It's pretty well agreed that today's $1/piece premium bullets are not necessary for deer and animals of that size.

So removing them from the market place (and lets also remove the Nosler partitionby calling it a premium bullet) we're left with the corelokts, hotcores, gamekings, interlocks, power points, solid base and possibly a couple others.

Is there any real difference in these? I've always liked the interlock but if the interlock isn't liking my rifle are the others as good?

vapo, the coreloks have alwyas had a good rep. A buddy of mine uses nothing but 180grCL in his 06 for antelope to moose. He never complains or has thought of switching.

Any particular bullet could be have a thin jacket or a thick one. The lead could be hard or not and other variables such as the jacket thickness.

Then each manufacturer could change a bullet and make it different. There was talk that Nosler made the jackets on the heavier Ballistic Tips thicker.

Also the assumption that a premium is not necessary for say whitetails across the board is too broad. With small bullets that might have limited penetration ablity a better bullet might expand easy yet penetrate deep as well.

For instance I have had good luck with the 150 gr 7mm Corelokt on deer but someone said that the Corelokts have been changed and they are no longer such a controlled expansion bullet. If this is true or not I am not sure now.

In general I like big fast bullets. This just has to leave some blanket over the bed to keep me warm.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
...Is there any real difference in these? I've always liked the interlock but if the interlock isn't liking my rifle are the others as good?

Hey Vapodog, From what I've experienced, some calibers and weights (like 150gr 30cal) all work quite similar among "Standard Grade Bullets".

But, you can also have totally different characteristics as in the 35cal 200gr bullets by different manufacturers. There is a wide variation in how each brand performs.

Is there a specific caliber and weight you want to compare?

quote:

Is there a specific caliber and weight you want to compare?

This was more general than specific. I shoot .257 all the way to .375 at times deer hunting and just don't feel the need for A-Frames for the run-of-the-mill smaller big game. Normally I use interlocks but have little experience with hot cores and solid bases fro Nosler.

I never reload corelokts or power points as this I can get in "cheap" factory offerings.

Sierra boxes are rare in this reloading bench due to previous experience but I do use them in varminting.

I've had dismal luck with accuracy using Grand slams and they're over priced for deer hunting as well

We spend so much time on this forum talking about the premium bullets and really don't hash out the merits of the conventionals as they're the ones shot 90% of the time and the ones deserving the discussion.

Let me ask it this way then: Is there a better conventional bullet for hunting 250 pound and smaller big game than the interlock?.....in calibers from .257 to .308?

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Let me ask it this way then: Is there a better conventional bullet for hunting 250 pound and smaller big game than the interlock?.....in calibers from .257 to .308?

I don't have a favorite "plain" bullet, but I do find myself using a lot of Nosler bullets. I always liked the solid base and used them before the Ballistic tip came along. I've used a bunch of Hornadys over the years too, and betcha I've probably got a box of their old pencil point bullets if I dig deep enough. Never had a complaint about Sierra either as they have always flown level and true for me.
About the only bullet I don't use is Speer and I couldn't tell you why either.

I about got run out of town on another thread when I suggested that these type of bullets were more accurate versus "premium" bullets and therefore more practical in a hunting situation. Meaning you have to hit them before you can kill them. Placed properly any of your selected choices will kill deader than dead.

OH, I'm sure you weren't run off the thread, but an accurate rifle will shoot a premium bullet well enough for any normal big game hunting (out to 400yds). It may take more tweeking of your load to get there, but I have never had a problem getting Nosler Partitions to shoot MOA or better in any of my rifles. Sure a SGK or NBT MAY shoot 1/2MOA but MOA get's it done out to 400 & bullets like the NP give me confidence @ 50 that it won't come apart too fast.
I have had good luck w/ Hornady & Speer in the heavier for caliber weights on deer size game. I'm going to use the 145gr/7mm Speer this year for antelope, it just shoots too well from my .280 & I haven't had time to work up a good load for the 140grNAB yet.

VD

In addition to all the red boxes on my reloading bench there is just about an equal number of the yellow Speer boxes. My rifles tell me which one to use.

WN

Speer Hotcore's and Hornady Interlocks have been doing pretty well for me.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
...Is there a better conventional bullet for hunting 250 pound and smaller big game than the interlock?.....in calibers from .257 to .308?

Well...., it depends on the:

1. Weight being used.

2. Impact Velocity.

3. Bullet Placement.

4. Design Envelope of the specific Bullet.
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I know that didn't provide an answer that is useful, so I'll try to use a bit more specific example with real Bullets I've used from 10-400yds from a 308Win. Beyond 400yds, the softer bullets do better in the "Medium and Tough Impact" locations, but I'll limit it to 400yds.

And I'll use the 150gr 30cal size since a lot of folks find that optimum for a 308Win. For a 30-06, think 165gr. You will "normally" get Exits with these shots, but not 100% of the time. I try to get Exits for where I hunt.

Softer bullets which are best used directly into the Lungs:
Sierra and the "original" Nosler Ballistic Tips.

Medium bullets which will work in the Lungs, but also work well in one shoulder either going in or coming out.
Hornady RN, Speer BTSP, Speer RN, Rem CoreLokt, "old" Nosler Solid Base, and some of the 2nd-4th generation B-Tips.

Tougher bullets(in relation to the above, but certainly not as tough as a Premium) which works fine in one shoulder, but best through both.
Hornady SP, Speer Hot-Cor, current B-Tips. And I like the distance beyond say 150yds for the double shoulder shot with these.

Once you get beyond 300yds the Mediums work fine on shoulder to shoulder. Then when you get beyond 400yds, the Soft bullets work fairly well on shoulder to shoulder. But I still prefer the Speer BTSP way out there.
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If a person believes it is OK to take Gut Shots(raking) or shots at the Wrong End(rear), then they are really best served with a Premium bullet which retards Expansion and Retains Weight to drive on forward to where it should have been in the first place.