Hornady SST- Your Experience Hunting

B

blauber

Regular
Rating - 98.8%
80   1   0
Location
Southern Ontario
Ok so I've read mixed reviews on these. I have a 123 gr 260 rem load and a 162 gr 7mm rem mag load shooting great. However, some love and others take issue with terminal performance. I have not shot deer sized game with the SST but plan on it in a month's time for deer and possibly black bear. Shots may range from 50 to 500 yards.

My brother used a 129 sst delivered from a 260 rem at a whitetail standing at 100 yards. It was a bang flop scenario with a golf ball exit. Curious as these mixed reviews have me second guessing this bullet on medium sized game.
 
Last edited:
Get the interbond if available especially if going to go after slightly heavier game then deer.

Yes, they kill but I find them far too fragile for close up work, out to 500, might work for that.

A heart/lung shot should not result in wasted loins.

Accuracy wise, nothing wrong with them.

I no longer have any Hornady bullets in my cabinet , that is just because I have chosen other brands that I prefer for hunting , not my bias to the SST.

That kill shot is gonna cost you no more then $0.50 more for that bullet if you go high end premium.That is how I look at it.
 
Hi Blauber,

I believe that the responses you'll receive will be 50/50 on satisfactory performance for hunting with the SST. The supporting camp, from what I've read, indicate that shot placement is key for performance.

You may have read this already but personally SST's didn't perform for myself or my son last year hunting...however at the range did quite well. 75yrd quartered shot on bucks left side hit a rib behind shoulder and splattered. Shrapnel on the inside of the cavity but it took another to put the buck down, both shots from my son's 7mm-08, and the second shot didn't seem to create significant damage either from the same shooter location. My 7-08 shot was a standing broadside paced out at approximately 300yrds. Blood spattering in the snow but not enough fatal damage and lost the buck in the woods after sunset :mad: (our first year reloading)

That being said, there are some that have indicated that Nosler Ballistic Tips are the same animal. We'll see after this fall's hunting. Got back from the range today to start hunting load development and we're quite pleased with the accuracy at 200yrds. <<< I thought the same thing about the SST's and perhaps that's foreshadowing the upcoming hunting terminal performance similar to the SST...but we'll find out. :d I'll likely put accubonds in my son's rifle and BTs for myself to evaluate.

I share the same perspective as Kelly.

Regards
Ron
 
As already noted, not suited for close range application.
My experience both on game and into water jugs was identical, rapid expansion with bullet fragmentation.
 
165 SST from my 308 crushed a couple deer in the last few years. One neck shot spun it around and it didn't get back up and a lung shot the year before took it down quickly. Both shots the bullet passed through leaving a decent exit hole.
Most reports seem to favor the Sierra Gameking but I haven't hunted with them yet.
 
Thanks guys. Like I mentioned, mixed reviews. I initially selected the SST for more than one reason-high b.c., good reviews and availability. I was impressed too with 1/4 MOA accuracy out to 500 yds.

For the record, I have shot 2 deer with the Accubond (270 Win) with a minor issue. I took a doe at 100 yds with the exit wound same diameter as the the entrance. The deer ran about 100
yds with a boiler room shot at dusk and I had little to no blood trail to find her - it was almost like it didn't expand whatsoever.

Sierra Gameking-have not used these on deer but have a 243 win loaded with 85 gr HPBT and a 6 mm with 100 gr SPBT. All reviews for the 85 gr indicate fantastic deer performance with similar experiences with the 100 ProHumter and/or Gameking. I have first hand experience with the 85 gr on coyotes and woodchucks and the terminal performance is nothing short of awe inspiring (a tough bullet with fist size exits).

As shots could go 500 yds this year, I wanted to upsize to 260 rem or 7mm rem mag to assure quick results.
 
Thanks guys. Like I mentioned, mixed reviews. I initially selected the SST for more than one reason-high b.c., good reviews and availability. I was impressed too with 1/4 MOA accuracy out to 500 yds.

For the record, I have shot 2 deer with the Accubond (270 Win) with a minor issue. I took a doe at 100 yds with the exit wound same diameter as the the entrance. The deer ran about 100

yds with a boiler room shot at dusk and I had little to no blood trail to find her.
It was almost like it didn't expand whatsoever.

Sierra gameking-have not used these on deer but have a 243 win loaded with 85 gr HPBT and a 6 mm with 100 gr SPBT. All reviews for the 85 gr indicate fantastic deer perfoormance with similar experiences with the 100 ProHumter and Gameking. I have firsthand experience with the 85 gr on coyotes and woodchucks and the terminal performance is nothing short of awe inspiring (a tough bullet with fist size exits).

As shots could go 500 yds this year, I wanted to upsize to 260 rem or 7mm rem mag to assure quick results.
 
I've never had a center fire sst fragment. The muzzleloader sst I have. The sst is great for what it is. Rapid violent expansion. It is more mushroom reliable at a distance or fired from a slower cartridge. They generally shoot great and are well priced. I'd have no issue using them on deer or a behind the shoulder shot on a bear. I wouldn't try to break a bears shoulders with one. I recovered 2 bullets shot into a doe. One at a 100 yards and the other at 20. Both mushroomed and peeled back violently. The close range shot was just a smear of lead on the tear dropped shaped jacket. Both were found against the hide on the far side. The deer was dead when shot. It was road kill. Both left massive wound channels. I propped the head up on a stick and hit it at a 100 yards and the nose and ear were ripped off. No bullet fragment found and it completely pulverized the skull. I prefer the interlock over the sst for more calibers. For lower speeds the sst is a steller killer. It can also be annealed
 
I have shot two adult (buck) deer with the 129 grain, 6.5 SST out of my custom FN '98, 6.5 Swede. Both took one shot behind the shoulder to put the deer down within just a few yards with lots of blood loss and exit holes. Both deer were shot at less than 75 yards and my only issue is that they are a bit softer and more destructive than I would prefer. Damage to both deer was a bit more than usual for the Swede and causes me to be concerned about penetration should a larger bone be hit. We all like what we like and for me, I will return to the old Nosler Partition because I have lots in both 125 and 140 grain weights and they have given me stellar performance for years. I had good luck years ago with standard 129 and 140 grain Hornady interlocks and have no doubt that the accubond would work well also. I will save the SST bullets for practice. I am pushing the SSTs out of a custom 24" barrel using Lapua brass and a full charge of Reloader 22 so I may be pushing their intended velocity envelope somewhat. Perhaps they would give better performance in the 140 grain weight or at a lower impact velocity (longer range).
 
I have read that SSTs can be "splashy" at close range. Mixed messages from Hornady too wrt their 123 gr SST. Apparently it was designed for lower muzzle velocity of the 6.5 Grendel-but I've read reviews that counter this notion.

I agree, we like what we like, and I prefer a bullet that exhibits some personality, and for me the Accubond wasn't it. The partition in my experience exhibits a consistent personality via results, however I find a more frangible bullet more appealing.

Thank you for your experience QueensHorseman.
 
The early SST bullets were different than what is available now. The late manufacture bullets come in a box that state they are INTERLOCK. There are still some of the old style bullets around that aren't Iinterlock. The owners of those bullets don't want to quit using them because they are so darn accurate but they don't hold together as well as the Interlock type, which are every bit as accurate but tougher.

Yes there are tougher bullets the question is, do you need them??? Personally I like a bullet that passes all the way through. I have found at the ranges I hunt, not much more than 300 yards and usually under 100 yards, the SST IL bullets perform very well, even on large game like Moose/Elk/Bears. They smash large bones well. Two years ago I hit a WT a bit low because I misjudged the range and hit her in the front elbow on the inboard side. The bullet expanded, left the leg hanging by a piece of hide and the rest of the bullet carried on through to enter the Sternum and smash it as well. I had to track that Deer for about 150 yards where she was hiding in a Willow patch. By the time I found her she was stiffening up and the shock was wearing off because she was very slow. A quick shot to the head finished it.

I don't care how good your bullets are, if you don't put them into the right place the animal either doesn't go down or it gets up and runs away. Often never to be seen again. They are pretty small when laying on their side.
 
The cost per round when you are reloading is pretty low, so you can use the best bullets you can get your hands on and not feel too bad about it.

In 2005 I shot a whitetail from 250 yds with a 165 SST in .30 cal. The bullet entered the deer on the right side behind the rib cage and travelled towards the front left shoulder, where it lodged intact with the jacket still on the projectile. The bullet retained about 90 % of it's weight and a couple small pieces broke off at some point in it's travels. The bullet also punched a neat 1/2 " hole right through the heart, which resulted in a very quick and humane harvesting of the animal.
With these bullets, you don't have to have them going 3000 fps. Since they don't have as heavy a jacket as some other bullets, I think they actually do better around 2600 fps @ the muzzle, or around 2200 fps @ the target, which will limit their expansion somewhat.
 
The magical 2800 fps threshold is very prevalent with SST's
Stay under that at the muzzle and likely things will go as planned.
Exceed it and things start getting iffy. Get around 3k and boy howdy it's some sort of wild ride you're into.(not in a good way)

I have but one question.
How does the fact that the SST is a conventional design cup and core bullet with a poly carb tip, such a mind twist for shooters to grasp that these bullets open violently and often have poor weight retention because of the rapid upset?

I've killed one critter with an SST, but it's muzzle velocity was pretty much 2800fps.



30 cal, 150gr, 150 yds....
 
Very accurate, DRT performance <300yrds, but grenade inside game. Not ideal, for me personally. I now shoot bonded bullets, YMMV.
 
Lead hammer said:
270 win, 3075 fps 130gr SST'S. Not good for under 200 yards, at least I had some issues. Very accurate though.
Click to expand...

I second lead hammer. 160 yard shot at a decent buck. Shoulder shot. Impacted shoulder was jello and had to be discarded, other shoulder wasnt much better, no exit hole.

130 yard muzzle loader SST at a decent doe was a clean pass through double lung. Exit hole was the same size as the entrance hole.
 
Just thought I'd thank those that have replied and add that I'm 2850 fps with 260 Rem and 2900 fps with 7mm Rem Mag. With any luck I'll report my experience here 2nd week November. Right now, I have no plans on changing it up.

Forgot too, that my muzzle loader is all set with a 300 gr SST. As observed, the price is right for practice too and they are darn accurate with the loads I've developed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom