Hornady American Whitetail and Interlock Bullet Accuracy

[USAF Ret]

So, just wanting to get some feedback.

I have never had decent accuracy results out of Hornady American Whitetail ammunition in several calibers. I also loaded some Hornday Interlock for my 308 using Varget, which is a tack driver with Norma Whitetail. None of the recipes provided really showed any great results in accuracy, although better than the American Whitetail Ammunition itself.

I was reminded of this when I shot some Hornady American Whitetail ammunition I had left over in a a new 7mm-08 this weekend. The Norma was shooting decent groups but the Hornady was all over the map, as usual.

[stagpanther]

My experience has been the opposite--for off-the-shelf budget hunting ammo I think it's outstanding, at least in the consistency department.

[FrankenMauser]

Hornady bullets haven't given me any issues.
The American Whitetail line of ammo has done very well in the handful of rifles where I've tested it.

[USAF Ret]

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I am not holding my mouth right.

[bamaranger]

The Hornady .30/165 grain interlock is the only Hornady .30 with which I am familiar. I use said slug in my scoped Garand, and it shoots as well as any other bullet I push through the old warhorse .

[GeauxTide]

Have used Hornady bullets since the 70s. Load them in all rifle calibers listed below. Also have Sierra, and Speer on my shelf, but more red boxes than any other. Like Bamaranger, I've found 165s to be the ticket in my 308s over H4895.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by GeauxTide

Have used Hornady bullets since the 70s. Load them in all rifle calibers listed below. Also have Sierra, and Speer on my shelf, but more red boxes than any other. Like Bamaranger, I've found 165s to be the ticket in my 308s over H4895.

I have some 165 grain A-Max in stock. Thinking I may do some testing on those. Heard, even though they are a target round, they are pretty good for deer hunting.

[NHSHOOTER]

I have used Hornadys off and on in a variety of calibers with different results ( always handloaded ammo) in 7-08 I got mediocre results where on the other hand my friend that doesnt reload got decent results from store bought american whitetail in 139 gr..now out of my new to me 25-06 with 117 gr ssts I am getting outstanding groups and drt kills on the 2 deer I have shot with it, interlocks even of the same weight will not group as well as the sst. my other 25-06 seems to like sierra 117s better that the hornady's , I am having a great time experimenting..(thats what reloading is all about) right?

[ammo.crafter]

Only used Hornady for .204 and .222 reloading and for fire forming brass. I found it to be OK but rely on Barnes for accuracy and hunting.

[jmr40]

I've gotten good results by handloading Interlocks.

I've gotten mixed results from American Whitetail factory loads. But granted that isn't a lot of experience. When I 1st bought my 6.5 CM I picked up a couple boxes to shoot up for the brass. It was only so-so. But some I tried in my 308 shot much better.

[riverratt]

The inerlock bullet itself is an accurate bullet that preform well on game in my experience. I have 2 loads in 30/06, 180gr ang 165gr, that both consistently shoot around .75" at 100 yards. I have another load in 7mm-08 that shoots about .75" in one gun and consistently under .6" in another.

As far as the American Whitetail factory loads, I haven't found one that shoots worth a hoot in any of my rifles. Best one is the 180 in my 06 that will keep probably a 2.5" group.... maybe. The 165gr 06, 139gr 7mm-08 and 100gr (I think, it's been a while) .243 loadings hold somewhere between 3" and 4". Completely unacceptable in my book.

[GeauxTide]

I have some 165 grain A-Max in stock. Thinking I may do some testing on those. Heard, even though they are a target round, they are pretty good for deer hunting.

Please look at Hornady's website and review the construction of their bullets. With all the shortages, I see more folks using them for hunting; however, I believe we have an ethical responsibility to use the bullets that the manufacturers recommend.

[reynolds357]

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

So, just wanting to get some feedback.

I have never had decent accuracy results out of Hornady American Whitetail ammunition in several calibers. I also loaded some Hornday Interlock for my 308 using Varget, which is a tack driver with Norma Whitetail. None of the recipes provided really showed any great results in accuracy, although better than the American Whitetail Ammunition itself.

I was reminded of this when I shot some Hornady American Whitetail ammunition I had left over in a a new 7mm-08 this weekend. The Norma was shooting decent groups but the Hornady was all over the map, as usual.

I have limited experience with loaded American Whitetail ammo. Hornady Interlock bullets are tack drivers.never seem a good shooting rifle that wouldn't shoot them.

[stagpanther]

I still prefer partitions over interlocs; but they are becoming rare and it seems are being gradually phased out, at least in commercial ammo--with interlocs seemingly being chosen as a substitute in some cases.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by stagpanther

I still prefer partitions over interlocs; but they are becoming rare and it seems are being gradually phased out, at least in commercial ammo--with interlocs seemingly being chosen as a substitute in some cases.

I did not know they were being phased out. I wondered why they were so hard to find. I have some for 6.5. Reckon I may need to stock up.

[armoredman]

I have loaded the 150 gr Interlocks for some time for a buddy, and he gets cold bore bullseyes at 100 yards with them. Of course, he IS a sniper, a real one, with really good equipment.
Me, first time using my new rifle and ammo, got these results with the factory ammo American Whitetail with the 150gr Interlock bullet at 100 yards while sighting the the scope. Shot from a bench using a bipod, CZ 600 Alpha, complete idiot behind the trigger.





Looks good to go for hunting accuracy, I'd think, BUT, in regards to hunting I am nowhere near any expert, not even in a fog, at night, at 1000 yards.

[bacardisteve]

No experience with factory loaded hornady interlocks but the 165gr 30 cal shoots well in all my 308s. I have run them out to 600yds to aquire a good dope and they performed very well for a soft point. Don't think I've ever harvested game with them past 300yds though usually don't carry a 308 when I'm hunting more open areas but I'm sure they would work fine untill impact speed got below 1800fps.