We use the SST bullets on deer and coyotes......If you keep the muzzle velocity below 3,000 fps and use a medium to heavy bullet for a given caliber..( e.g. 140 grain or 150 grain .277.......or 165 or 180 grain in .308 caliber) which has a higher sectional density, then you should have no problem with bullet "blow-up" at short ranges......The trouble starts when a 150 grain SST bullet is driven to 3,300 fps in a 300 magnum and you hit a shoulder bone at 50 yards.....not good....You're better off with a Nosler Partition or Barnes TSX at those speeds...
Any problems with Hornady SST bullets fragmenting at under 150 yards?
- Thread starter Lee_Enfield_Lover
- Start date
I agree with your post, although not with game. Shooting at a 18" steel at 300 yards. AR500 gong, SST's blew into many small bits, the Barnes however, some were recovered and had only dropped 5 grains and were flat as a pancake.
These are what I recovered from a whitetail. Velocity is approximately 2150fps with 3 Pyrodex pellets ;
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
2 look like muzzle loader bullets. And most cup and core bullets do that. Seen winchester supreme ballistic silvertip do the same thing in deer.
I had concerns with the 150gr SST in .270 Win. at under 100 yards, so switched to Federal Fusion as my deer bullet and have been impressed with it so far.
In my muzzleloader however, I use the 250gr SST over 100grs Pyrodex and it performed perfectly on a nice buck last year.
In my muzzleloader however, I use the 250gr SST over 100grs Pyrodex and it performed perfectly on a nice buck last year.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
What are you concerned about? Shoot them in the heart/lungs and they wont get far. I shot at 40 yards with 30-06 and you could put both fists through the whole deer. There was no blood left to drain. Hit the shoulder and might have problems I know I did.
That's exactly it ! I agree on a good broadside shot behind the shoulder they are devastating, and I really want to like them again but...
Perfect shots don't always happen, and on a 50ish yard shot in heavy timber I had a SST fragment on a buck with little penetration. Luckily a quick follow up in the boiler room made for a very short trail.
I have found the Fusion opens quickly yet holds together to penetrate. Deer don't require super premium bullets to bring them down, but I want something I can trust to work when things don't go quite as planned...
I had a 180 gr Hornady Spire Point flat base shot from a 30/06 @2700fps MV disintegrate inside a mule deer (8" penetration) from a broadside shot @200yds a few years ago. The shrapnel made it just to the far ribcage. I clipped one rib going in. Deer was dead but did not like the way the bullet behaved. They changed them a bit and they don't hold up like the older ones.
Wolf, you really need to be sure the boxes the bullets come in, are marked INTERLOCK. They make both, in the same weight and both types of bullets are called SST.
They are completely different bullets. Whoever at Hornady came up with this confusing nomenclature have done hunters a huge disservice.
The regular SST design, is explosive. The SST Interlock was designed on the same lines as the regular Hornady Interlock offerings. There is a difference.
The regular SST, is constructed much lighter than the SST Interlock. They don't have the twin bands of strength the Interlock designated bullets have.
Well, and I realize this is the reloading forum, but I was using factory ammo... pretty sure I still have that box so I will check it tomorrow if I think of it.`
Their website does not designate different styles of SST...all appear to be Interlock
http://www.hornady.com/store/SST-bullets/
07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
You have to keep them below 2900 fps and use heavy for caliber or they grenade.
They sure are nice for punching paper, in my 270 they're accurate but I'm scared to use them hunting in case I don't do my part that day.
They sure are nice for punching paper, in my 270 they're accurate but I'm scared to use them hunting in case I don't do my part that day.
Is the SST Interlock available as a raw bullet only? Have never seen it labeled that way, only labeled that way as a Superformance factory load..
07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
I have a box of 270 130 grain SST Interlock in front of me now. Paid just over $30 for 100 and are very available.
I'm pretty sure all the SST 's are Interlock.
Hornady makes the Interlock and the more expensive Interbond. Thompson Center labels their muzzle loader bullet / sabot as Shockwave and Bonded Shockwave.
07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
Yup. They also make a non SST Interlock, the old originals and my budget bullet of choice.
As a matter of fact I just bought 200 30 cal 170 grain flat points and 200 154 grain 7mm because they are suspending production of them for a while.
As a matter of fact I just bought 200 30 cal 170 grain flat points and 200 154 grain 7mm because they are suspending production of them for a while.
shot 2 deer a 4 pt muly and a white tail doe both were under a hundred yards both bullets 162 sst in 7mm mag running hot 3145 bullets blew up in both animals.
both were quartering towards me both were shoulder . shoulder exploded into the heart and lung both were bang / flop / dead .
both were quartering towards me both were shoulder . shoulder exploded into the heart and lung both were bang / flop / dead .
That's the results I got too, bang flop dead. I lost a muley buck during the CFB Wainwright landowners hunt when I hit high shoulder with one, 250gr muzzleloader of course.
I've killed nearly 100 animals with an SST out of a muzzleloader from antelope, deer and sheep to moose and musk ox and can't say I ever lost an animal to bullet failure. I've seen deer, elk, moose and sheep go down to them shot out of a rifle and I've never seen one lost to bullet failure. Are they explosive? You bet...just like most cup and core bullets are especially at higher velocities. Do they kill? You bet if you do your job.
Last edited:
I have to agree that they are quite lethal, the animals I shot with them didnt get far. I just have more faith in bullets that hold together and can/will penetrate if required.
