Hornady Interbond vs SST

[Firing Pin]

I have been using Hornady Light Mags Interbond in 165gr out of my 06 and have had great success with them.  My dilemma is now they switched to the Superformance instead of the Light Mag and the only make it in either SST or GMX.  What is the difference between in performance of the Interbond and the SST.  I know that the Interbond is a bonded bullet and the SST is not.  The SST looks more like a ballistic tip than a tough premium bullet, while the Interbond seems to be the tougher bullet.  I don't understand why Horandy use what I think is a subpar bullet in there new line unless I missing something? 

[Bob33]

You've assessed it exactly right.  The IB is bonded and retains 90%+ of its weight after impact.  The SST is very similar to the Nosler Ballistic Tip and retains around 60% of its weight after impact.  Different bullets for different applications.  I prefer bonded bullets like the Interbond for heavier game like elk, but some use ballistic tips with success.  It's too bad that ammo manufacturers come up with a winner only to phase it out three years later.

[AWS]

At 30-06 velocities save yourself some money and use a 180gr Interlock, Power point or Corelock.
AWS

[arrowflinger]

I just looked online they you still can get the 165 Interbonds..............

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-06-Springfield-165-gr-InterBond/

hope this helps.
Ken

[Firing Pin]

Yes, I know that I can still get the Interbonds but only in the custom line (2800 ft sec and 2872 ft lbs) while the Superformance (Light Mags) are 2960 ft sec and 3209 ft lbs.  With the Superformance (Light Mag) I was able to have very close to 300 win mag performance out of my 06.

[Bscman]

I can tell you I'm not very impressed with the SST's I've been shooting out of my .270 and .338winmag--in regards to using them for hunting.

For a target load they are great...they have a great B.C. and are accurate once you find the right load.
But they expand RAPIDLY and don't have great weight retention.

I wouldn't hesitate to use them on deer size game--as I think they'd do the job fine...but if you're needing deeper penetration or strength against a heavy shoulder, use something else.

The GMX is a great bullet, and would probably be my first choice--but I'm a fan of this style bullet (Barnes TSX fan).

Here's an excerpt from an article on american hunter's site:

To test that claim, I fired two .30-06, 150-grain GMX bullets point-blank into Perma-gel. The average penetration was 34.25 inches. The average retained weight was 149.35 grains, which, when you account for the missing plastic tip, is 100 percent. The average expanded diameter was .501 inch. To compare, I fired a 180-grain Hornady Interbond .30-06 at the Perma-gel. This bullet is 30 grains heavier and has a reputation for excellent penetration. It penetrated 24.75 inches, weighed 142.8 grains and measured .539 inch. Although the Interbond exhibited larger expansion, the GMX beat it in penetration and weight retention.

[Bob33]

If you switch and want to hunt larger game like elk, use the GMX not the SSt.

[Bulldog]

In the 260rem(no speedster) the 120BT easily holds up better than the 129SST..  Here in washington we only get one deer a year(well unless you draw a B tag) I'd not shoot an SST as it will destroy meat.  With bullets like the Interbond, Accubond,partition, hot-cor, and such the SST is just to explosive.  If your cull shooting and broadside lungshoots are the game than the SST will flat lay down deer and elk no problem..

[C-Money]

I like the interbond/accubond bullets. Guess I've killed the most with the Interlock though.

[Jamieb]

Like nosler bt's the hornady SST's will nuke on bone if pushed hard.
I like interbonds , better penetration and more weight retention then the sst.

[fremont]

Pretty much what others have said.  A SST will flatten small-to-medium game animals.  I use them for mulies with no worries.  I agree I wouldn't go after an elk with them; use a bonded or Barnes-type bullet there.  The other issue is velocity.  Like for most cup & core bullets, anything at or over 3000 fps is a challenge for them, especially at short distances.  If this is the case, use a premium.

[Buckblaster]

After last hunting fall, all my handloads will be with Hornady Inter-Bonds.  I shot an elk at 330 yards with 165 gr Inter-Bond out of my .300wsm and got a perfect mushroom.  That load chrono'd at 3050 fps and the bullet had 97% retention.  I hit it behind the shoulder and didn't even see any evidence it hit any bone but the bullet was lying just under the hide on the far side with a beautiful mushroom.
I also shot a buck at 100 yards last year with 150 gr Inter-Bonds and put one thru the ribs busting a few bones (95% retention) and the second stopped in the thick part of the spine at the top of the shoulder (70% retention).  Both those bullets expanded to the size of a dime.  That load chrono'd at 3200 fps. 
I love it when all the bullet energy is expended inside the animal.  The critter absorbs all the energy your rifle produces.  That explains why I quit using Barnes bullets several years ago when I found long blood trails and pencil sized holes that went clear thru my animals.  Never did recover any of those bullets.
If you like those Hornady Light Magnums, you just need to roll your own and do it alot cheaper. 

[pd]

OK guys, 2 or 3 years have now passed since this topic was raised, but I want to bring it up again, to see if your opinions have changed.

With a standard .30-06, I want to carry two different rounds.  One would be lighter, for deer reaching out as far as I am comfortable shooting (300 to 400 yards).  150g or 165g.  The second round would be heavier, for closer deer or perhaps elk.  180g or 200+g.  Let's limit the discussion to one maker (Hornady)--you guys who reload could expand the discussion, but it would only confuse me (I will buy off-the-shelf ammo).

Go back to the Hornady topic, SST vs. GMax vs. InterBond.  I think that this same topic would apply to other brands as well.  Please give me your advice, after a few years of thinking about this.

Bob33? Any of you other old salts?

[Biggerhammer]

Out to 400 yards it isn't going to matter if its a 165 or a 200, it's going to be just as dead if you do your part. Say it isn't so when it comes to Barnes bullets??  Anyone  who has spent time killing animals instead of reading magazines and Internet forums knows Barnes are over rated but then again holes kill things.

[mountainman]

pd, a gmx in a 165 30 cal would do double duty on critters from deer to elk. Still give you the range for longer shooting, but also the penetration needed for bigger game such as elk or moose. Used tipped triple shocks in a .308 win on critters from coyotes to larger African plains game. All one shot kills, excellent and reliably consistant penetration, and only recoveered 1 bullet out of appx. 15 critters taken. Ranges from 35 yrds out to 400..none traveled over 40 yards

[Biggerhammer]

Hmmmm , fact of the matter is when it comes to true accuracy out to 600 yards a flat base bullet will out perform a BT almost every time.

[sirmissalot]

I see no reason to have two different loads. A 200 grain 30 cal bullet won't blow up a deer anymore than a 150. That's if you're shooting a good bonded or solid bullet. I use 180 Barnes ttsx bullets from doe antelope up to elk, I don't shoot far enough to need the BC gains of a 200+ grain bullet and get pass throughs with the 180s.

[pd]

I see no reason to have two different loads. A 200 grain 30 cal bullet won't blow up a deer anymore than a 150. That's if you're shooting a good bonded or solid bullet. I use 180 Barnes ttsx bullets from doe antelope up to elk, I don't shoot far enough to need the BC gains of a 200+ grain bullet and get pass throughs with the 180s.

Good stuff, Sir!  That's what I like about this forum.  Honest advice, freely given.

[mountainman]

I see no reason to have two different loads. A 200 grain 30 cal bullet won't blow up a deer anymore than a 150. That's if you're shooting a good bonded or solid bullet. I use 180 Barnes ttsx bullets from doe antelope up to elk, I don't shoot far enough to need the BC gains of a 200+ grain bullet and get pass throughs with the 180s.

 

[Halo]

I have shot a few critters with 180 grain SST's out of my -06, Antelope to Elk and it is almost always a pass through, one hole in, one hole out.

[BOWHUNTER45]

sounds like you guys have it covered    I always tell people if you like to eat what you shoot then stick with Hornadays interlocs... I have loaded them for over 25yrs religously and they perform flawless everytime ...I have also loaded alot of SSTs and they do fine and shoot well but for knockdown and not much damaged meat I stick with the interlocs ....

[Biggerhammer]

Here's a 150gr Nosler Accubond, I recovered from a mature Mulie I shot at 379 yards. The chambering was in 300 WSM, full side on shot. The bullet was recovered just under the hide, on the off side. Jammed him right into the dirt.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I like it !!!! interlocs look the same  I think I have a few laying around out of a couple bear ....plus the further away the shot the better the retension looks 

[coachcw]

I'm under the school of maximum damage . i like the sst and the accubonds . exit hoes are overrated . I wont be useing barnsx any longer I havn't been impressed with the trama they have caused . I like messy hoes .

[Biggerhammer]

I'm under the school of maximum damage . i like the sst and the accubonds . exit hoes are overrated . I wont be useing barnsx any longer I havn't been impressed with the trama they have caused . I like messy hoes .

👍👍 I completely  agree! 👍👍

[carpsniperg2]

I'm under the school of maximum damage . i like the sst and the accubonds . exit hoes are overrated . I wont be useing barnsx any longer I havn't been impressed with the trama they have caused . I like messy hoes .

x3 I agree 100% and love the accubonds. I have tried to like barnes over and over and just can't. I go to a etip if I want a solid bone buster for like my bears and hogs.

[Mulie87]

Thoughts on a 165grn SST out of a .308 for a black bear hunt over bait where shots are 10yds, vital shot is easy to hit and shoulders are easy to avoid?

[NWShooter]

A 165 SST at .308 Win velocities at the range you described would be devistating.  You would get your expansion and serious terminal damage and I would be willing to bet the base would exit.

[supagoose]

Thoughts on a 165grn SST out of a .308 for a black bear hunt over bait where shots are 10yds, vital shot is easy to hit and shoulders are easy to avoid?

It'll work great if you dont want the hide or meat. I shot a buck at about 50yds with my 308 and 165 SST. The rib cage was distroyed ( hole the size of my head) and I ended up losing a front quarter and a back strap. I then shot a bull elk a week later at about the same distance with the same result. I was luckey to have been able to recover my elk. Its a very accurate bullet but I dont like how it seperates on impact.

[steeleywhopper]

My wife hammered her 7x7 bull this year with the trusty 7mm-08, shooting factory Hornady 139gr Gmx bullet. She hit the bull right behind the front shoulder and the bull folded like a rag doll. I’m a believer in the GMX after seeing the results first hand.

[Mulie87]

I’m asking cause I can’t decide to take my .300 win shooting 200grn accubond or ELD-X handloads, or my .308 with 165grn sst handloads.

[zwickeyman]

This is the way I look at bonded vs non bonded

If you want a Deer to drop  and don't care about wasted meat, shoot a non bonded

If you want to waste less meat and don't mind tracking a deer 80 yards with a lung shot and have more penetration for bone and angled shots, shoot bonded

For me, between the two I would choose the Interbond. Very good bullet

And with a bonded you have the option for a high shoulder shot if you need to drop it in its tracks, again wasting meat though

[mountainman]

This bad "boy", fell in its tracks at the same distance. 180 he Scirocco bonded. 300 ultra ( yeah, could have pulled the Casull out)
30 caliber in, golf ball sized exit. Juiced the chest cavity but saved nearly 100% of the meat. Higher velocity then the 308, but even at the lower velocity, the bonded bullet will still break a shoulder if needed.
This is bear #24

[HawkCreek]

I tried a box of the Hornady Light Magnum (precursor to the Superperformance) in .30-06 loaded with the SST. I only ever shot one small coyote with it at less than 100 yards and frankly that bullet blew up, I'd used NBT's before that on everything up to mule deer and never had a problem. I swore off the SST's after that for being two lightly constructed, admittedly thats based off one ONE animal shot with SST's but I've never had that issue with the Nosler bullet.

[Mulie87]

I’ve decided. I’m gonna take my .300win shooting 200grn Accubonds for the bear hunt. Too many question marks with taking a .308 and 165grn SST’s.

[PlateauNDN]

 Depends on rifle for me. I shot the SST's on 270 and performed better but other way around on a 308. Take a box apiece and shoot what you like.

[NWShooter]

I’ve decided. I’m gonna take my .300win shooting 200grn Accubonds for the bear hunt. Too many question marks with taking a .308 and 165grn SST’s.

Great choice. Excellent chambering. Perfect bullet.