Where does the SST bullet shine?

[steeleywhopper]

I am curious to know where and for what application does the Hornady SST bullet shine? I hear so much mixed info on the round when used on game. I was just curious what you all thought about where that bullet makes the most sense? Long range? Short range? Deer? Elk? I have some for the 7mm-08 and the .270, but have never used it while hunting.

[hunter399]

I've reload with sst  bullets a little bit.
In 30 cal sst will give a little bit better BC for a 30 cal bullet.
I've also used it in 7mm mag .
I want to say if your under 2900 velocity they work just fine.
If your over 2900 velocity they can be a little explosive.
Of course shot placement is always key. For punching holes in ribs there great. Shoulder shots maybe not the greatest.
With all that said ,All the animals I've shot with them did die.
Some sooner than other depending on shot placement.
They do work,is there better bullets ,you bet .
They will get the job done ,if you do your part.

[ellensburgpo]

Superformance is the ammunition line, not the bullet. I believe there are different bullets within the Superformance line, the SST is probably the most common. Is that the bullet you're asking about?

If you are talking about the sst specifically it is the best deer bullet I’ve ever used if shot into soft tissue, ie broadside into chest cavity. It is the worst bullet I’ve ever used if it encounters muscle or bone. I’ve shot at least two dozen deer with sst’s fwiw. Amazing accuracy out of the rifle I used it in. I finally moved on and shoot accubond ammo in every hunting rifle I own save the 223. The sst has its place but it has limitations like all bullets, stay within them or enjoy the rodeo that follows exceeding them.

The application I see superperformance ammo being maybe a good idea is if running a short barrel to try and recapture some of the lost velocity. Maybe.

[Brotherman]

From Hornady's website:
 Superformance® ammunition is loaded with Hornady® V-MAX,® NTX,® SST,® CX,™ and InterLock,® bullets for the ultimate in performance, no matter what the game. 100 - 200 fps faster than standard ammunition.

[hunter399]

From Hornady's website:
 Superformance® ammunition is loaded with Hornady® V-MAX,® NTX,® SST,® CX,™ and InterLock,® bullets for the ultimate in performance, no matter what the game. 100 - 200 fps faster than standard ammunition.

The CX might be the best bullet in the line.
I believe that's the all copper bullet.

[HillHound]

I use them in my Montana rifle co 7MM rem  mag. 154  grain SST’s. Those things just flat drop the deer. And my gun will darn near put them through the same hole. Like others have said you don’t want to center punch the shoulder with them or you will be losing lots of meat and picking out lots of lead. That has been our go to in Montana the last six or seven years. Due to a few scope/firearm mishaps my hunting partners had it even took seven of the eight deer we got one year between the three of us. Longest shots with the SST‘s was a frontal shot at 450 yards on a big mule  deer buck, dropped him in his tracks. Shot last years spring bear with them also at 515 yards. Must’ve ranged brush in front at first and about took its front leg off, second shot was 575 going up the opposite hill, it was right on the money and the bear was dead right there. I do tend to gravitate towards them for a longer range hunting. Not sure if that is really because of the bullet or more because of the scope gun set up I use them in. Have a 300 WSM and a 243 that love old blue box federals that I use for close proximity hunting or on animals with hides I want to save.

[steeleywhopper]

Well it looks like this might have to be a round that I try out this next season.
I appreciate all the information

[dewandgin]

My dad and I won a couple of 338 win mags at a banquet a few years ago and we bought some 200GR (if I remember correctly) Hornady SST bullets. We went out and worked up a load and they were super accurate. Then we went elk hunting...

1. First elk shot broadside about 150 yds small 5 point bull dropped where he stood and the shot placement was tight to the front shoulder. Almost a 2 ft blood shot circle 

thought maybe we smacked a rib straight on.

2. Second elk, large cow, shot at 225 yds broadside tight to front shoulder but no shoulder blade. Almost whole side of the elk bloodshot.

Used what we had left for target practice and to sight in new scopes, etc and gave the rest away.

Shoot Accubonds now and over 15 elk and moose and deer and no issues.

[MADMAX]

Accubonds baby
Accubonds

Hard to find in 130 grain for my 270 WSM though

[hunter399]

Well it looks like this might have to be a round that I try out this next season.
I appreciate all the information

It's a good round..👍
Even the deer in my aviator was shot with an sst in the shoulder. Went 20 yards ,with the one leg not working ,fell over dead.

[Sneaky]

killed lots of deer with the SST and the bullets have all exploded. All shots less than 100yds at various shot angles out of a .270 and a .308. All of the deer were dead within 30 yards of impact. As stated above a great choice when you understand how it performs and use accordingly.

[ASHQUACK]

I've shot the 225 grn sst out of my 338 RUM for a few years now. I've killed two elk with it one at 85 yards and one at 540. Both elk dropped dead in their tracks bit bullets were recovered, both weighed a shade under 200 grains. I've also shot a few deer with it and have only recovered one bullet and it was close to 170ish. I run them at 3070fps..

[Dan-o]

Hornady Superformance 162 grain SST's shoot really well out of my 7MM Rem Mag.

I've shot probably 5 deer and 3 elk with them.
No issues at all.

I don't punch shoulders.
If I did, I'd want something more stout.

[hunter399]

I consider SST and nosler BT pretty much equal.
As is ELDX is to accubond.
These two company are at major competition.
That's just my opinion ,I've used all four that I mention above with success.

[hunter399]

Hornady Superformance 162 grain SST's shoot really well out of my 7MM Rem Mag.

I've shot probably 5 deer and 3 elk with them.
No issues at all.

I don't punch shoulders.
If I did, I'd want something more stout.

Yup that was what I was using also .....
162 grain SST behind 70 something grain of h1000.

[Damnimissed]

I consider SST and nosler BT pretty much equal.
As is ELDX is to accubond.
These two company are at major competition.
That's just my opinion ,I've used all four that I mention above with success.

ELD-X is nothing like an AccuBond, fyi.

[Taco280AI]

I am curious to know where and for what application does the Hornady SST bullet shine?

They're useful for putting in a weight bag to counter balance NVGs when night flying. Or can just put them in the garbage, either works.

[NRA4LIFE]

My sentiments Taco.  I've seen some real damage done by polymer tips in general when shot placement was not perfect.  Never used or loaded them myself.  But I'm a bit old school.  But, OH MY, I'm testing Bergers and Accubonds for this year.  I blame Jrebel.

[Taco280AI]

I've had great success with Accubonds. Now almost exclusively use the LRX and love them.

I've used soft, thin jacketed polymers in the past, but after having one blow about a foot size hole in the side of a quartering away deer, never used them again. Found nothing but fragments, no damage on the far side. Perfect broadside through ribs, no problem, but I'm not going to count on getting that perfect broadside shot. Had a similar shot with an Accubond and it broke about 5 ribs, went across the body, broke the off shoulder, then exited.

[hunter399]

I consider SST and nosler BT pretty much equal.
As is ELDX is to accubond.
These two company are at major competition.
That's just my opinion ,I've used all four that I mention above with success.

ELD-X is nothing like an AccuBond, fyi.

Your right ,totally different bullet design and construction.
But at the end of the day that's hornadys version,ect,ect, patant compliment of what they can do to compete with nosler.
Interlock rings,accubond, it's all patent protected,Of course these bullets are not same.
I get it ,accubond are the best,and most expensive ,and low supply high demand bullet. That's not to say the same harvest can't be done with other brands.
I still stick with it equal both have positive and negative of each other.
If it wasn't for the competition between Nosler,hornady,we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[jasnt]

I’ve shot the sst’s in 243 and used them for fireforming in my 338.  They are great if you want to blow coyotes almost in half! Shot a few deer with them and they do kill but man are they messy! Lots of blood shot. 

[headshot5]

123gr SST works great in 6.5 Grendel around 2500fps or less.  Any faster and it's a bit messy.  But at Grendel speeds it opens up and stays together like most cup and core bullets. 

[Bareback]

Shot two deer last year with 6.5 PRC 143 gr ELDX and have no complaints. Both shots entered the boiler maker, one exited lower shoulder. Shoulder meat was blood shot but really not worse than any other bone shot I’ve seen. 

This seems to be another Ford vs Chevy debate.

I shoot both and like both.

[theleo]

I consider SST and nosler BT pretty much equal.
As is ELDX is to accubond.
These two company are at major competition.
That's just my opinion ,I've used all four that I mention above with success.

ELD-X is nothing like an AccuBond, fyi.

Your right ,totally different bullet design and construction.
But at the end of the day that's hornadys version,ect,ect, patant compliment of what they can do to compete with nosler.
Interlock rings,accubond, it's all patent protected,Of course these bullets are not same.
I get it ,accubond are the best,and most expensive ,and low supply high demand bullet. That's not to say the same harvest can't be done with other brands.
I still stick with it equal both have positive and negative of each other.
If it wasn't for the competition between Nosler,hornady,we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The Nosler competition with the ELD-X is the Accubond Long Range. Oranges to oranges in their line ups, the direct competitor to the Accubond is Hornady's Interbond.

I doubt anyone will confuse the performance of the Interbond with that of the ELD-X just as Accubond fans won't confuse their performance with the Long Range version.

[jrebel]

My sentiments Taco.  I've seen some real damage done by polymer tips in general when shot placement was not perfect.  Never used or loaded them myself.  But I'm a bit old school.  But, OH MY, I'm testing Bergers and Accubonds for this year.  I blame Jrebel.

Accubonds are one of the best bullets on the market as for consistently devastating and accurate.  They don't dynamite (excluding AB LR's...garbage) and they don't destroy have the animal with blood shot....assuming you don't hammer shoulders on a regular basis. 

SST's, in my opinion are good for deer sized game or smaller and you do not want to hit big bones.  They dynamite and you run the risk of not getting good penetration.

I'm not a fan at all of the ELDX at all as I have seen extremely inconsistent performance.  Again...for deer sized game, probably plenty sufficient.  I have shot two moose and a bear with them and won't hunt with them again.  The accubonds on a moose....well that was pretty impressive.   

As for the bergers.....don't put that evil on me Ricky Bobby!!!  I steer clear of those debates. 

I will say that thus far the Hammer Hunters have proven to be very devastating on game.  I now load 4 rifles with them.  They are accurate, tough as nails, don't do a ton of meat damage and thus far have proven to be consistent.  Still only two kills, so the proof will be in the pudding this year.  We will be hunting with Hammer Hunters and Accubonds this year. 

Back to the original question......SST's have their place for deer sized game or smaller.  They are probably great for target practice.       

[HawkCreek]

I fired only one SST at an animal. From a pretty stock .30-06 a 165 grain bullet shouldnt have blown up on a coyote but that one did. BT's have never done that for me. My very limited experience with them says SST's are a much softer bullet that BT's and for me have no place in big game hunting.

[hunter399]

Since my last post...
I've loaded a bunch sst for the ar10 in 308.
Little lower velocity than a standard bolt gun.
If I use that for hunting than I'll find out.

[tgomez]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

[Dan-o]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

Is that a deer or a juvenile moose?

[tgomez]

Lol 🤣 that's why I shot him, he had a BIG BODY.

[hunter399]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

Said at the top you use SST
Then at the bottom it's GMX

SST is traditional cup and core ,red tip,interlock.
GMX is a solid copper of gliding solid copper bullet.
So which one do you use.
They might offer both in the Super performance line up,and they look exactly the same.
Two different bullets.

[HntnFsh]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

Is that a deer or a juvenile moose?

That buck is definitely a tank. Looks like its a good thing it didnt go over the hill. The SSTs obviously work well for you tgomez! Nice critters!

[hunter399]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

Is that a deer or a juvenile moose?

That buck is definitely a tank. Looks like its a good thing it didnt go over the hill. The SSTs obviously work well for you tgomez! Nice critters!

I agree ,nice animals ,looks like he is using the right bullet.

[tgomez]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

Said at the top you use SST
Then at the bottom it's GMX

SST is traditional cup and core ,red tip,interlock.
GMX is a solid copper of gliding solid copper bullet.
So which one do you use.
They might offer both in the Super performance line up,and they look exactly the same.
Two different bullets.

Yes I am aware they are two different bullets. I never said I use GMX, I said I would only buy GMX other than SST.

[tgomez]

I shoot Hornady Supeformance SST in 150 grain out of my Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range. I get 3,103 FPS and .82" groups at 100 yards. I shot a black bear at 370 yards and a Whitetail buck at 340 yards last fall. Anything I have shot with this round has died on impact, the rounds are devastating on game. I've shot them on steel targets out to 660 yards, they are fast and lazer accurate. I won't buy any other factory ammo now except Hornady Supeformance in GMX.

Is that a deer or a juvenile moose?

That buck is definitely a tank. Looks like its a good thing it didnt go over the hill. The SSTs obviously work well for you tgomez! Nice critters!

I agree ,nice animals ,looks like he is using the right bullet.

Thank you gentlemen. Yes, I didn't want him to make it back in the thick brush. The buck was feeding in a little opening just long enough to get prone and take a solid shot off of the bipod.