Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Hornady Interlock 30 cal 150 gr SP vs BTSP

On my loading bench I noticed a difference in the amount of lead exposed at the tip of these 2 bullets. The flat base SP had about double the exposed lead as the boat tail SP. I have shot a few deer with the flat base and it opens up quite violently. I have not used the boat tail on game yet. Is there a difference in construction and what is the terminal performance differences---if any?
mrk <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I have found no difference in other calibers such as the 7mm 139SP and BTSP. The exposed lead will vary some lot to lot.

curious but what are your ranges and what is your mzl speed?

Thanks

Mark D

I chose the SP because the BTSP didn't group as well, and didnt give quite the velocity. My load shoots 3150fps in my .280Rem. The BTSP gave me about 3090fps...not a great difference, but it wasn't as accurate in that gun either. I only shot a couple of deer with the BTSP, but it seems to function just the same in regards to your question of terminal performance. Its an Interlock just like the SP.

Just returned from an elk hunt where three hunters used my handloads and 150 grain Hornady Interlocks to kill 3 elk, all one shot kills. All bullets left quarter to half dollar-sized exit holes, and two of three went through one shoulder, then out the rib cage on the other side. The third hit the shoulder bone, broke it, then broke a rib on the other side before lodging under the skin on the off shoulder. Only about 50 percent of the bullet was recovered, but that elk, like the other two elk was very dead within 20 yards. I do not think there is much difference between Hornady flat base and boattail bullets, and all the Hornaday manual says is bullets with cannelures are hunting bullets, so the construction must be similar. The advantage of boattails is supposed to be greater accuracy at longer distances. My .284 lever, which required seating boattailed bullets deep in the case due to the removable magazine, would not shoot boattails. They all key-holed.
The 150 Hornaday flat based Interlock bullets in my and four other friends' .30-06s have performed equally well on moose, bighorn sheep, deer, antelope, and elk since back before they even had a name.

You must be kidding! I thought by now all the Elk would know they can't be killed by old fashioned bullets and would just plain refuse to die if the bullet wasn't about a dollar a round...

Thanks to all for the info. Sounds like I should not have any concerns between the two in terminal performance. I have used the SP in 308 Win. on several whitetails. Complete pass throughs of chest with plenty of ribcage damage.
Mark---I normally use the Horn 150s in 308 Win or 30-06 with velocities of 2600 to 2950 depending on powder, etc. I rarely shoot far enough for the boattail design to make a difference in trajectory. My 308s seem to prefer flatbase and the 06 the boattails for accuracy.