First, some info for comparison. Standard bullets, including Nosler Partition, the higher the impact velocity, the more bullet weight that is lost and the less penetration as a result.

Not so with the 150 grain, .308 Interbond. I only tested four bullets. The load was 45.5 grains of Varget in a .308 Win with a MV of 2775 fps. Bullets were fired at four distances into a plastic crate as full of newspapers as I could cram it. Over a three day period the crate was filled with water until the papers were totally soaked.

Bullet #1 was fired from 100 yards. Penetration was 13 1/8". The wound channel was between 1 3/8" and 1 1/2" in diameter. This wound channel size was the same for all four bullets. Retained weight=136.7 grains or 91% of the orignal weight. Width of bullet at the widest point was .684", and .658 at the narrowest point. Length was .424".

Bullet #2 was fired from 75 yards. Penetration=14". wide width=..698". Narrow width=.626". length=.397". Retained weight=134.7 grains for 90%.

Bullet #3 was fired from 40 yards. Penetration=11 3/4". wide width=.714". narrow width=.667". Length=.357". Retained weight=132.6 grains for 88%. This is the only bullet that did not increase penetration the closer I got too the crate. I'm inclined to think this may have been caused by more slick magazines that come with newspapers offering greater resistance.

Bullet #4 was fired from 20 ft. Penetration=15 5/8". wide width=.764". narrow width=.579". length=.369". Retained weight =128.7 grains for 86%.

This impressed the hell out of me. I intend to conduct longer range test at a later date. If the accuracy test come out the way I hope, I think I'll be changing bullets. If anyone has a test that I can do on these bullets, let me know and I'll give it a try. All results will be posted on this site. This answered some of my questions, I hope it did the same for you.

[ 05-23-2003, 01:18: Message edited by: BigBob ]

Well you sure got my attention. I look forward to more results.

Bob, this is good stuff. This is the second penetration test published in here of late with the new "big manufacturer" bonded bullets - the other one being the Nosler Accubond. See:

Accubond Penetration Test

I'm amazed at how little mass the Interbond bullet seems to loose. Although the two tests were not executed with the same target media, they should to some extent be comparable - also terminal velocities seem comparable (at least for the 20 ft impact test). With those caveats in mind, it seems like the Interbond looses less weight, but does not penetrate quite as deeply as the Accubond does. The only reason for the lesser depth of penetration I can immediately spot, would be the larger expansion diameter of the Interbond.
- mike

This is very informative information and I thank you for posting it. Lots of fun to shoot into such medium and see what bullets do.

However, last weekend we tried the 150 grain Interbond in a couple of 300 Weatherby rifles and the accuracy was dismal to say the least. We had just finished shooting good groups with both these rifles with Weatherby factory ammo loaded with Nosler Partitions and some reloads using Sierra and Hornady spitzers. When we tried the Interbond BOTH rifles shot them about 8 inches to the right of the other bullets and BOTH rifles shot patterns not groups. Not sure I understand this at all. We were quite dissapointed to say the least. I had just finished shooting a 0.36 inch group in a 7mm Rem Mag using Hornady 139 grain SST's, so those new Hornady bullets shoot quite well, but the Interbond's were a failure.

R F

It wil be interesting to see what happens at range and also at higher velocities, say over 3000fps.

I TOO WANT TO SAY THANKS!! It's heads up posting like this that keeps us all informed. Re the interbond accuracy it sure brings back memories of the scirroco being a little "testy" when first introduced. I'm sure some guns will like them and given some time I'm sure hornady will improve them---kinda like buying that new model car or truck--always a few kinks to work out.