Done With SST’s

[TacticalCowboy]

The manufacturer does say they’re particularly good at higher velocity….

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/270-cal-277-140-gr-sst#!/

[Capt Glenn]

You did get the quick expansion at high velocity that they advertised.

[Head Case]

I’ve had interlocks come apart, 243 large buck, bullet basically gave up on impact….but put the deer in the dirt where it stood. I still use them and haven’t lost an animal due to them. Winchester used to make these PowerMax bonded bullets - absolutely perfect in the 243, lost two deer trying them in my 30-06.

[SwampBuck]

I’ve stepped away from sst’s before because of repeated similar experiences. The bullet was killing just fine. But I like an exit hole and I’m not a fan of finding shrapnel all over the meat. This was a .280 superformance 139 grain sst.

Now if I use anything sst I make sure it’s either large for caliber bullets or slower calibers. My mother in law actually shoots the 120’s in a reduced recoil 7mm-08 hornady load and they kill very well and are super pleasant to shoot.

[ColinR]

Hmm, two shots and two dead deer. Guess I'm missing the part about how the bullet didn't perform.

[chrisk]

I have killed deer with an in-line muzzleloader, .450 BM, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win using the SST bullets. They have killed every deer one of my bullets have entered into.

[TacticalCowboy]

From Hornady:

Thank you for contacting us. The recommended minimum impact velocity for the .277 140 grain SST bullet, product number 27352, is 1800 fps, and it should not exceed 2500 fps on impact for optimal performance. This velocity range ensures proper expansion of the bullet. Please remember that shot placement is also crucial for the best results. Avoid heavy bone and aim for vital areas such as the lungs or neck. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out. Thank you.


I guess the “performance at high velocity” that they advertise tops out around 6.8spc speeds.

[LWD]

Could be. But I haven’t had the same experience with a 165 SGK in a 300 WM running about the same speed.

It is. Which GameKing are you shooting? The HPBT version is harder than the spire point. How many shoulder shots have you taken with the GameKing?

[TacticalCowboy]

It is. Which GameKing are you shooting? The HPBT version is harder than the spire point. How many shoulder shots have you taken with the GameKing?

The regular SPBT.

I shoulder shoot everything. So I’d say minimum 60 animals.

[Walker]

Alot of good info here. Have to admit my only experience with sst's is out of my grendel. Works great there. High shoulder shots and never had an animal take a step. Whitetails, javelinas, and hogs. If I ever find some ammo or brass I'll try some 150's in my 300 savage.

[muzzlebrake]

I learned my lesson of factory SST in .244 Rem years ago when I shot a one horn old spike 4 times with no exits. Found the deer a few days later dead at a stock tank 1/2 mile away. Lots of surface damage but no penetration. Since then it's been Accubonds or Barnes TTSX for me. I have had good luck with old green and yellow box Remington PSP and Interlocks way back when but they make a bloody mess on shoulder shots.

[cwill]

I've tested alot of bullets with varying degrees of performance, but for Texas whitetails I always come back to a soft point. They are cheap, shoot well, and consistently kill the heck out of deer.

[piercebronkite]

Hmm, two shots and two dead deer. Guess I'm missing the part about how the bullet didn't perform.

Thats what I was thinking too.

[SaltwaterSlick]

I've tested alot of bullets with varying degrees of performance, but for Texas whitetails I always come back to a soft point. They are cheap, shoot well, and consistently kill the heck out of deer.

Yep, this has been my experience as well. Even in my .270 which I hand load for, I use 130 gr. Hornady spire point flat base bullets and my old left hand 700 Remmy, is a ragged hole at a hunert. and maybe an inch at 200... Killed hogs, deer and yotes out to 400 yards with that plain old bullet.
Currently shooting Federal Fusion 150 gr soft points in my Armalite AR10-T and it's a sub-MOA gun too with this factory ammo...

[Austin]

My son has been shooting 100gr Barnes TTSX bullets in his6.5 Grendel they are wonderfully accurate and kill great obviously with that round we don’t get any impressive drop them in their tracks performance but dead is dead. What they didn’t do is leave a blood trail 6.5’mm entrance and exit not much bigger. We never lost deer but dang it was nerve wracking if they got out of sight.

Mid season he was running dangerously low on the TTSX rounds but we had some 123 gr SST’s loaded I knew POI was a couple inches high and left of the TTSX rounds so we made the adjustment on the scope verified zero and that day sent two rounds through two different does. Entrance and exit on both one of them in the shoulder and blood trails ray charles could follow.

That’s a long winded way of saying some bullets are designed for speed some are not.