Hornady SST Bullets - Performance in the Field

Hmmm all these comments make me think. Bought a 20" 308 for most hunts (already have a 30-30 lever) and thought that factory 150 SST would be a good idea due to lower velocities (usual shot between 100-200 yds). Was also planning to hand oad 180 Accubond. Should I just stick with the Accubond? Don't want an anti-tank style explosion in my steaks... Maybe at extreme close range a neck shot would be better with the SST?
 
I use SSTs for punching paper. They are accurate, available and affordable. Prefer a stouter bullet for hunting, bonded or monolithic.
 
Marcos said:
Hmmm all these comments make me think. Bought a 20" 308 for most hunts (already have a 30-30 lever) and thought that factory 150 SST would be a good idea due to lower velocities (usual shot between 100-200 yds). Was also planning to hand oad 180 Accubond. Should I just stick with the Accubond? Don't want an anti-tank style explosion in my steaks... Maybe at extreme close range a neck shot would be better with the SST?
Click to expand...

Yea Accubonds in the 308 and 150- 165 gr are Plenty HEAVY enough - jmo RJ
 
bearhunter said:
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.
Click to expand...

A good example of me "not keeping up with the times" - a friend was convinced the SST of the day were what he wanted for whitetail deer - would enter and explode inside - he never had an exist wound - what he wanted. I did not - was quite happy with my Speer HotCor - almost always had a hole in and another hole out. But our "argument" was easily maybe 15 years ago - had stuck in my head that I do not want SST because they "blow up" - how dare they re-design the damn things on me!!!

I do not remember, for sure, what cartridge he used - was something "fast" - like a 243 Win or a 270 Win - I plodded along with my 165 grain in 308 Win. I think both of us ran out of tags every year. After the 308 Win, I switched to 7x57 with 150 Partitions - and no complaints, at all, with that one.
 
Last edited:
The Missus shot a whitetail in NB back in '19 with a 150gn SST from her .30-06. Handload that left the muzzle at around 2700 fps. Poleaxed the deer with a shoulder shot at about 150 yards, made two holes. No complaints here.
 
I personally like the SST they are much like the Berger’s. Big holes kill critters fast. Yes, they are not optimal if you hit heavy bone but neither are mono bullets when you miss slightly back and they punch a pencil hole through…. trade offs. I like DRT and will sacrifice a bit of meat to not have a long track job. Only time I will use mono bullets is when I back my kids up. Follow ups if needed will be running away where I need max penetration. SST are one of my fav bullets.
 
I think of the non-bonded ballistic tip type bullets, the SST's are the best all around performers. Like any fast opening, non-bonded bullet, they will destroy everything in their path if they hit a shoulder, etc. Also, all bets are off if driven too fast. Non-bonded bullets (except for the Partitions, etc) just should not be driven past 2700-2800 fps.
 
I have no time for a bullet that I cannot trust to break bone and get to the vitals
if needed. Therefore, my "hunting" bullets are Partitions, A-Frames or a bonded
bullet.[ Accubond, Interbonds, Scirocco II's, etc]
SSTs are great "paper" and "practice" bullets, but I will not have them in my rifle
while hunting. Dave.
 
It’s quite interesting how views differ. I won’t hunt with a bullet I can’t know to reliably expand in any circumstance so won’t hunt with some of the mentioned. Hunting styles probably differ a lot as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom