I just received a shipment from Midway and part of that order was some Hornady 300gr .375" bullets for my .376. I ordered the Interlock bullets because at $18 bucks a box they should do for general target practice and plinking. I also ordered a box of the 300gr. fmj bullets at $23 per box because I noticed that they're not "encapsulated" any more and if i get to make my intended retirement safari in a couple of years I'd like to have some idea what the rifle is capable of.

Close examination of the new bullets showed a shiny ring around the core at the base. Exposure to a magnet reveals that the new bullets are steel jacketed. From what I've read the older Hornady bulets were so constructed and lately lamented.

Thought that someone might like to know...

465H&H

Rick R

So...you got the last box.. I tried to order some today, but they are out of the FMJ. I got a few boxes of the others, though. I'm glad to see they came to their senses.

I wonder why Hornady isn't advertising this as they took a lot of heat for going away from the steel lined FMJs and spent a bundle of money developing the bullets that had no steel in them!.....now they correct the situation and don't tell anyone.....too bad they maintained the round nose and didn't install a meplat on it!

Old news. This certainly hasn't been a secret. They've been working on a return to the steel jacketed solid for some time.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

I buy surplus 8mm mauser rounds for $12 a hundred - they shoot pretty well with reasonable groups. My two concerns have been that they are probably corrosive primers and the jackets are steel.
Do steel jackets wear the barrel faster than copper?

quote:

Do steel jackets wear the barrel faster than copper?

I think what we have is a "copper clad" steel jacket and the material that actually comes in contact with the barrel is still copper.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
too bad they maintained the round nose and didn't install a meplat on it!

Actually, there is a flat meplat on the new bullet, you can see it in the picture on Midway's website.

Nice to see Hornady really meant it this time and is delivering product. Thanks for the confirmation.

Interesting that the FMJs have a flat nose - I had not heard about that before. The Midway photo shows what looks like a pretty sharp edged meplat.

Are you able to post a photograph of one of yours?

quote:

Originally posted by Rick R:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
too bad they maintained the round nose and didn't install a meplat on it!

Actually, there is a flat meplat on the new bullet, you can see it in the picture on Midway's website.
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http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/image?saleitemid=595477[/IMG]

mrlexma,

That will have to wait till I get home it's a shame I didn't bring any to work, our evidence tech has the equipment to take some really closeup pix.

I thought the flat in the photo was a case of bad photography by Midway, but it's really that shape.

What was the beef with the new Hornady solids?
Were the interbond solids just a thick copper jacket over a lead core? Was the jacket too soft allowing the bullet to rivet, split open or bend.
It would be interesting to cut one of those Hornady steel jacketed bullets right down the center line length wise.I'd like to see just how thick the copper jacket is. If it is just a few thou of electro plateing then I can't beleve forcing a steel jacketed bullet into into the rifling would be any good for that rifling.
Meaning a lot fewer shot out that barrel till the rifling is hammered flat.

Ihave just taken one of my mauser rounds apart and the copper jacket is very thin, I intend to get it into my workshop this weekend and measure the thickness. It appears to be no more than a very thin plate - a light, single stroke of a file removes it.
What would you regard as an acceptable thickness of copper to protect the barrel?

OK, got some time to take a few pictures:

L to R Encapsulated, New FMJ meplat, New FMJ base



Length wise the new bullet is about 20 thou longer than the Encapsulated.

L to R Encapsulated, New FMJ



I managed to put the encapsulated slug thru a railroad tie, I'll have to work up some of the new FMJ's and see what they'll do.

Thanks for the photos.

I like it!

The location of the cannelure on the new FMJ-FN sure makes a guy wonder what's under that jacket! Hmmmm....