Best Hornady hunting bullet?

New here first post I use the GMX 165 love it prefer it over lead deadly round. I'm looking for anyone loading the 35grn ntx in 22 hornet putting together a new rifle and here in Red California have to shoot non lead

For the 300 wm speeds I'd only consider the gmx and the interbond.

Agreed 100% I like what the barnes bullets do as far as wounds but takes too much work getting an accurate load worked out up in 3000fps range and I've tried it in many calibers from 6mm to 300wm

I use 150 gr Interlocks pretty much exclusively for my hunting loads in my 30-06, 303 Brit, 7.5 Swiss and 7.7 Jap.

I would only consider the non bonded or monos if you want explosive expansion or your range will be long . I've had excellent luck with 150 interlock at .308 speeds, but I believe I was pushing them to their limits there. The SST expanded too violently for my taste in a. 280 rem, but I found it very accurate and still use it as a target and varmint bullet in that caliber. I would not consider the Amax or ELD-m for hunting even in more sedate cartridges.

I have never used copper bullets, knowing that the metal is harder and fearing it would not swage into my barrel. In other words, harder on the lands. Any real basis for that?

^^^^^ Not really, solids are usually made up of the same materials as regular jackets, just thicker. Still not steel.
The interlocks are a good close lower velocity round but for a mag follow Troy Fairweathers advice or a solid.

I like the 168 AMAX's. While not technically listed as a hunting bullet (though it was when first introduced) it has performed well for me. My load runs 2850fps in my 30-06.

I would only use it in 300WM if downloaded to 30-06 velocity.

Here is a story from 2 weeks ago listed on the Hornady website showing the 168 AMAX from a 308 having taken a (small) moose. Also a story on it being used to take a bear.

https://www.hornady.com/team-hornady/scrapbook/archive/first-moose1606397737

Mach3.270Win said:

What weight would you suggest for the GMX?

125?
150? - leaning toward this
165?

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I'd go 150

Mach3.270Win said:

I want to start finding some different loads for my 300 win mag mainly for deer and elk. I have used Barnes TTSX without any failures but I always like trying new loads.


InterLock
GMX
SST
InterBond
AMax

What does everyone like?

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Before accurate feedback can be given, what are we shooting and how far away? I mean realistically, the gmx is the easy answer for a Barnes shooter, but depending on circumstances, I'll load an eld, sst, or gmx/interbond depending on the day, quarry, and plan. The gmx and interbond are almost equally hard as far as velocity expansion windows and penetration, the interbond would beat the accubonds in toughness and rival the fusion/gold dots and scirocco 2. Heavy sst or eld still gets a good job done, for most hunters these will suffice but if we're breaking HEAVY bones, I'd lean gmx, also if distances are sub 100 yds gmx/interbond unless planning a grenade pop. Interbond ranks with corelokt, gameking, and hot cor.

Mach3.270Win said:

I want to start finding some different loads for my 300 win mag mainly for deer and elk. I have used Barnes TTSX without any failures but I always like trying new loads.


InterLock
GMX
SST
InterBond
AMax

What does everyone like?

Click to expand...

Hornady SP-RP interlock

I suggest the 165 TTSX or 175 LRX in the Barnes bullets. For the 175 LRX suggest IMR 4831 @ 74.0.

I've had great success using IMR 4831 (75 grains) magnum CCI primers, 168 gr AMAX bullets. RPR Ruger Precision Rifle (17 pounds loaded with full magazine, scope and bipod, prone position (it's really too heavy to carry around or control standing up for me. Largest animal last year was an Axis deer that weighed in at 255 lbs. Shot heart lung through and through, large exit wound. Target shows 3/4" group at 100 yards (and it does this consistently) with a 15 mph left to right wind.

I choose the bullet based on game size and expected muzzle velocity. Tougher bullets for larger game and/or higher velocities. Most bulletmakers have such recommendations in some form.

I really like the 220 grain Interlock from a .30-'06. With an impact velocity of about 2000 fps it really hits hard and mushrooms beautifully. By the same token, I have not used lighter faster Interlocks and don't intend to. A bullet that functions so nicely at 2000 fps is likely to come apart at 3000, in my experience. Quite frankly, when hunting with a fast magnum, I depend on the TTSX almost exclusively.

In .308 I use the 165 gr. SST over 45.5 gr Varget. I hunt elk, deer and antelope in Colorado. This round works great.

Everything works great! 30-06 will kill anything with 4 legs and a tail.

If you can get them would might try 180 Sierra pro hunters or swift siroccos, the 150s in both kill the hell out of the biggest pigs in Texas out of 308.

For whitetail deer sst 165 gr imr 7828 .

I have never used copper bullets, knowing that the metal is harder and fearing it would not swage into my barrel. In other words, harder on the lands. Any real basis for that?

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Conventional bullets have a copper jacket and that is the only part of the bullet in contact with the barrel. I don't see how a solid copper bullet would make any difference here. The biggest differences are that since copper is lighter bullets of the same weight tend to be longer. And solid copper bullets need to impact at faster speeds to get good expansion.


Most conventional bullets expand well at 1800-2000 fps. Below 1800 and they may perform like FMJ. Copper needs about 200 fps more speed at impact to expand reliably. Most people find that dropping down 1 or 2 bullet weights and keeping speeds up works better with copper. If you'd normally use a 180 gr bullet then a 165 or even 150 gr copper bullet will usually give the same penetration and do similar damage.

The negative to using solid copper is that at long range impact speeds are too slow for good expansion. Look at the ballistics charts, one bullet speed drops below 2000-2200 fps then that is too far to be taking shots. With conventional bullets you'll still get expansion with impact speeds as low as 1800 fps which gives you more usable range.

If I were going to use SST's I'd shoot heavy for caliber bullets. They tend to expand rapidly. The 150's at 300 WM speeds would over expand at ranges inside 200 yards. Shooting a heavier 180 gr SST would be a better choice. The 150's would be fine from a 308.

I've been impressed with the Hornady ELD-X bullets. They perform much like SST's, but with better BC's. And they only come in heavy for caliber bullet weights. In 30 caliber 178 gr is the lightest bullet they offer. The 200 or 212's would make a good long range elk bullet.

I like trying new loads too, I generally do it on just paper I guess hogs too.

If it ain’t broke, I don’t know that I’d be looking to fix it. One thing is for sure I wouldn’t pick an interlock over a decent bullet.

Any reason you are wanting to only try others that Hornady makes?

That said, if you like trying things, try them all and create a new thread with your test procedures and results. Would be worth reading for sure.

.I have used both 165 gr interlock short range and 165 gr sst for long range in my 30 06 ruger tang for caribou moose and bear. Very accurate 56.4 grs imr 4350 rem cases win primers.