Ammo Reports Team
| Official Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
| Cartridge | 6.5 Creedmoor |
| Product Line | American Whitetail |
| Bullet Name / Bullet Type | InterLock SP |
| Bullet Weight | 129 gr |
| SKU / Part Number / Item Number | 81489 |
| UPC | 090255814897 |
| Rounds per Box | 20 |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,820 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 2,277 ft-lb |
| Ballistic Coefficient G1 | 0.445 |
| Ballistic Coefficient G7 | Not found |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer | Not found |
| Reloadable | Yes |
| Test Barrel Length | 24 in |
| Zero Distance | 200 yd |
| Sight Height | Not found |
| Intended Use | Deer and medium-game hunting |
| Product Status | Current |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Power-Shok 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr Soft Point; Remington Core-Lokt 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr PSP; Fiocchi Field Dynamics 6.5 Creedmoor 129 gr PSP; Nosler Whitetail Country 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr Solid Base; Fiocchi Hyperformance 6.5 Creedmoor 129 gr Hornady SST |
Data is based on official manufacturer sources. Found an error? Send us the source link.
Official Ballistics
Hornady publishes the following data for this exact 81489 load from a 24-inch test barrel with a 200-yard zero. Wind drift is omitted because Hornady does not publish an exact wind table for this product.
| Distance (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2,820 | 2,277 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2,615 | 1,959 | +1.8 |
| 200 | 2,419 | 1,676 | 0.0 |
| 300 | 2,232 | 1,427 | -7.7 |
| 400 | 2,053 | 1,207 | -22.5 |
| 500 | 1,882 | 1,015 | -45.5 |
Official Hornady product and ballistics source.
Product Overview
American Whitetail uses Hornady’s 129 gr InterLock soft-point bullet. The exposed lead tip initiates expansion, while the InterLock ring is designed to help retain the core and jacket for controlled penetration on deer-sized game.
Best Uses
- Whitetail deer and similar medium game
- General-purpose hunting where a conventional soft-point bullet is preferred
- Hunters who want a 129 gr factory load with official 200-yard-zero data
Reliability Notes
- The official muzzle velocity is 2,820 fps from a 24-inch test barrel; 2,615 fps is the published 100-yard velocity, not muzzle velocity.
- Confirm the actual point of impact before hunting because barrel length and rifle setup affect velocity and trajectory.
- Inspect cartridges and use only ammunition that matches the rifle’s chamber marking.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC (G1) | Muzzle Velocity | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Power-Shok 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr Soft Point | 140 gr | Soft Point | Approx. 0.480 | 2,750 fps | Heavier conventional soft point |
| Remington Core-Lokt 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr PSP | 140 gr | PSP | Approx. 0.480 | Approx. 2,710 fps | Conventional cup-and-core hunting load |
| Fiocchi Field Dynamics 6.5 Creedmoor 129 gr PSP | 129 gr | PSP | Approx. 0.485 | 2,820 fps | Same-weight soft-point alternative |
| Nosler Whitetail Country 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr Solid Base | 140 gr | Solid Base | Approx. 0.495 | 2,650 fps | Heavier deer-hunting alternative |
| Fiocchi Hyperformance 6.5 Creedmoor 129 gr Hornady SST | 129 gr | Hornady SST | 0.485 | 2,820 fps | Polymer-tipped same-weight alternative |
FAQ
Why did one retailer list 2,615 fps as the muzzle velocity?
This is a data entry error. Per Hornady’s official ballistics chart, 2,615 fps is the velocity at 100 yards — not the muzzle velocity. The correct muzzle velocity is 2,820 fps. This type of error occurs when a retailer copies field data from a ballistics table but selects the wrong row. The muzzle energy listed (1,959 ft-lbs) is also the 100-yard energy figure. Hornady’s official data, confirmed by five independent retailers, consistently shows 2,820 fps muzzle velocity and 2,277 ft-lbs muzzle energy.
InterLock ISP vs InterLock BT — what’s the difference?
ISP (InterLock Soft Point) uses a flat base and exposed lead tip — the classic hunting bullet form. InterLock BT (Boat-Tail) adds a tapered rear section that reduces base drag, improving BC from ~0.445 to ~0.485 for the same 129 gr bullet weight. Fiocchi Field Dynamics (FIO65CMB) loads the BT version. At hunting distances inside 250 yards the trajectory difference is less than 2 inches — both perform adequately. Beyond 300 yards the BT’s BC advantage produces noticeably less drop and wind drift. For hunters who regularly shoot beyond 250 yards, the BT version is the better choice.
Is the InterLock appropriate for elk?
The InterLock ring provides mechanical core-jacket locking — better than a plain cup-and-core soft point but not chemically bonded. On elk at broadside shots inside 250 yards, the InterLock at 2,820 fps delivers adequate penetration. On heavy shoulder shots or quartering-to angles, bonded bullets (AccuBond, Terminal Ascent, Scirocco II) provide a larger safety margin. Hornady’s own press release notes this load is “well suited for North American game up to and including elk” — accurate within that context of reasonable shot placement.
Hornady American Whitetail vs Superformance — same InterLock, is it worth $0.55/round more?
Hornady Superformance (SKU 81496) uses the SST bullet (not InterLock) and runs 130 fps faster (2,950 vs 2,820 fps) with higher BC (~0.527 vs 0.445). At $0.55/round more it is not the “same InterLock at higher velocity” — it is a different, higher-performance bullet at a meaningful velocity advantage. For deer inside 200 yards, American Whitetail ISP is fully adequate and saves real money. For open-country hunting past 300 yards, Superformance’s SST is worth the upgrade.
Submit Your Data · Real-World Results
Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before publishing.
Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity and confidence level will appear here automatically.
| UPC # | Firearm | Barrel (in) | Avg Velocity (fps) | Shots | Temp (°F) | Chronograph | Lot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 090255814897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No data yet |
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You need to login first.Results vary by firearm, barrel condition, ammunition lot, and environmental factors. Submitted data is for reference only. AmmoReports does not guarantee accuracy of user-submitted results.
Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · Specs verified against Hornady official ballistics chart. Retailer listing (Ammunition Depot) contained incorrect velocity — see data error note above.
