UPDATED: field report. Hornady SST's good for big game???

[xXLojackXx]

Wondering if anybody has shot big game (bear, elk) with the Hornady SST's? I've heard that they are devastating on penetration, and some people say they won't penetrate should blades on the event of a unfavorable shot. I swear by the Barnes TSX bullet, but I'm out and don't have the ability to get more before bear hunting this weekend. I have worked up a load with the 180gr SST's and get 1.20" groups at 300 yards out of my .300 win mag. Any input much appreciated!! Cheers.

[Woodchuck]

I shoot 225's out of my .338 and I like em. Have killed deer, elk, and bear with em. DRT 

[Huntbear]

I used them last year in my .257 AI....  on a deer, it exploded on impact, on a rib.. yes it killed the deer instantly... blood shot to hell though.. 


had to pick out the copper and lead pieces as we cut up the meat...

[Woodchuck]

I have never had that issue  Of course I don't shoot a cheerleader rifle either so... Seriously though it has been suggested that the SST's for bigger bore have a heavier copper case. 




Sorry Huntbear I had to 

[xXLojackXx]

Haha good stuff. I just don't want to blow a baseball out the back side of my bear hide. But I suspect at longer ranges (300 yards+) it might not pass through a good sized bear?

[Huntbear]

I have never had that issue  Of course I don't shoot a cheerleader rifle either so... Seriously though it has been suggested that the SST's for bigger bore have a heavier copper case. 




Sorry Huntbear I had to 

That is ok.... I understand....   just because you like toting a 12 lb. rifle during deer season, does not mean I do... and my "cheerleader" rifle is sexy as hell...  so I will say PPPPPPPPBBBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....   

[Woodchuck]

  I like to have the ability to club one if I have to 

[7mmfan]

Loaded the 154 SST's and 154 Interbonds for my 7mag this year to compare them. Here is what I recovered. 100 yards shooting into a stump, recovered 4 SST's 2" in and all looked like the one on the left. Bullet completely separated and TONS of lead and copper shrapnel. Recovered 2 Interbonds, 5" deep, both looked like the one on the right. Perfectly mushroomed and way better penetration. Don't know what weight retention was on them but they look great.

Another plus for me is that both bullets group exactly the same out of my gun, and with the SST's being almost half the price of the Interbonds, I can target shoot all year with them and then hunt with the Interbonds confidently, knowing they will shoot where I aim everytime.

[webbspinner]

i'm using the 225's in my 338 also, love the accuracy.  haven't' shot anything but coyote with em yet, but that was impressive to say the least.     Penetration was not an issue.   was thinking about going to the 154 interbond for my 7mm but am currently using the 160 accubond in that with excellent results.

[xXLojackXx]

Ya well I guess I'll see what happens if I get a shot. Regardless of the outcome, I'll still be going back to the Barnes bullets. Those are some bad mamas!

[Rooster1981]

Ok hear is my exp with SST's. I have shot One deer and two elk with them using 165 grn 30-06 loaded with 54 grns of 4007ssc. My first kill using this round was a two point blacky at 60 yards shot in the back of the neck. The shot nearly decpitated the deer, over 50% of the neck was gone. My second kill was a spike bull elk at 250 yards broadside. The entrance hole was the size of a quarter and the exit hole was as big as a baseball, no fragmenting that I found the bull died within 25 yards of the shot. Kill number three was another spike bull I didnt have a range finder with me the day of the kill but I went back and ranged it the next day @ 462 yards The bull was shot in the lungs and with no exit and died 10 yards from where he was shot at.
  These rounds are deadly accurate and if you dont care about blowing huge exit hole's they are the best round I hoave found for my 30-06.
 

[bobcat]

Haha good stuff. I just don't want to blow a baseball out the back side of my bear hide. But I suspect at longer ranges (300 yards+) it might not pass through a good sized bear?

Actually you might get more penetration at longer ranges when the velocity is less, and the bullet expands less.

[xXLojackXx]

well due to geography, I would guess my shot (if  its actually unfolds like i'd like it to) would be about 250-325 yards.  So we'll have to wait and see how the bullets do. With any luck i'll have a field report here soon.

[D-Rock425]

A few months back eastmans tested it with some other bullets.   It didn't hold its way very well.

[Huntbear]

Give me Accubonds...

Elk at 25 yards, with .338 WM, hit heavy bone.. recovered both rounds, did not explode

[ribka]

had exact experience with SST's. Shot deer and lope. Other than tiny fragments no bullet recovery and no exit wound. Died quickly and massive internal damage.

Shot elk last year with interbond . Thru both shoulder out the other side. 30 yds and dead.

Loaded the 154 SST's and 154 Interbonds for my 7mag this year to compare them. Here is what I recovered. 100 yards shooting into a stump, recovered 4 SST's 2" in and all looked like the one on the left. Bullet completely separated and TONS of lead and copper shrapnel. Recovered 2 Interbonds, 5" deep, both looked like the one on the right. Perfectly mushroomed and way better penetration. Don't know what weight retention was on them but they look great.

Another plus for me is that both bullets group exactly the same out of my gun, and with the SST's being almost half the price of the Interbonds, I can target shoot all year with them and then hunt with the Interbonds confidently, knowing they will shoot where I aim everytime.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Haha good stuff. I just don't want to blow a baseball out the back side of my bear hide. But I suspect at longer ranges (300 yards+) it might not pass through a good sized bear?

Actually you might get more penetration at longer ranges when the velocity is less, and the bullet expands less.

  Thats the best comment I heard in a very long time 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Hornaday bullets have always been my choice ...I like the Interlocs for big game ...I also like the SST but they make a mess if you hit bone ...They shoot awesome groups out of my .270 but I would rather stick with the Interloc .

[Biggerhammer]

One year a friend had me load up some 139gr SST's for his 7 Mag. That year he shot a Mulie at 60 yards and a cow elk at 120 or so. Both shots were about in line with the pocket mid body. Neither bullet exited and you could just pour what was left of the lungs out like soup on both, serious internal damage both dropped where they stood.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah I have loaded some for my friends to in the 139gr for their 7mags and the same story ... No doubt they are great for lung shots but shoulders or heavier bones 

[Woodchuck]

  I will heart/lung deer but elk or bear they get it on the shoulder and I can't think of any that didn't have em both broke and dropped right there.

[Biggerhammer]

I will heart/lung deer but elk or bear they get it on the shoulder and I can't think of any that didn't have em both broke and dropped right there.

High shoulder shots with just about any bullet on Elk are pretty devistating.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Woodchuck ..So your saying you have shot elk and bear in the shoulder with SSTs ...I have no doubt they will do the job but how much meat did you loose from blood shot meat and bone fragment ? I always shoot my bear in the shoulders but with 140 gr interloc ....lights out many times at different ranges ..With the interloc I have never lost much meat on any bear ... As far as elk I have only killed 2 with my rifle and the rest have been with my bow ..I am just asking how much damage they done ...some guys could careless if they have some meat to eat  thats all 

[Woodchuck]

I don't think I lose excessive meat with it  maybe someone else would think different. To me the loss of a little meat versus the entire animal is okay. I guess all I am saying is that my rifle shoots those bullets well and I am happy with the performance.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I totally agree man ...mine shoots them well too ... I like them but I just know those interlocs hold up better when blowing off a bears shoulders 

[xXLojackXx]

Agree with the accuracy. Can't complain about 1.20" at 300 yards with my Model 70 Super Grade. 180gr SST in front of 72.5gr of RL22. I'll just look for a nice lung shot and let the lead fly!

[Sneaky]

I used 130gr SST's out of my .270 on two montana muleys and one wa whitetail and found that they do not hold up well at all when they hit bone. One shot was through the shoulder which sent 15 or so pieces of copper and lead into the boiler room. This was at 27 yards... The results were devastating but I was not happy with the bullet performance.

Both other shots were similar results with extreme shock evident and quick if not instant death for the animal.

As others have stated I would look elsewhere for a hunting bullet especially for animals larger than deer.

One thing I can say about these bullets is that they are extremely accurate! I would not hesitate to use them on animals deer-sized and smaller. 

[gutsnthegrass]

I have shot 2 bucks with the 140 grain SST's out of my .260.  Both deer died where they stood with high shoulder shots.  a very large bodied 2 point mulie buck at 200 yards and a 4x5 bench buck at 390 yards, neither buck took a step, they were dead before they hit the ground.  I handload these rounds and think I will try something different in the future, but they do seem to be a decent bullet.

[xXLojackXx]

Everybody seems to shoot deer sized game with these bullets, i just wonder how they will fare on a tougher animal like a black bear. i guess i'll find out if im lucky 

[Woodchuck]

Just fine, this dude was DRT 

[kckrawler]

I use 162 grain factory loaded SST's out of my 7mm for all big game. They're lethal on deer, DRT. I've only shot one 5 pt bull and he made it about 50 yards before giving up. Never shot a bear with them but I'm confident that they'll work...

[xXLojackXx]

Went out this morning and had my SST's loaded up in my .300 win mag. found a shooter bear at 7am grazing on some berries atop a ridge. Ranged it at 316 yards and stuck it to him. The bullet actually performed well with slight fragmentation. The bear hunched up and rolled twice and was recovered 7 yards from where it was shot. Heart split in 3 pieces. Not quite as good as the Barnes that I normally shoot, but still lethal and VERY accurate.

[Biggerhammer]

Great field test! Congrats on the bear.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Went out this morning and had my SST's loaded up in my .300 win mag. found a shooter bear at 7am grazing on some berries atop a ridge. Ranged it at 316 yards and stuck it to him. The bullet actually performed well with slight fragmentation. The bear hunched up and rolled twice and was recovered 7 yards from where it was shot. Heart split in 3 pieces. Not quite as good as the Barnes that I normally shoot, but still lethal and VERY accurate.

SWEEEEEEEEEET... NOW show us some pictures 

[xXLojackXx]

Unfortunately for your viewing pleasures, my pic with the bear has a rather noticable landmark in it cough*MtRainier*cough and for the sake of saving my bear honey hole, i wont be posting it on here haha. When i go back and get my second bear ill be sure to face the hillside...

[BOWHUNTER45]

  I hear ya ... I am the same way ....just remember when taking a picture to zoom in so there is not much back ground ...and if your videoing never wave you camera around while its recording 

[Huntbear]

Unfortunately for your viewing pleasures, my pic with the bear has a rather noticable landmark in it cough*MtRainier*cough and for the sake of saving my bear honey hole, i wont be posting it on here haha. When i go back and get my second bear ill be sure to face the hillside...

crop the picture down...  it is very doable so you can not see where you are at ....   

[CoryTDF]

Unfortunately for your viewing pleasures, my pic with the bear has a rather noticable landmark in it cough*MtRainier*cough and for the sake of saving my bear honey hole, i wont be posting it on here haha. When i go back and get my second bear ill be sure to face the hillside...

Thats why god invented photo shop. or paint just blur out the background.

[Huntbear]

Unfortunately for your viewing pleasures, my pic with the bear has a rather noticable landmark in it cough*MtRainier*cough and for the sake of saving my bear honey hole, i wont be posting it on here haha. When i go back and get my second bear ill be sure to face the hillside...

email me the piic if you want, I can make sure no one knws where it is....

[Biggerhammer]

Unfortunately for your viewing pleasures, my pic with the bear has a rather noticable landmark in it cough*MtRainier*cough and for the sake of saving my bear honey hole, i wont be posting it on here haha. When i go back and get my second bear ill be sure to face the hillside...

email me the piic if you want, I can make sure no one knws where it is....

Oh!!! Your good...

[Huntbear]

Unfortunately for your viewing pleasures, my pic with the bear has a rather noticable landmark in it cough*MtRainier*cough and for the sake of saving my bear honey hole, i wont be posting it on here haha. When i go back and get my second bear ill be sure to face the hillside...

email me the piic if you want, I can make sure no one knws where it is....

Oh!!! Your good...

Not in the least... have no interest in other people's spots.. I have my own, or ones I share with a buddy or two....  but would like t see the bear...  Unless his spot is where I already hunt, he is as safe with me knowing as he would be with his dog knowing...

[BOWHUNTER45]

HAHAHA you guys are relentless ...now lets see the bear 

[Biggerhammer]

HAHAHA you guys are relentless ...now lets see the bear 

Slap Boo-Boo's mug up here!

[Blacktail Sniper]

HAHAHA you guys are relentless ...now lets see the bear 

Slap Boo-Boo's mug up here!

 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I prefer people backing up their story .... just goes over better that way