Hornady interlock, have you used it on anything?

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 13, 2026

mark-hunter said:
So, have you used Hornady interlocks, what caliber, how many grains, and at what game?
Experiences?

@mark-hunter
Haven't used interlocks per se but have used plenty of Hornady SST which are just an interlock with a pretty plastic tip.
Have use them in 117gn 25 cal hard driven to over 3,300fps
My son uses 150 gn SST in 308 exclusively.
We have both taken numerous goats, pigs and deer with these and they are usually dry ar just a short run before piling up.
These expand reliably and drive deep usually leaving a massive exit on smaller game.
To me they are a great bullet that performs similar or better than the interlock.
Both have the interlock ring, same jacket and core just the SST has the pretty red tip to initiate expansion.
If'n they made a 35 cal 225 or 250 grainer I would be all over them like a seagull on a hot chip.
Bob

45-70guy · May 13, 2026

Used a 220g RN interlock out of a 30-06 on a 435 lb black bear. Bullet was running 2350 fps.
Shoulder shot at 20 yards, shattered both shoulders and he went maybe 25 yards.
Bullet was recovered on off side inside the hide. I’ll need to go weigh it as I forget off the top of my head. For North American game I’d use it again if that’s all I had.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 13, 2026

Tbitty said:
Forgot to add that I also use the 200 grain version for 35 Whelen with great success.

@Tbitty
Start running those 200grain interlocks or FTX in the Whelen pushing them at just under 3,000fps and they tend to leave bloody big holes in things.
They definitely ain't meat friendly in shoulder shots on medium size pigs, but hey dead is dead.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 13, 2026

Tbitty said:
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.

@Tbitty
You are a man of superior breeding and intelligence along with class ( a bit like my good self)
I use the SST in both my sons 308 and my 25 and can't fault them. After all they are just an interlock with a fancy plastic tip instead of a lead tip. They give outstanding accuracy in my rifles and excellent terminal performance. I have taken game with them out past 300 with excellent results but prefer to keep my shot less than 200.
My longest shot with the 117gn SST was a lasered 396 yards and that critter went straight down as if electrocuted
Bob

dgr416 · May 13, 2026

I stay away from hornady bullets the rifle bullets shoot terrible in most of my guns .The .338 hornady bullets shoot patterns in all my .338s and they shoot cloverleafs with other bullets .I tried them in my 3006 same thing and .243 so I gave up on them there are alot better bullets out there .

matt85 · May 13, 2026

I used them in my 6.5x55 and 7x57, in both cases it was a heavy round nose projectile (160gr and 175gr). These did a fine job on local white tail deer.

I admit i mostly used them because i liked the look of these classic cartridges with traditional round nose bullets.

Mizzou100 · May 14, 2026

I love several Hornady bullets but I stopped shooting the interlock , both whitetail I have shot with interlock loads have died, and died fairly quickly, however, last years buck I shot in south texas at 200 yards with the 6.5 creedmoor 129gr did not create an exit wound and had no blood, I found the deer about 20 yards away in the heaviest scrub i have ever dealt with, it was down but still allive, I shot it again from 10 yards to finish it, and that bullet also failed to exit!

I am switching to the Hornady CX or the swift Scirocco 11...depending on which one my rifle shoots best. I want an exit wound, much easier to find in the places i hunt.

Mike

MS 9x56 · May 14, 2026

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@mark-hunter
Haven't used interlocks per se but have used plenty of Hornady SST which are just an interlock with a pretty plastic tip.
Have use them in 117gn 25 cal hard driven to over 3,300fps
My son uses 150 gn SST in 308 exclusively.
We have both taken numerous goats, pigs and deer with these and they are usually dry ar just a short run before piling up.
These expand reliably and drive deep usually leaving a massive exit on smaller game.
To me they are a great bullet that performs similar or better than the interlock.
Both have the interlock ring, same jacket and core just the SST has the pretty red tip to initiate expansion.
If'n they made a 35 cal 225 or 250 grainer I would be all over them like a seagull on a hot chip.
Bob

I have just finished loading 100 cases of 250-3000 savage with Hornady 117 grain SST bullets. If it ever stops raining off to the range I go.

Firebird · May 14, 2026

I really hate bullet threads-all kind of answers and all over the board with extreme bias.
I have in my group seen a lot of good kills on mule deer and whitetails with them in an array of calibers. I know we lost a three point mule deer when the bullet hit the humerus and failed to get into the vitals. That was a young shooter and not great shot placement.
I don’t hate the bullet but it’s not one of my first choices either-

Hififile324 · May 14, 2026

I have used them for over 40 years with excellent results. I have made several one shot kills on Elk, Bears, Bison with the Interlock.

I used the 225gr SP-RP in my .338 Win Mag, and it was very accurate and an excellent stopper with deep penetration and expansion. I also like the 175gr. SP for my 7mm Rem Mag. It's very hard to go wrong with these, especially at their price compared to the fancy bullets!

Gomer · May 14, 2026

I have used the 180gr BTSP in a 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 300 Wby Mag, and still use the 140gr BTSP in a 270 and 139gr BTSP in a 7x57. I don’t use them in anything fast anymore because the bullet seems to perform better at moderate velocity. Short range shots created more meat damage than was necessary.

Considering the cost of premium bullets vs the other costs of a hunt, I quit worrying about using spendier bullets. The 200gr Partition had become my favorite .30 caliber bullet (for game elk-size and larger). I still use them on deer sized animals with my 7x57 and 270. I shot a cow elk with the 7x57 at 175 yards, broadside, and it exited.

ftrovato · May 14, 2026

mark-hunter said:
So, have you used Hornady interlocks, what caliber, how many grains, and at what game?
Experiences?

For me, they work well on anything up to about 400 lbs. Then I'd switch to bonded if I wanted to still shoot copper and lead.

pilar · May 14, 2026

I don’t mind the Hornady inter lock they’ve been a good fast killer and usually have a good blood track, but last couple years I have used Norma in everything except my 375 ruger and I use the 270gr Hornady In it on a few animals every year, with a 375 ruger you don’t have much else to choose from unless you hand load,
I wish Hornady would make the move back to the inter bond of yesteryear ! ( I killed a lot of game with the old Hornady heavy magnum and light mag line )
F the new trend of high energy dump ( SST & ELDX , Sierra Tipped GK ) that’s why I use NORMA now ( kinda a Goldie locks bullet imo , not to soft/ not to hard .good dump with a exit wound.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 14, 2026

dgr416 said:
I stay away from hornady bullets the rifle bullets shoot terrible in most of my guns .The .338 hornady bullets shoot patterns in all my .338s and they shoot cloverleafs with other bullets .I tried them in my 3006 same thing and .243 so I gave up on them there are alot better bullets out there .

@dgr416
I find that rather strange. They shoot extremely well in all my rifles from 22K Hornet thru to my Whelen. Weights range from 40gn vmav, 55gn spire point, 117 gn SST, 150gn SST and 200 & 259 gn spire points to 250gn round nose.
None of these group over .75" and some even smaller 0.3-0.5" for the 222,25 and 35 cal.
They kill Welland good value for money what's not to like.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 14, 2026

MS 9x56 said:
I have just finished loading 100 cases of 250-3000 savage with Hornady 117 grain SST bullets. If it ever stops raining off to the range I go.

@MS 9x56
With those bullets depending on the rifle they may not stabilise in the old 1:12 twist Savage 99.
If'n it's the newer 1:10 twist they will be fine.
For shorter ranges out to 150-200 I think the 117 gn round nose soft points. Would be great.
I'm tempted to try them in my 25 at 3,300 fps. I think they would knock the snot out of pigs and deer
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 14, 2026

TMac said:
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.

@TMac
I really love the 117gn SST in my 25. Started at 3,309+ fps flys flat and hits hard. Up close it definitely isn't meat friendly.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 14, 2026

Fatback said:
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.

@Fatback
This is what I like about the Whelen
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 14, 2026

Badboymelvin said:
Glad I stumbled upon this thread; I'm planning a Fallow deer hunt and am using my .303 British loaded with the 150gn Interlock at a sedate 2450fps.
After reading this I have every confidence it will do a great job.

Russ

@Badboymelvin
The good thing about them is they are actually .312 diameter unlike some other brands that are only .310 so usually give better accuracy.
I had great success with the 180gn RNSP in my old three O.
Bob

Tbitty · May 14, 2026

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@Tbitty
You are a man of superior breeding and intelligence along with class ( a bit like my good self)
I use the SST in both my sons 308 and my 25 and can't fault them. After all they are just an interlock with a fancy plastic tip instead of a lead tip. They give outstanding accuracy in my rifles and excellent terminal performance. I have taken game with them out past 300 with excellent results but prefer to keep my shot less than 200.
My longest shot with the 117gn SST was a lasered 396 yards and that critter went straight down as if electrocuted
Bob

Our usage is eerily similar. That pretty red tip just gives a little more accuracy on otherwise near identical performance between the SST and Interlock. Most of my shots are also under 200, but they have performed at longer distances when necessary. My longest was a pronghorn antelope in Wyoming at laser ranged 437 yards with the 117 grain SST. Dropped on the spot.

Doug3006 · May 14, 2026

I’ve used them in my 7mm-08, 270 Winchester, and 30-06 on white tails. They worked great as you’d expect. I used some old stock, round nose 300 grain Interlocks in my 375 H&H for zebra, hartebeest, kudu and warthog, also with excellent results. For some reason, the round nose Interlocks were the most accurate rounds I’ve ever loaded for my 375….and aside from my varmint caliber loads….
The most accurate rounds I’ve ever loaded. Of course, they discontinued the RN bullets! I don’t think there’s any difference between Interlocks and Nosler Partitions in the field.

Hornady interlock, have you used it on anything?

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

45-70guy

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

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MS 9x56

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Gomer

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