3400fps hornady SST on big game

[duckmen1]

So in test of hand loading I've been trying to develop a deadly accurate hunting round. The thing is I did so in result of extreme speed. Using a 300wsm and 150 gr SST bullets I've got this gun shooting .5 inch or less at 100 consistently. 200 yards I shot a .4 inch group. 300 to 500 was deadly accurate too. The best I've ever shot with a higher caliber. My question is how do you guys feel this bullet combo will do on deer and bear from really close to long range? My bears have been as close as 6 steps out to 70 yards. And that is where my big concern is with a bullet like this going so fast. Thanks for opinions.

[mountainman]

With good placement, which should be easy with an accurate load like that, you will be just fine. Just expect some bloodshot steaks!  👍

[syoungs]

I'd be wary of performance, seems awful fast for close up work. Maybe try it on some water jugs or wet phone books? I'm sure someone with more practical data can shed more light though

[duckmen1]

If the performance is on the devastating side in a bit of meat loss I can deal with that because tracking in the area I'm at is tough due to such thick cover you can't see 5 feet in front of you. And it is really deep underbrush to where you can't see the ground whatsoever being several feet deep and times being over your head, So stopping them quick is what I want. I just don't want to loose an animal. I can say all my bears have been straight on to quartering strongly at me.

[high country]

It's gonna make a MESS up close. Your penetration at 3400 will be dang near as wide as it is deep. If you want to shove it that fast I'd be looking at a scirocco or similar construction bullets.

[duckmen1]

I don't necessarily want it that fast but my groups with accubonds are over 2" at 100 and partitions are around 1.25. That is average with 165 and 180s in each with several powders. And the sst 150s aren't as accurate going slower. 

[bobcat]

Why not try a Barnes bullet? May not be quite as accurate but it would be worth trying. For your shots 300 yards and closer it would be much better. You're concerned about tracking animals being difficult - well with a Barnes bullet you're much more likely to have an exit hole. Two holes are better than one in leaving a good blood trail. You might consider using one bullet for closer shots and another bullet for longer shots.

[Limhangerslayer]

1.25 seams like a plenty good want group if you are shooting all your shots under 100.  Bullet weight and performance trumps speed anyday in my mind.  Especially frontal to heavy quartering shots.

[duckmen1]

I suppose for bears I could leave my dial the way it is and carry both sighting in for 300 yards and in with my partitions. And if I am presented with a long shot hit the dial with the sst. Or if I am deer hunting just straight use the sst.

[duckmen1]

That's the problem with my hunting areas. They go from 5 yard shot areas to 400 plus in a matter of minutes.

[high country]

If that rifle will shoot a heavier pill, I'd be looking that way. If you can push a similar sleek bullet around 2900 you will get better wind resistance and similar downrange performance without the worry. If you choose to stick with the high speed, be conscious of your shots as penetration will be either shotgun like or simply non existent in some scenarios.

[theleo]

Your performance with that bullet going that fast will be like shooting Berger's it'll penetrate a few inches and come unglued. I personally wouldn't go that route if you are having to bust shoulders to get to the vitals and quartering shots. You're asking a lot from a bullet in that situation, so I'd go with something a little more stout. Siroccos, A-frames, X-bullets, E-tips, Interbonds, and GMX's would all be worth a try before I personally would settle on using the SST's.

[kentrek]

I would keep that load for rock chucks and keep looking for a big game load...or try the bobs advice and try a barns bullet...might look up cutting edge bullets aswell if your gun only shoots light stuff

[CaNINE]

The SST performs best at approximately 2700 fps. I wouldn't advise shooting critters with it at close range at the velocity your running. For close range work I'd go with the Barnes. Keep your SST load for moderate ranges beyond 300 yards.

[Biggerhammer]

I watched a friend of mine shoot a Muley at about 30 feet with one of my handloads and a 7mm Magnum. A 139gr SST just shy of 3200 fps. When he lifted the rifle to shoot I told him to shoot it in the center of the ribs because I knew at that range what it was going to do, like others have posted. It was a MESS! It flat crushed the buck but I'm glad he held for the ribs, if that bullet would have been anywhere near the front shoulders there would have been allot of blood shot meat. We opened that buck up and literally poured what was inside out.

Then again, at 300 yards and out that same load performs exellent.

The 139 SST in my 7x57 at lower velocities is a real performer in close and at distance. The 162 Hornady interlock in the 7x57 is magical at taking game quick and clean.

[BULLBLASTER]

I'll go against the grain here and say put that bullet where it needs to be and your target will die. Hornady reccomend a muzzle velocity of 2000-3300 fps with that bullet. You aren't real far above that. If it's accurate shoot it. It will kill any black bear or deer walking and then some. 

[safehunter]

 Have you tried out their Interbonds? I have great accuracy with the 180's, I know different weight.

[Damnimissed]

My wife's X bolt in 300wsm wouldn't shoot that great til I loaded ups max load of 7828 and a 200gr Accubond. Now it shoots one ragged hole. I'd play around with it more before settling on that velocity with that bullet.

[duckmen1]

I've got .5 to 3/4 in groups with Sierra gamekings as well as Berger vlds in the 3/4 or better to 1 in range. 165 and 168s going 2900. But when it comes to stronger design bullets I've tried 165 and 180 in both accubonds and partitions with several powders and 165 Barnes tsx with several powders. Barnes and partitions shot ok at 100 yards but fall apart on groups further. And others just are so so. I've done a lot of testing in this gun and it has just been my luck that bullets designed to explode shoot better. Just a weird fluke in luck but that's how it has gone. I've tried different seating depths and crimping vs non crimped depending on loads. Always standard seating at 2.86 has been more accurate than getting closer and closer to the lands. Which breaks the general rule of thumb on getting close to the lands for better accuracy. I've got a great long range deer setup but as far as a mixed range from close to far gun that hasn't happened in a stronger built bullet. Been loading for 3 years on this gun with a lot of range time.

Funny cause my buddy has a 325 in the same gun. It hates the accubond bullets as well but shoots ballistic tips just fine. Which is what he took his bear with.

[bobcat]

Like I said, load up two different bullets. For my 270 I have 140 grain Bergers which are extremely accurate, and I use them for antelope, and deer when I'm in open country. I also have some 150 grain Speer Grand Slams and some 140 grain Barnes tsx. I'll choose one of those two for elk, or deer if I'm hunting in the timber. I shot antelope in Wyoming this year with the Bergers and shot a blacktail in the timber at 40 yards with the Grand Slams.

[duckmen1]

Have you tried out their Interbonds? I have great accuracy with the 180's, I know different weight.

No I haven't tried those yet. Future maybe I'll give them a try.

Like I said, load up two different bullets. For my 270 I have 140 grain Bergers which are extremely accurate, and I use them for antelope, and deer when I'm in open country. I also have some 150 grain Speer Grand Slams and some 140 grain Barnes tsx. I'll choose one of those two for elk, or deer if I'm hunting in the timber. I shot antelope in Wyoming this year with the Bergers and shot a blacktail in the timber at 40 yards with the Grand Slams.

Think that's what I'll end up doing for now.

[TVHunts]

Did you consider the ELD-X Hornady's ?  Maybe you should give those in 178 grain a try before you settle on the lighter SST. Midway had them in stock last week.

[Biggerhammer]

If you want a A-Z bullet. Run the Accubonds. I have point blanked Mulies with the Accubond, had bullet travel from chest to hindquarters. Found it under the hide, perfectly mushroomed( 140gr .270 WSM). The Accubond has also performed exellent at just shy of 600 yards on Mulies.  Exellent across the board bullet, no point in running more than one load with the right bullet. They have a decent BC compared to some bullets mentioned prior. So your covered from point blank to as far out as your comfortable shooting.

[safehunter]

 Oops, how did I overlook the speed? Are you positive about 3400fps? I cannot find anything close to that with the WSM cartridge until going to a 130gr or 125gr.
 As Bigger say's, I run Accubonds out of my favorite RUM. I have used the 180gr. @ 3328fps on deer and elk out to very long ranges with great results. However this last year I shot a muley at 35 yards, broadside. Bullet entered the ribs, took an immediate right turn and under same side front shoulder, WTH? It did blow a piece of bone to offside rear. Buck went around 80 yards. I'll never forget the look of him standing there for a moment staring at me before he took off and me in disbelief as too how I missed that shot! Should have blown him off his feet! Proof for me as there is no 100% perfect shot placement, bullet combination for speed every time while hunting!
 I will still keep using the Accubonds based on previous results, as this will probably never happen again in my life. Maybe the said buck was Super Buck, IDK!
 

[duckmen1]

Oops, how did I overlook the speed? Are you positive about 3400fps? I cannot find anything close to that with the WSM cartridge until going to a 130gr or 125gr.
 As Bigger say's, I run Accubonds out of my favorite RUM. I have used the 180gr. @ 3328fps on deer and elk out to very long ranges with great results. However this last year I shot a muley at 35 yards, broadside. Bullet entered the ribs, took an immediate right turn and under same side front shoulder, WTH? It did blow a piece of bone to offside rear. Buck went around 80 yards. I'll never forget the look of him standing there for a moment staring at me before he took off and me in disbelief as too how I missed that shot! Should have blown him off his feet! Proof for me as there is no 100% perfect shot placement, bullet combination for speed every time while hunting!
 I will still keep using the Accubonds based on previous results, as this will probably never happen again in my life. Maybe the said buck was Super Buck, IDK!

Yes I'm sure on the speed. 2 chronographs tested then even typed those ballistics into the vortex lrbc and I am dead on with my dial shooting to 550. Most of my loads will only go to 3100 tops with other powders. This powder on this load is Hornady superformance.

[duckmen1]

In disbelief on the speed I can say I even got it up to 3435 average on different seating depths but accuracy on those depths weren't as good

[jasnt]

I've shot the 125gr sst at 3780 (300wm)They hold together pretty well at high speed I wouldn't hesitate to use it on bear!

[Biggerhammer]

10 years or so ago, I killed a Mulie with a 125gr Ballistic Tip out of a .300 Win Mag at close to that speed and a bunch of carp.

The Mulie was at about 250 yards the first and only deer I've shot Mulie wise that "Squealed" on impact! DRT!