I use them some in .308 (150 grain) and .25-06 (117 grain). The Hornady American Whitetail line of ammo has these loaded and are inexpensive option for target practice and/or cull hunting on feral hogs, whitetail deer, and similar sized game. I like them because they have nearly identical POI out to 200 yards as the Superformance line I use (SST bullet) on similar game. I rarely need to take shots further than 200 yards, and if I do, I use the "premium" ammo.
I've found the Superformance line to be faster and tighter groups, but haven't found an animal or paper that's know the difference yet.
I've found the Superformance line to be faster and tighter groups, but haven't found an animal or paper that's know the difference yet.
Ontario Hunter
AH ambassador
I have shot them forever in my 30-06. 165, 180, and 190 gr (I think they discontinued 190 gr bullets). All did well. I didn't put a lot of gas in my loads because I was generally close range tracking animals in snow in big timber.
Arty0802
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I've only used them in .223 (60g) and .243 (100g) on coyotes and whitetail deer. Probably not a great testing media for your question, but I will say that I stuck a 60g .223 right in the chest of a whitetail buck on a frontal shot and he dropped like a ton of bricks. Sample size of one, though, for what it's worth.
C.W. Richter
AH legend
117s in .257 Wby & Roberts AI, 165s and 190s in '06 & 300 WM and 200s in 350 RM. All worked fine on deer, hogs but the 190/200 performance was clearly stellar! (Bring the 190 Back!) I only heard a very loud black bear death moan once, and it was amazing/unforgettable and it nearly made 2 distant hunters (in stands-this was on the ground) nearly wet their pants...they got down, chatted assisted with drag and left shaken! LOL Shot a deer in TX (10 yd horiz. distance, 220 yd up a cliff) w/ the .257-it landed where we were standing ('just took a couple steps back as it did the mtn. goat tumble!) They're just fine (bullets). What another described above is using to little an SD (too light) and too high a V on med game is typically damaging at best, but bullets can blow into dust on the near shoulder. (Anything light for caliber is typically suited for varmints but will also blow the hell out of pygmy antelope hides.) Definitely use heavy-for-caliber when using more traditionally constructed bullets.
Muskox
AH legend
Yes it is aces, and I am going to continue to use them in my 8x57, this is a 0-350 meter answer for anything to 1500 pound eland in an 8x57. I think on bigger animals like Eland and Zebra, and stags in the rut I would bring that distance to 200 meters.
Our Palatinate and federal forstampt requires lead free, so I must oblige.
When I hunt in your country or Slovenia, I shoot leaded bullets.
Our Palatinate and federal forstampt requires lead free, so I must oblige.
When I hunt in your country or Slovenia, I shoot leaded bullets.
deewayne2003
AH legend
I use 180gr BTSP almost exclusively for whitetail & pigs in my .300Win & 140gr BTSP in my .270win for deer & pigs also.
UpNorthMI
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I've used quite a few in different calibers. 5 years ago during and after covid they were one of the very few brands of bullets that was available for reloading.
They are good for general practice and for use on soft skinned game such as whitetail deer, they seem fairly soft, expand well and can do some meat damage. They are a good value bullet, I continue to buy them. They are not my choice for larger or dangerous game.
My use:
.308 150 grain
.30-06 180 grain
300 WM 180 grain
.338 WM 225 grain
.375 270 grain.
They are good for general practice and for use on soft skinned game such as whitetail deer, they seem fairly soft, expand well and can do some meat damage. They are a good value bullet, I continue to buy them. They are not my choice for larger or dangerous game.
My use:
.308 150 grain
.30-06 180 grain
300 WM 180 grain
.338 WM 225 grain
.375 270 grain.
TMac
AH enthusiast
117 gr interlocks out of my 25-06 have resulted in quite a few very quick kills on mule deer, whitetail deer, and pronghorn to 415 yards, with most shots between 150-350 yards.
Would not hesitate to use it on game up to and including cow elk sized game (450-600 lbs). It is actually almost too much for pronghorn and smaller deer, especially at closer ranges, mostly due to high velocity I suspect.
Would not hesitate to use it on game up to and including cow elk sized game (450-600 lbs). It is actually almost too much for pronghorn and smaller deer, especially at closer ranges, mostly due to high velocity I suspect.
ThinusS
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I killed my first buffalo with a 400gr Hornady Interlock from a .416 rem mag. While it is certainly not my first choice, both the initial shot and an, unnecessary, insurance shot performed well enough.
I have also used Interlock bullets to kill a truck load of African antelope, from steenbok right up to eland, in 6.5x55 (129gr), 7x57 (139 & 154gr), .30-06 (165 & 180 gr), .300 win mag (180 & 220gr), 9.3x62 (286gr) and .375 H&H (270 & 300gr).
With the exception of the .375 bullets, which performed more like varmint than big game bullets, I really do not have a single complaint about them. Again, they are not my first choice, but they work if you do your part. Except for the .375 versions which I really would not recommend for anything larger than an impala.
Below. On the left is the two 400gr Hornady Interlock .416 bullets from my first buffalo, hunted in Mozambique more than twenty years ago, next to them are a 400gr Peregrine VLR3 and a Spoor Bullet Company 400gr .416, both are better choices for buffalo than the Interlocks.
I have also used Interlock bullets to kill a truck load of African antelope, from steenbok right up to eland, in 6.5x55 (129gr), 7x57 (139 & 154gr), .30-06 (165 & 180 gr), .300 win mag (180 & 220gr), 9.3x62 (286gr) and .375 H&H (270 & 300gr).
With the exception of the .375 bullets, which performed more like varmint than big game bullets, I really do not have a single complaint about them. Again, they are not my first choice, but they work if you do your part. Except for the .375 versions which I really would not recommend for anything larger than an impala.
Below. On the left is the two 400gr Hornady Interlock .416 bullets from my first buffalo, hunted in Mozambique more than twenty years ago, next to them are a 400gr Peregrine VLR3 and a Spoor Bullet Company 400gr .416, both are better choices for buffalo than the Interlocks.
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Don458
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My 30-06 load was 180gr Hornady Btsp interlock - It was a Hot load but the most accurate. Shot about 5 deer at 200 + yds and 1 yote lol -all dropped at spot. I definitely a great bullet for appr game.
uplander01
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I used to use 300 grain interlock in my 375 when I was mad at large black bears for about 5 years. That was way before they weee the “dgx” bonded variety. They worked really well, that said, even the largest black bear I would consider thin skinned and more like a large cat.
Kevin375
AH veteran
I have used Hornady Interlock in several calibers :
Once, I used a loaner Howa 1500 in .25-06 and ammunitions were loaded with Interlock 117 gr. I shot a blue Wildebeest at around 200 meters with it. The bullet went through and the wildebeest didn't go far before going down.
In 6.5 Creedmoor, the Interlock 160 gr RN works very well on plains game. I have killed a good number of waterbucks, blue wildebeests and impalas with them.
The first time I came to africa with my Blaser in .300 Winchester magnum, I used Hornady Interlock 180 gr from factory, but there were 2 batches. The first one was bought in europe while the second was found in a local gunshop at Windhoek. The first one had Frontier cases while the other one had Hornady's. But the bullets were also slightly different ! I killed 1 klipspringer, 1 black faced impala, 1 hartebeest and a good number of springboks during a culling.
With another loaner Howa 1500 in .338 Winchester magnum, I used some homeloaded ammunitions with Interlock 250 gr SP-RN. I killed 1 Burchell zebra, 2 red hartebeests, 1 blue wildebeest and 1 springbok.
And to finish, I also reloaded the Interlock 300 gr for my Blaser R93 in .375 H&H magnum with a sedate recipe. I shot exactly 11 elands, 2 kudus, 1 gemsbok, 8 impalas, 2 warthogs and 1 leopard with them. The bullet works but it shed easily its weight when big bones are hit. I think I had a faillure once, I shot a young eland bull full broadside in the thick bush at maybe less than 20 meters. It was an easy shot but we only recovered the animal dead 5 km after the shot the next morning and the entrance wound was perfectly behind the shoulder but no exit wound. However, the worker at the farm didn't recover the bullet and were not able to explain us what happened inside. Did the bullet explode and didn't penetrate deep enough ? Or did the bullet deflect inside the animal ? I guess it's the first ideas and here is why I have said I think I had a fail with them.
Since that experience, I only used bonded bullet in this caliber.
Once, I used a loaner Howa 1500 in .25-06 and ammunitions were loaded with Interlock 117 gr. I shot a blue Wildebeest at around 200 meters with it. The bullet went through and the wildebeest didn't go far before going down.
In 6.5 Creedmoor, the Interlock 160 gr RN works very well on plains game. I have killed a good number of waterbucks, blue wildebeests and impalas with them.
The first time I came to africa with my Blaser in .300 Winchester magnum, I used Hornady Interlock 180 gr from factory, but there were 2 batches. The first one was bought in europe while the second was found in a local gunshop at Windhoek. The first one had Frontier cases while the other one had Hornady's. But the bullets were also slightly different ! I killed 1 klipspringer, 1 black faced impala, 1 hartebeest and a good number of springboks during a culling.
With another loaner Howa 1500 in .338 Winchester magnum, I used some homeloaded ammunitions with Interlock 250 gr SP-RN. I killed 1 Burchell zebra, 2 red hartebeests, 1 blue wildebeest and 1 springbok.
And to finish, I also reloaded the Interlock 300 gr for my Blaser R93 in .375 H&H magnum with a sedate recipe. I shot exactly 11 elands, 2 kudus, 1 gemsbok, 8 impalas, 2 warthogs and 1 leopard with them. The bullet works but it shed easily its weight when big bones are hit. I think I had a faillure once, I shot a young eland bull full broadside in the thick bush at maybe less than 20 meters. It was an easy shot but we only recovered the animal dead 5 km after the shot the next morning and the entrance wound was perfectly behind the shoulder but no exit wound. However, the worker at the farm didn't recover the bullet and were not able to explain us what happened inside. Did the bullet explode and didn't penetrate deep enough ? Or did the bullet deflect inside the animal ? I guess it's the first ideas and here is why I have said I think I had a fail with them.
Since that experience, I only used bonded bullet in this caliber.
Muskox
AH legend
20 meters on an Eland with a 375 would be a test of any bullet.
Saw a 180g go almost completely through a spike elk at 40 yards - went in the chest and was found in the right rear quarter. Bullet mushroomed nicely but was intact. It was a handload fired out of an Savage 110 in 30-06. I have a lot of faith in them. They are cheap and accurate. Wish they would bring back the round nose bullets in 30 cal.
Fatback
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I’ve used the following grains and calibers on southern whitetail deer and feral hogs with great effect.
117 grain 25-06
130 grain 270 Win
180 grain 30-06
200 grain 35 Whelen
I’ve probably shot 50 or so animals with these 4 set ups and all have preformed well. That 35 Whelen load is especially effective. I’ve probably shot 10-12 animals with it and none of them went anywhere but straight down and dead.
117 grain 25-06
130 grain 270 Win
180 grain 30-06
200 grain 35 Whelen
I’ve probably shot 50 or so animals with these 4 set ups and all have preformed well. That 35 Whelen load is especially effective. I’ve probably shot 10-12 animals with it and none of them went anywhere but straight down and dead.
meigsbucks
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.30/06: 180gr exotic goat ~60yds. Exited. Thru both shoulders.
.30/06: 165gr elk: 20yds: destroyed lungs, lodged in far ribs. Went about 150 yds. Everything forward of Interlock was gone. 40% weight retention.
.300 Wby: 190gr mule deer ~300yds. DRT Exited. Lungs destroyed.
.300 Wby: 190gr exotic ram: 25 yds DRT Almost blown in half. Entrance hole you could stick your head in.
.243: 100gr Whitetail deer: ~100yds went maybe 10 yds. Bullet exit.
.243: 100gr exotic ram: 70yds DRT. Bullet exit. Lungs shredded
.25/06 handgun: 100gr Antelope 155yds DRT. Bullet exit. Lungs mush
.25/06 handgun: 100gr Antelope 234yds DRT. Thru shoulder. Bullet exit. Lungs mush
7mm Rem mag: mule deer 162gr ~250 yds Thru shoulder, lungs mush. Bullet came apart. Only small bits of jacket and lead.
.45/70 350gr. ~60yds hog. Entered forward of ham exited opposite neck
Probably a couple of others
.30/06: 165gr elk: 20yds: destroyed lungs, lodged in far ribs. Went about 150 yds. Everything forward of Interlock was gone. 40% weight retention.
.300 Wby: 190gr mule deer ~300yds. DRT Exited. Lungs destroyed.
.300 Wby: 190gr exotic ram: 25 yds DRT Almost blown in half. Entrance hole you could stick your head in.
.243: 100gr Whitetail deer: ~100yds went maybe 10 yds. Bullet exit.
.243: 100gr exotic ram: 70yds DRT. Bullet exit. Lungs shredded
.25/06 handgun: 100gr Antelope 155yds DRT. Bullet exit. Lungs mush
.25/06 handgun: 100gr Antelope 234yds DRT. Thru shoulder. Bullet exit. Lungs mush
7mm Rem mag: mule deer 162gr ~250 yds Thru shoulder, lungs mush. Bullet came apart. Only small bits of jacket and lead.
.45/70 350gr. ~60yds hog. Entered forward of ham exited opposite neck
Probably a couple of others
mark-hunter
AH ambassador
I wanted to try American ammo in hunting, becasue I have some doubts on latest European production for consistency and accuracy. So. I took decent supply for forthcoming seasons of Hornady in 30 - 06, 180 grain, interlock. This one will be used mainly for roe deer, and most probably for mouflon and chamois.
Boys, your answers give me great confidence.
Thanks a lot!
Boys, your answers give me great confidence.
Thanks a lot!
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Andrew62 wrote on Imac45acp's profile.
Hello,
Am I reading your post correctly to say that the Tsavo rifle will be coming out with a composite stock later this year? I ask because I had been looking very hard for a Tsavo, but if there is going to be a composite stock model I will wait for that.
Thank you for your time,
Andrew
Am I reading your post correctly to say that the Tsavo rifle will be coming out with a composite stock later this year? I ask because I had been looking very hard for a Tsavo, but if there is going to be a composite stock model I will wait for that.
Thank you for your time,
Andrew
1r4rc wrote on Corylax18's profile.
Saw your post. Nice. Denver too. Genesee area (just off 70) if ever up this way. Alternatively, do you have a membership at GGC? Whatever, you'll have a wonderful time in Africa. Enjoy.