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