Anyone shoot Hornady Interlocks

Considering the interlocks by Hornady, both the BTSP and plain SP ( I'm worried about neck and bullet contact with the 7mm BTSP 139 grain because I'm loading about .025 off my lands and that wouldn't leave much neck/bullet contact).

Has anyone shot these bullet at long range? How do they preform between 300-500 yards (accuarcy, penetration and expansion)

This load work up will be for hunting... when these bullets deform from being in the maginzine and in your pockets/backpacks, will it effect accuracy out to 500 yard?

Rifle is a 7mm08

You're way overthinking this, timberelk. load up ur 140s ballistic tips and plug a few deer and see what you think

They're relatively inexpensive (compared to Bergers), so I load them in fire-forming loads for my Ackleys, but that's about it.

Canhunter35 said:

You're way overthinking this, timberelk. load up ur 140s ballistic tips and plug a few deer and see what you think

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You are correct, I tend to over think both my rifle and archery setups but I only do so that when an opportunity presents itself, I know I didn't everything I could within reason to ensure a positive out come.

Target practice will do more than anything else to ensure a positive outcome

timberelk said:

You are correct, I tend to over think both my rifle and archery setups but I only do so that when an opportunity presents itself, I know I didn't everything I could within reason to ensure a positive out come.

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I've shot interlocks in 25 cal with great success but I've also tried 165 30 cal interlocks with very poor results in 3 different rifles. Two 300 win mags howa 1500 and rem 700 sendero and a 30-06 bergera b14 hunter. 1.5- 3" grours at 100. I don't know why but I just couldn't get them to shoot in my rifles.

Ive loaded them in 243(100gr), 308(165gr), 7mm-08140, and 154gr), and 30-06(150, and 165gr) All have shot accurately and are easy to work up loads for. Talked to many old timers that call them the poor mans partition.

Performed well in my 375 Weatherby on moose and bear. 270gr Interlock. Back in the 80s. 400yd range.

for hunting deer from 20 yards out to 400 yards , these are the bullets I use . I use the 139BTSP in my Tikka 7mm-08 . this past season I loaded the 154 sp ( flat base ) bullet for my 7mm rem mag . I couldn't tell you how many deer I've killed with the 139BTSP . I'm well pleased with the results , and have no reason to look for a different bullet .

if I'm setting up where I know my shots will be long I use a different bullet .

when i was a young lad my father loaded 139gr interlocks for me and himself to shoot deer, Ive shot out past 300yrds with them just fine. he loaded to the cannelure and used Reloader 22 or IMR 4831. they shot just fine.......

jimbires said:

for hunting deer from 20 yards out to 400 yards , these are the bullets I use . I use the 139BTSP in my Tikka 7mm-08 . this past season I loaded the 154 sp ( flat base ) bullet for my 7mm rem mag . I couldn't tell you how many deer I've killed with the 139BTSP . I'm well pleased with the results , and have no reason to look for a different bullet .

if I'm setting up where I know my shots will be long I use a different bullet .

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Why do you select a different bullet for the longer shots? Not as accurate? Poor low velocity expansion?

timberelk said:

Why do you select a different bullet for the longer shots? Not as accurate? Poor low velocity expansion?

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I practice out to 550 yards with this rifle , but I don't feel comfortable hunting that far . . when I know chances of a close shot are not going to happen , I use a different rifle - ammo combo . my long range rifles I dial my elevation , and I shoot berger bullets that should expand at the slower velocity you get with the longer shots . my close range rifles I use Leupold scopes with the Boone and Crockett reticle . I don't feel is as accurate as dialing .

jimbires said:

I practice out to 550 yards with this rifle , but I don't feel comfortable hunting that far . . when I know chances of a close shot are not going to happen , I use a different rifle - ammo combo . my long range rifles I dial my elevation , and I shoot berger bullets that should expand at the slower velocity you get with the longer shots . my close range rifles I use Leupold scopes with the Boone and Crockett reticle . I don't feel is as accurate as dialing .

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Ok so if you had a dial scope you'd be comfortable shooting these interlocks further out there (says maybe 550/600 yards)?Accuracy wise and expansion wise?

I love everything about the BTSP interlocks. Boat tail for better BC, great accuracy out of my guns, and great terminal performance. My .243 shoots them into 2" circle at 400 yards. That said, I've still switched to VLDs for longer range shooting exercises.
I found that seating depth didn't really matter with these or any other conventional shaped bullets.