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Hornady Interbond Terminal Performance

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15 April 2006, 22:11
wildcat junkie
Hornady Interbond Terminal Performance
Here are some pictures of a 139 grain .284" Hornady Interbond bullet that I recovered from a very large Whitetail doe.

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[IMG:left] [/IMG]

This bullet was fired from a handloaded .280 cartridge @ just over 3200 fps Mv. It stuck the doe quartering on @ about 30 yards, terminal velocity was probably still in excess of 3000 fps. It impacted high on the rear edge of the left scapula, penetrating the scapula, ribs, lungs, diaphram, liver, stomach, intestines and rear hindquarter coming to rest under the hide after just missing the right femur.

The bullet still weighs 118.5 grains, over 85% weght retention. The bullet has expanded to .808" @ the widest point for 284% expansion.

Now I have tried Nosler Accubonds and I do not care for them as there is too much tissue damage @ the entry wound and not that large of an exit wound.

Nosler's theory that the nose should disitegrate allowing for deeper penetration just does't seem to hold water in this case.

Even with the large frontal area, this bullet ,with it's excellent weight retention, penentrated nearly 3' after hitting bone @ an extremely high terminal velocity.

At what point does penetration outweigh tissue destruction and increased shock imparted by a large "mushroom" shaped (expanded) bullet?


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15 April 2006, 22:42
Jay Johnson
Wildcat that's the same bullet I've been using with awesome results in my 7MM Rem since the 70's. Everything form 35 feet to 500 yards has been put into the locker with no escapees.
15 April 2006, 23:54
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
Wildcat that's the same bullet I've been using with awesome results in my 7MM Rem since the 70's. Everything form 35 feet to 500 yards has been put into the locker with no escapees.


This is the "bonded" version. As far as I know they have only been making it for the last few years.


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16 April 2006, 00:35
Jay Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by wildcat junkie:
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
Wildcat that's the same bullet I've been using with awesome results in my 7MM Rem since the 70's. Everything form 35 feet to 500 yards has been put into the locker with no escapees.


This is the "bonded" version. As far as I know they have only been making it for the last few years.


Yep your right I've been using the interlock. Didn't read your post close enough. But I am now working the interbond load up for my 7MM STW.
16 April 2006, 05:07
Dman
Wildcat, I just got a box of identical IB's. Upon close examination I noticed some irregularities in the polymer tips. Looks almost as if they are a little deformed and bent. Do you see anything like that in yours?

How do they compare to the nosler's for accuracy?

D
16 April 2006, 19:07
tomk
Thanks for that post Wildcat. I have two very similar bullets from two bucks started at 2850 or so, killing them at 100-150 yards. The wound channels were what I like to see--but the penetration was not.

I wondered if speeding them up would make for less penetration or more...looks like more Smiler
16 April 2006, 20:00
captdavid
Wildcat,
I've been considering a 280, and am suprised at your velocities. Can you tell me how you are getting them? Are they chronied? How long is your barrel? thanks, capt david


"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds. Get closer!
17 April 2006, 15:03
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by captdavid:
Wildcat,
I've been considering a 280, and am suprised at your velocities. Can you tell me how you are getting them? Are they chronied? How long is your barrel? thanks, capt david


The only way I have been able to attain those velocities @ sane pressure levels was with a compressed load of Norma MRP.

Alas I can no longer get Norma powders. Alliant RL 22 will yield about 3125-3150. That is the load I am now using.


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17 April 2006, 16:39
vapodog
Noslers seem to loose more weight in the trauma channel.....personally I'd like to see 90% retention but of course dead is still dead.

Judging from this report it seems that the interbond is a slightly better bullet.

Thanks Wildcat Junkie for the report and photos.


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18 April 2006, 06:02
338guy
I have been using the 130 Interbond in a 270 Gibbs for awhile and have been very happy with it. One of the things I like is that it shoots to exactly the same point of aim as the 130 SST. I use the SSTs for general use and save the Interbonds for hunting.

I have found the SSTs to be as accurate as the Nosler BT's in several rifles. The Noslers seem to be much more sensitive to powder changes than the Hornadys. Usually I have to work quite awhile to find the sweet spot for the BTs while the Hornadys seem to shoot over a wider range and are not as sensitive to load variations. I have found the same thing in my 22 varmint rifles.
18 April 2006, 09:14
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by captdavid:
Wildcat,
I've been considering a 280, and am suprised at your velocities. Can you tell me how you are getting them? Are they chronied? How long is your barrel? thanks, capt david


In my first reply I had failed to address some of your questions.

Yes these loads are chronographed. The Mv are corrected to the muzzle from 15" readings via "Quicktarget" (a "Quickload" program) external balistics data. Barrel length was 24".(Remington Model 700 CDL) Chronograph is a Pact Model 1.

By all means get the 280 very near 7mm Rem Mag ballistics with less powder.

My loads are at estimated 7mm Mag/270 Win pressure, although the MRP loads never got above an estimated 60,000 psi. I wish I could get more, RL22 is close, but no cigar.


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18 April 2006, 09:30
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by Dman:
Wildcat, I just got a box of identical IB's. Upon close examination I noticed some irregularities in the polymer tips. Looks almost as if they are a little deformed and bent. Do you see anything like that in yours?

How do they compare to the nosler's for accuracy?

D


I have never noticed the tips being deformed or bent.

Accuracy is not quite as good as the Nosler Accubond, but still about 1 MOA. The Accubonds would do just a bit better, but not enough difference to outweigh the IMO better terminal ballistics of the Interbonds.

I also took an 8 point buck this last season of about the same size as the aforementioned very large doe (164#s dressed) It was a 245 yard shot quartering away at a severe angle. I waited and waited for him to turn enough, finally slipping one in just ahead of the hind quarters exiting just ahead of the off side shoulder through the brisket. The buck went less than 15 yards, probably about 2 short bounds. The liver was torn up pretty good and the lungs were almost non existant.

I love the terminal effects of this bullet. Much better than then Accubond. As I said, the slight decrease in accuracy is outweighed by the terminal performance.


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18 April 2006, 16:40
Hot Core
Hey Wildcat, Great flicks and the kind of Bullet info I like to see. Plenty of details about the actual Bullet Path.

Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills.
18 April 2006, 17:48
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by Hot Core:
Hey Wildcat, Great flicks and the kind of Bullet info I like to see. Plenty of details about the actual Bullet Path.

Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills.


I know it is just conjecture on my part,. but the shape of the mushroomed bullet tends to reflect the angular impact with the scapula or perhaps just the animal itself.

Notice how the "petal" on one side is peeled back closer to the base of the bullet.

The lead core itself is sort of "stratified" perhaps from impacting different densities of tissue on it's violent journey through bone, muscle, and various internal organs.


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27 April 2006, 17:56
Deke
Those pics are more impressive than the ones I posted on the Big Game forum under "Interbond Elk Bullet". Your bullet was stressed to the max and performed beautifully. The bullet I posted had 89% wt retention on the Elk and expanded to a similar size.

Deke.
27 April 2006, 22:01
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by Deke:
Your bullet was stressed to the max and performed beautifully.

Deke.


Yes it was definately "stressed to the max".

If you look closely at the shot from the base, the base is concave, evidence of the tremendous forces trying to seperate the core.

The "bond" was so complete that it actually pulled the base inward as the core mushroomed.

The amazing thing is that the deer ran about 40 yards before piling up.


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28 April 2006, 20:48
Deke
Yes I saw the concave base. This would have been a classic jacket separation in a non-bonded bullet.

As far as the doe running 40yrds, I have only seen them drop straight down if a major bone is broken, a hit to the central nerv system, or an explosive bullet to the lungs. I do not shoot the explosive bullets since I somtimes have to shoot the shoulder before the bullet hits vitals. From your description, major bones or the CNS were not impacted so dropping the doe in 40yrds with a non-explosive bullet is pretty good performance in my book.

Deke.
29 April 2006, 01:42
wildcat junkie
quote:
Originally posted by Deke:

As far as the doe running 40yrds, I have only seen them drop straight down if a major bone is broken, a hit to the central nerv system, or an explosive bullet to the lungs. I do not shoot the explosive bullets since I somtimes have to shoot the shoulder before the bullet hits vitals. From your description, major bones or the CNS were not impacted so dropping the doe in 40yrds with a non-explosive bullet is pretty good performance in my book.

Deke.


I have seen several DRT (dead right there) results from a broadsde hit in the pocket made by the scapula and the intermediate leg bone. Right in the bottom of the "V" made by the juncture of these two bones. Not a hit in the bones mind you but right "in the pocket".

That is my usual aim point on broadside shots.

My 280 is sighted for maximum + - 3" point blank range. With this bullet and laod combination it is 3"low # 309 yards with a peak 3" high @ 150yds and somewhat beyond.

This hold with that sight in trajectory allows that hold to strike the boiler room from the muzzle to 300+ yards and any distance in between.

That hit "in the pocket" just seems to put there lights out most of the time though. I once had a medium sized Whitetail buck drop directly down onto his folded up legs. He didn't even "roll over", just his head was laying over on its side. I had a good look at the animal before I shot, but could not see the head. I knew it was a good sized deer and I had tags for both sexes. As I walked up to the deer from 240yds away I thought I had killed a real monster as when I started to get nearer he looked to be a foot and a half thick as I thought he was laying on his side.

Turned out he was a medium sized buck dressing about 160#s. Still a nice batch of "cube steaks" though.


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29 April 2006, 11:50
grizz
Here's a buck shot with the same bullet/same cartridge. Distance about 100 yds, velocity unknown but guestimated at 3000+.

This bullet hit the brisket, came to rest just behind the last rib. Dumped him on the spot.




Weight is 121.2 for a 87% retention from the original 139 grains. Expansion is .695. He's killed about ten deer in the last 3 years with that 7400 rem. Most at more than 100 yds, out to 200 on one shot. Never a bullet failure, all one shot kills. This is the first bullet we have recovered. It took out the top of the heart and made a mess out of the right lung.




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