Interested in the differences in performance between these two bullets for hunting (white-tail) and plinking/practice. The two calibers I am loading for are 308 Win and 270 Win.
The Hornady's are a little higher $$$, but I know their accuracy is good. Are these pretty much equivalent bullets or is one a better game getter?
Mark, I once tried some 150 CLs in a 308 Varmint Special and they gave me the WORST groups I've ever gotton from a rifle, so I saved the brass and bought me some 308 dies and some 165 Hornady Interlocks, groups now shrunk from 3" to 1" @100yds. Used the Hornadys to bag a doe @90yds. the next year, ran about 70yds. with a double lung shot. That shot and one from my 6mmRem. auto were the only deer I shot with the Hornady bullet, but was very satified with the results, shot a deer with 30-30 CL, and a couple with the 6mm Core-Lokts and they killed deer also, just not as accurately as the Hornadys. Jay
Posts: 1745 | Location: WI. | Registered: 19 May 2003
IMO there's no difference.....both are equally good. Deer aren't like a Cape Buffalo.....they're quite easy to kill when properly tagged.....and it's not too terribly important what you hit them with.....what bullet or what caliber or what velocity.
Any bullet, heavy to middlin for caliber from .224 diameter to .458 will do fine.
Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
Core Lokt's are not LEGENDARY in the accuracy dept. However, they will certainly kill any deer. Terminal performance is fine. I think you'll be a bit happier with Hornady accuracy though.
I would have to say the Hdys hold up better. The Interlock Ring is the winner between the two, other than that they are pretty much the same bullets. They will both work on whitetails but, I have found the Hdys to penetrate more, leave less meat damage, and they shoot more accurately for me.
The most experience I've had w/ the two were in the 7mm RM and the 30-06. The CLs seemed softer in both cals.
On the other hand, I've found the RN CLs to shoot much better than the Hdy RNs out of my 30-30.
Good Luck!
Reloader
Posts: 4146 | Location: North Louisiana | Registered: 18 February 2004
I did some load development earlier this year for a 165 grain bullet in my .308. I began with Remington Core-Lokt but ran out before I was finished. I finished up with a box of Speer 165 SP. Three things stuck out when the switch occured using the same powder charge. The 10 shot velocity average went from 2591 to 2644, SD went from 15.02 to 5.73 and group size shrank by about a third. I notice similar results with my .250 Savage and 100 grain bullet from Remington and Hornady but is not documented like the .308. My conclusion is that Speer and Hornday are a cut above Remingtons. I still use them use them though because the accuracy is was good enough and the bulk price is right. That lets me shoot more.
I think the differences in average accuracy we see between these two bullets are not necessarily a function of inherent design differences, but differences in each company's quality control practices (i.e. What is acceptable to put in a box and sell to a customer?).
Ironically, I believe Remington contracts out the manufacture of the Core-Lokts to Hornady. The two companies have definitely expanded their relationship, with the recent deletion of all Nosler bullets from Remington's ammo, including the replacement of the Ballistic Tip in their line with the Accu-Tip/ Hornady SST.
RSY
Posts: 785 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 01 October 2001
I don't think you will find a difference in the on game performance of the two. Choose whichever is more accurate in your rifle. Or whichever you perceive as "purtier".
Posts: 2037 | Location: frametown west virginia usa | Registered: 14 October 2001
Quote: Ironically, I believe Remington contracts out the manufacture of the Core-Lokts to Hornady. The two companies have definitely expanded there relationship, with the recent deletion of all Nosler bullets from Remington's ammo, including the replacement of the Ballistic Tip in their line with the Accu-Tip/ Hornady SST.
RSY
Remington DOES have Hornady make a lot of their Pointed Core Lokts, but Remington still makes their own RN Core Lokts.
Posts: 3994 | Location: Hudsonville MI USA | Registered: 08 June 2000
I tried some Remington Corelokts once in my 7mm Rem mag. They shot the poorest group by far I have ever seen out of that rifle. With almost all ammo I have tried in it, I get 1" or less, corelokt was 3.5"/100 yd., I just gave em away! As a matter of fact that rifles pet load is .5" or less. Tried some standard federal fodder in same weight and it was really good accuracy wise, about .75" avg. But....... could be opposite in your rifle.
Posts: 434 | Location: Wetcoast | Registered: 31 October 2004
Quote: I tried some Remington Corelokts once in my 7mm Rem mag. They shot the poorest group by far I have ever seen out of that rifle. With almost all ammo I have tried in it, I get 1" or less, corelokt was 3.5"/100 yd., I just gave em away!
As a matter of fact that rifles pet load is .5" or less.
Tried some standard federal fodder in same weight and it was really good accuracy wise, about .75" avg.
But....... could be opposite in your rifle.
Yes, MY 7mm Rem. Mag. shoots 175-grain Corelokts at 3070 FPS into 1" AT 200 YARDS. (NOT a factory load, though!!)
As a matter of fact, the plain old style Corelokts are as good as any cup-and-draw bullet as far as toughness and controlled expansion is concerned. NONE of them will compare with a bonded core bullet, or a dual-core design like the A-Frame or Nosler Partition.
My T/C Encore has a custom 6.5-06 Ackley barrel and the 2 tightest groups out of it ever were with Core-Lokts and Interlocks. One of each, but the Hornady's seem to be more consistent. my .02 worth
Posts: 504 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: 09 December 2001
