Is a Hornady SST Bullet good for bear ?

[Deerdr]

Mmmm maybe....not the best.

 

[brybenn]

I've been playing with the 180 gr sst in 300 wm as a longer range option of around 400 yards for broadside shots. For that they work great as velocity has dropped a lot
At 20 yards shooting them into water jugs creates massive wound channels and the jacket stays consistently in the 3rd jug. 12" of penetration in water and plastic. The rest fragments and looks like a shotgun hit the jugs. A main part of lead will usually stay in the forth jug

A partition or woodliegh 180 gr bullet ends in the 4th jug perfectly mushroomed with controlled expansion.
Will the sst work...yes on the best day. If you hit bone they may fail and a small fast fragmenting bullet may not even get thru the fat on a big fall bear

A better bullet should be used imo. Also a larger caliber unless you are willing and confident to wait for a perfect shot

 

[TSPIRI]

I've shot moose with them and they're devastating I was shooting 180 grain bullets from a 30-06. Good penetration massive wound channel. In most hunting situations I'm sure it'll be fine if you get a good broad side shot.

 

[Ltbull01]

Consider shot placement first. Always best to go with mass if you don't have controlled expansion. So use a heavy bullet for calibre.

 

[xdmer]

I don't think I would use a 243 sst on a bear, I would consider it a varmint bullet at typical 243 velocity. SST's on larger calibers, not going so fast, sure.

 

[Miketdelaney]

Should do the job