Any problems with Hornady SST bullets fragmenting at under 150 yards?

Cleftwynd said:
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.
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I too am a much bigger fan of bonded and mono metals in higher velocity rifles at short to medium ranges but for the deer hunter on a budget or for the long-range shooter, cup and cores still have their place and are pretty well impossible to beat in the accuracy department and at lower impact velocities. It all comes down to choosing the right bullet for the application.
 
Like yomomma said you either love them or hate them,I lost a nice buck because them last year.I hit him about 140-150 yds,he made it up into the neighbors about 400 yds away,he shot at him and he went another 300 yds before going down.We found him with one hole in him and I know it was mine cause there was blood right where I shot,and it was a pencil hole.Bullet never opened up.After a bit of arguing on who's deer it was I figured it wasn't worth fighting over so I walked away.So loving or hating them,I HATE THEM.
 
I think for all of us using sst or any other bullet for that matter .
Our father tought us to shoot the heart and lung same with our basic core
wrong . It's a double stomack grazer if its feeding the stomack is bloated
pushing heart and lung up under the front shoulder .
So there is a really good chance that the deer / elk you are going to shoot have been grazing
shoot the front shoulder turn that bone into shrapnel
it will take out the heart and lung hiding behind it .
Bang / flop / dead . It's human and your not chases a gut shot deer with a pin hole in each side (no bone )
 
colonel3006 said:
Like yomomma said you either love them or hate them,I lost a nice buck because them last year.I hit him about 140-150 yds,he made it up into the neighbors about 400 yds away,he shot at him and he went another 300 yds before going down.We found him with one hole in him and I know it was mine cause there was blood right where I shot,and it was a pencil hole.Bullet never opened up.After a bit of arguing on who's deer it was I figured it wasn't worth fighting over so I walked away.So loving or hating them,I HATE THEM.
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First person I've ever heard complain about an SST not expanding.....I suspect there may be more of an explanation to your scenario but it sucks you didn't get your deer.
 
Tikkam65 said:
I think for all of us using sst or any other bullet for that matter .
Our father tought us to shoot the heart and lung same with our basic core
wrong . It's a double stomack grazer if its feeding the stomack is bloated
pushing heart and lung up under the front shoulder .
So there is a really good chance that the deer / elk you are going to shoot have been grazing
shoot the front shoulder turn that bone into shrapnel
it will take out the heart and lung hiding behind it .
Bang / flop / dead . It's human and your not chases a gut shot deer with a pin hole in each side (no bone )
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Funny, I always aim for the heart/lung and unless the animal is quartering I don't remember ever clipping the gut. Mind you, I've only been hunting for about 30 years so maybe I'm just too new for it to have happened yet.

Shoulder shooting IMHO is just wasting meat.
 
Tikkam65 said:
I think for all of us using sst or any other bullet for that matter .
Our father tought us to shoot the heart and lung same with our basic core
wrong . It's a double stomack grazer if its feeding the stomack is bloated
pushing heart and lung up under the front shoulder .
So there is a really good chance that the deer / elk you are going to shoot have been grazing
shoot the front shoulder turn that bone into shrapnel
it will take out the heart and lung hiding behind it .
Bang / flop / dead . It's human and your not chases a gut shot deer with a pin hole in each side (no bone )
Click to expand...

The diaphragm prevents the stomach from moving forward to join the heart and lungs. If you are hitting gut on a broadside shot it's because your crosshairs were too far back. With that said, the shoulder shot is deadly for dropping animals on the spot....this can be especially useful in tricky mountain terrain....etc.
 
07blackwater said:
Funny, I always aim for the heart/lung and unless the animal is quartering I don't remember ever clipping the gut. Mind you, I've only been hunting for about 30 years so maybe I'm just too new for it to have happened yet.

Shoulder shooting IMHO is just wasting meat.
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I agree, and I have been hunting for 55 years.
If the animal is hit in the guts, the hold was too far back.

Tuck that shot in close to the front leg...no problem.

However, I also agree with the poster who stated the shoulder
shot is excellent for anchoring an animal "right there".

This would be used where a danger exists of the animal dying
300 meters away in some thick tangle or the bottom of a gully.

BUT, if one is taking a shoulder shot, a premium bullet is best.

Regards, Dave.
 
Don't get me wrong Dave and Sheephunter. If you need to plant an animal to make retrieval easier, I agree also. A shoulder shot would do the trick.

I'm just stating (for all the hunters learning) that I wholeheartedly believe the heart/lung shot is the preferred shot.

And Dave, as far as I'm concerned, any shot could end up being a tricky one so I also prefer premium bullets like the partition.... Just in case.

DRT and no meat waste. Every time.
 
I've shot many a moose through the ribs without touching one on either side and believe me, they flopped.

One bull I shot with my 270 at 300 yards and he dropped. When we gutted him he had a 2" hole through the center of his heart. Back then I was using plain Jane Remington or federal off the shelf ammo. 150's were my preferred. Now that I hand load I use partitions in a 7mm mag.

I just developed a load with accubonds to try so we'll see how that works out.

The last 4 moose I've shot with the 7mm and partions were DRT, 2 through the ribs without any bone. The other 2 I hit a rib.

The accubonds are a little cheaper and a little more accurate so I thought I'd give them a go. If they perform nearly as well as the partitions they'll fit the bill.
 
I only use 2 bullets anymore. Accubonds and SST's. The Accubonds Ive only used for 2 years and I've had good results with them. But I've used SST's for years. Every animal, deer, bear, moose or elk has been put down with my .308 with 150 grn SST's. I'm now loading my new .338 Lapua with 200 grn SST's for elk this year to try it out. The only animals I've ever had get away were both shot with Barnes bullets. I think they over penetrate and don't dump energy fast enough. But that's just me probably....I won't use them again because of my personal experience. But the SST's have never failed me in 20 years.
 
I have taken many animals , elk in paticular .
Started out with the heart and lung and for all you senior hunters a bull can move hundreds of yards over steep terrain .
Most bull are moving and very aleart to there terrain .
I have done enough heart and lung without hitting bone perfectly placed shots and have had elk run 1000 meters down into valley bottoms . Better to anchor and explode the front shoulder into the heart and lung .
Make a bang / flop / dead / with no lost animal .
 
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