Ballistic Tips vs. Hornady Interbonds

[WyoHunter]

My experiences in 7mm and 30 cal. mirrored those stated in previous posts. Ballistic Tips come apart too easily but they are an accurate bullet. I 've used the Nosler Partition since 1976 with excellent results. Last year I tried 139 gr. Hornady Interbonds in my 7MM Rem Mag with good results and I'm trying the 165 gr. Hornady Interbonds in my .30-06 this year to see how they do. These Interbonds shoot very well in my rifles and are very dynamic with excellent ballistics. Excellent expansion with penetration the same as the Partitions make these an excellent choice. I still like my Partitions ...... just trying something different to spice things up!   :wink:

[Lawdog]

WyoHunter,

I still like my Partitions ...... just trying something different to spice things up!

I agree.  While I haven't tried the InterBonds from Hornady I have tried the AccuBonds from Nosler.  Big difference in bullet performance between the AccuBond and Ballistic Tip.  AccuBond held together on a boars shoulder out of my .300 Weatherby where the Ballistic Tip broke apart.  Keep us informed on how the InterBonds work for you, OK?  Lawdog
 

[Val]

I posted earlier but I hit the wrong button and opened a new post rather than the reply I intended.

I used the 165 grain interbond on a 220 yard shot (laser rangefinder) on a blactail buck this year. The buck dropped in it's track with a shot through the rib cage which took out both lungs and part of the liver. There was no exit wound but I didn't find the bullet. I was too interested in getting the deer hung so I could skin it and cool the meat. I have always used Nosler Partitions but the Hornady Interbond is more accurate in my Model 70 Winchester.

Since I didn't get an exit wound some would consider this a bullet failure, but I don't think so. I generally don't get an exit with the partition either but the game always dies.

[WyoHunter]

VAL.... My experience with both the Interbond and Partition have been the opposite of yours. All mine but one exited never to be found! The only one I recovered was a 210 gr. Partition that was used on a big cow elk. I shot her quartering away at about 75 yards with my .338-06. The shot entered behing the last rib and was found under the skin in the oft side shoulder. Weight retention was 72%.... classic Nosler Partition performance!

[S.S.]

I have found that Performance of the ballistic tip depends on velocity.
The only cartridge I use the ballistic tip in is the .30-30 Win.
I have a single shot H&R so the pointed bullet is not a problem.
This is my "knockaround" gun and has seen a tremendous amount of use.
My current load is a 150 gr bullet over 27.5 grains IMR 3031.
Velocity is right at 2100 fps out of my gun. At this velocity the bullet
will hold together pretty well on an average Georgia Whitetail.
Exit hole is about the diameter of my thumb. I found that if the velocity
was upped a couple hundred feet per second, There was no exit wound.
The main reason I settled on the ballistic tip is that it is deadly accurate
out of my rifle.  However, due to these constraints of velocity,
I would not recommend the Ballistic tip for any rifle of the high velocity
persuasion. The bullet will fragment violently at much over 2400 fps.
If shooting VERMIN, by all means use it, Results are pretty spectacular
on feral dogs, Coyote and pot-hole digging Armadillos.