Hornady 243 100gr BTSP (pre-interlock) on deer

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Anybody use these on whitetail?

I had a near bad experience with a Hornady JHP (300 gr, 45/70) on a 125 lb doe about 15 years ago. It was a perfect broadsite lung shot at about 70 yards. The doe died, but the bullet broke up and did not exit. What I found inside was tiny pieces. Anyhow it makes me leary of Hornady's for hunting. These 100 grainers are about 15 years old and pre-interlock ( I cut one in half to check).

Anyone have experience with these? Thanks.

 

[contender]

About 30 years ago, I was using a 243 for deer hunting. I used Hornady bullets exclusivily. I have had 21 one shot kills, all dropping right there. I was placing the bullets in the deers neck. I also think the interlock is a bit older than 15 years.
In any event, I never had any issues with Hornady 243 bullets. I switched to handgunning for the most part about 25-28 years ago.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Contender: Thanks for the information. I did cut one of these bullets in half and it does not have the interlock ring. I honestly don't know if the interlock is anything more than a marketing gimmick. But either way, I feel better hearing of your sucess. Thank you.

 

[contender]

No problem. I can go back into my notes and see that I used a Hornady Spire Pt bullet. Unfortunately, back then, I didn't keep as detailed data as I do now. My notes do not show if it was a Interlock or not. I will say that while I used it on deer & neck shots, A friend of mine back then borrowed my 6mm Rem that was loaded with the same bullets. He killed several deer with it, and he used the heart/lung shot placement. Just FYI.
I think a lot of older bullets would fragment heavily if they hit hard bone.

 

[Mobuck]

These bullets are as good as any other standard cup and core design and better than many. They are my 3rd choice for the 243 behind Nosler Partition and Speer Grand Slam.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I'm with Mobuck, a 100 gr Nosler partition in my .243 took down a cow moose for me decades ago when I was a youngster. Through lungs broadside at maybe 125 yds. Worked in typical partition fashion, it shed the front half tearing things up, and the rest was near the far side. She trotted off 100 yds, lay down and never got up....The old man killed many moose with the old "bronze looking" 130 and 150 Noslers in .270 and swore by them...

I would have liked to have tried some of the the Barnes designs if they'd have been around at the time....

But I'm off the topic trail as usual. If I was gonna load my .243 for whitetail, I think I'd consider the 87 gr Hornady....It has always grouped well in my old M70 whereas the various 100 gr not so much. I expect the 87 gr would handily kill a whitetail, from most angles anyway....

Just my armchair two centavos... :wink: