I won't use SST bullets anymore for big game hunting, not east coast style anyway
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I loaded up some 180 grain SST's in .308 with a modest (not min charge but not max listed either) charge of Reloader 15. I tried them for function and accuracy (both fine) in a Remington mod 760 rifle in .308 with 22" barrel. I never did chrony the loaded rounds but as stated, they were not loaded hot. Going by memory, they were around 2 grains under max listed load in the books I was using. If I had to guess the muzzle velocity I would guess about 2600 +/-50 fps from my experience. That said, I shot a small 5 point buck from about 20 yards distance. There was zero brush or any type of obstacle in front of the deer (no chance of bullet striking something before the deer). The bullet entered just behind the front shoulder on a broadside shot. Bullet entered between 2 ribs and then fragmented into 2 separate large frags. 1 exited from top of the neck, the other passing roughly through and exiting the opposite side. None of the bullet was recovered. Meat damage was terrible. Looked like the deer had been hit by a tractor trailer in the front end. The entrance side entire front quarter was jelly, as was the vital internals, with half of the heart gone.
No major bone was hit, both shoulders were still intact. It was a boiler room shot that cut the heart in half and jellied the lungs.
The deer seemed to lose all function of its front legs after the hit. It went down at the hit, then tried to get up and go with its back legs but expired very quickly within about 10 seconds. I was suprised to find 2 exit holes, especially the one atop of the neck.
I shot 1 other deer with the same bullet, same load. It was about 30-40 yards distance. Broadside shot again and this time knowing the damage first time round, I opted for a neck shot. The bullet struck middle of the neck, roughly 3/4 way upwards toward the head. The spike dropped, DRT. Entrance was .308 size, exit was about the size of a toonie, mabye slightly bigger. Memory tells me I don't think I struck bone with that shot either.
I shot another 5 point 2 years ago at about 50-60 yards with factory 150 grain winchesters in a rem 700 with 22" barrel. The shot was quartering towards, bullet struck toward front of chest just in front of front shoulder. I heard the bullet smack when it hit, deer dropped DRT. Bullet exited opposite side and held together. Meat damage was not too bad, no major bones hit, both lungs gone
