Hornady SST Bullets - Performance in the Field
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
I used the 140 grain in 7mm REM Mag. Catastrophic failures to penetrate and bullet fragments on impact.
Scapula hits led to wounded game. Several quartering away shots entered behind the last rib and failed to damage the liver or diaphragm or both.
Got a box for sale cheap if you want to try.
Scapula hits led to wounded game. Several quartering away shots entered behind the last rib and failed to damage the liver or diaphragm or both.
Got a box for sale cheap if you want to try.
migrant hunter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Very accurate, expand too fast. I wouldn't shoot anything bigger than a deer with them. I had a 165 gr .308 sst blow up on a mule deer buck shoulder. I have a love hate relationship with the sst.
boomer686, I don't know if they've changed to the point they now only make SST Interlock type bullets exclusively or not. It's very likely that is the case.
All of my 6.5mm SST bullets are over ten years old and I make sure the "non Interlock" boxes have a large green sticker applied.
The number of the bullet is identical, other than the Interlocks have a "2" suffix.
SST bullets got a bad rep, because the non Interlock bullets were very frangible and failed on Deer sized game.
I never use anything lighter than 139 grain bullets in my 6.5x55 for hunting anything larger than Coyotes or Wolves.
You're likely right that there is no longer an "SST" bullet made that doesn't have Interlock.
All of my 6.5mm SST bullets are over ten years old and I make sure the "non Interlock" boxes have a large green sticker applied.
The number of the bullet is identical, other than the Interlocks have a "2" suffix.
SST bullets got a bad rep, because the non Interlock bullets were very frangible and failed on Deer sized game.
I never use anything lighter than 139 grain bullets in my 6.5x55 for hunting anything larger than Coyotes or Wolves.
You're likely right that there is no longer an "SST" bullet made that doesn't have Interlock.
I have two boxes of 6.5mm SSTs, one 123-gr. and the other 140-gr. The word "Interlock" does not appear on the label, but there is a picture of the bullet on the box and the words "Interlock ring locks core and jacket together." So they appear to be Interlock bullets with the polymer tip.
Really? I thought a mushroomed bullet was a good thing.
My brother in law has shot a few moose with them , without issue(.308)
Bud Post # 21 - 22- 24 -25 can't ALL be Wrong too -
Yes they KILL will GOOD shot placement but make a mess and and don't get a BAD shot as your not likely to get any penetration BUT jmo - I like Bonded and Monos except for VARMITs ! RJ
Really? I thought a mushroomed bullet was a good thing.
My brother in law has shot a few moose with them , without issue(.308)
Bud Post # 21 - 22- 24 -25 can't ALL be Wrong too -
Yes they KILL will GOOD shot placement but make a mess and and don't get a BAD shot as your not likely to get any penetration BUT jmo - I like Bonded and Monos except for VARMITs ! RJ
Well I guess I got 300 more target rounds. Lol
What do you think about the Barnes TTSX?
I used them for many years on my 30-06, 150gn bullets loaded to 2900fps and killed a lot of deer's with them.
They were grouping OK and were a bit explosive. I also killed an Elk but it was not a solid kill.
When I was drawn for a moose, I switched to Barnes which grouped much better and this is what I am still using for everything.
They were grouping OK and were a bit explosive. I also killed an Elk but it was not a solid kill.
When I was drawn for a moose, I switched to Barnes which grouped much better and this is what I am still using for everything.
Last edited:
lol
I shot my Last 3 deer with my 338 Fed and a 160TTSX !RJ
Excellent choice for that cartridge.
I stick with the Hornady 200 and 225 grain for my 338.08 because I have a lot of them.
The monolitichs really come into their own with lower weights in medium capacity cases, such as the 338Federal
- Location
- Saskatchewan
This is what we were left with after my son shot a deer at 20M from a tree stand with his 7mm08 and 140 SST bullet. Way too much trim of jellied meat and fragments of bone. I like to eat my venison, not destroy it. I prefer bullets like the TTSX, Norma Oryx, Accubond, or other good bullets that expand but hold together without fragmenting excessively. No Bergers for me either.
Attachments
So your son shot a Deer at extremely close range, the worst possible scenario for any bullet, especially one that isn't recommended for such extremely close, almost point blank range and you're blaming the bullet???
And that there is WHY i quit using std cup and core bullets - what a friggin MESS and WASTE they can Make ! RJ
Myself, not pleased with SST's for hunting. Paper punching is another story. Top marks there.
Shots within 75 yds to a bit over 300 have either had significantly more damage or inversely not enough penetration loosing the animal. (deer) Less damage and more lethality from factory Federal and Hornady offerings over my hand loaded SST's. Actually, I was ready to give up reloading for hunting applications but bonded bullets restored my perspective. More confidence as well for those less than ideal situations.
My 2 cents OP.
Regards
Ronr
Shots within 75 yds to a bit over 300 have either had significantly more damage or inversely not enough penetration loosing the animal. (deer) Less damage and more lethality from factory Federal and Hornady offerings over my hand loaded SST's. Actually, I was ready to give up reloading for hunting applications but bonded bullets restored my perspective. More confidence as well for those less than ideal situations.
My 2 cents OP.
Regards
Ronr
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Yes, I absolutely do blame the bullet! If a bullet can't be used with proper results at close range I will not use it. What a waste of good meat. And if ruining meat and filling what's left full of lead fragments is not bad enough, there is no excuse for shallow penetration and the wounded and lost game that results from fragile bullets not placed exactly right. I don't think Hornady tells anyone to back off to 300 yards because their fragile bullets aren't up to the stress of realistic hunting range use from a moderate cartridge like the 7mm08. Tell me again how close range is the "worst possible scenario" of a TSX, or AFrame, or Oryx, or TBBC, or North Fork or EVO, or Naturalis, or any other good hunting bullet?
Then ''you''should have bought a different bullet.
same results here with SST bullets from my 7mm rem mag and a .308. Dead animals but the bullets did way more damage than a hunter likes to see. Both times the animals were shot at 50yards or less, near broadside hits. One hit a rib (7mm) and the damage was crazy on the hit side. I was pretty sure a piece of bone took out the heart. Never found the bullet so I assume it was in the lung jelly. The .308 just nicked the elbow on the way in and as a result there was catastrophic damage in the shoulder and surrounding area. Never seen so much shock trauma spread so far thru the rib cage fat/meat.
Not close range bullets.
Now I use accubond LR or Partitions whenever I can.
Not close range bullets.
Now I use accubond LR or Partitions whenever I can.
