Hornady SST saboted bullets (250 grain copper)

[RobinHoodlum]

Haven't posted on here for a while, so here goes...

Does anyone here use these muzzy bullets who can share personal experience regarding performance in actual hunting scenarios?

 Here's my dilemma, I've used these as a cheaper option for sighting in and target practice and they shoot great out of my muzzy. They actually group better than my preferred Barnes round or the Knight Bloodlines. However, the reviews I've read regarding performance are not great. The main issue being failure to expand. For this reason, I've never hunted with them.

Hoping someone here can share info to inform whether I should consider pivoting to these or just stick with what I've been doing.

Any informed input is appreciated!

[huntnnw]

they will never be used on elk in my guns again. Shot extremely well tho. I called a spike bull into 33 yards broadside and my wife drilled the elk right in the crease behind the shoulder the bull almost dropped but regained balance and stood there as we reloaded I could see blood coming from the shot as it walked off. I told her that bull is dead. We wait 45 min and take up trail and notice theres no exit blood and not very much blood. We jumped it 400 yards later to never be seen again. I know that bullet never made it to the offside lung as it woulda been dead quickly and the only bone that bullet hit woulda been a rib. I fully believe that bullet blew up or pancaked on impact. If i had used a Barnes that bull is done.

[greenhead_killer]

Similar story as huntnw. Shot a cow in 2016. She did a full flip and down. Popped right back up, jumped over a downed log and took off. There was one chew can sized blood patch on the log where she went over, then nothing. Vandeman came up to help track and we spent 7.5 hours up and down the mountain looking for anything. Never found her or any other sign.  I don’t think it was a fatal hit. We worked our asses off looking. Went back the next few days looking/listening for birds and not a peep. I switched to harvester brand and have been very happy with those

[Kingofthemountain83]

I used them for a bit and took a few elk and some deer... I never lost an elk with them... But I always broke the neck or hit their diaphragm and lungs so they didn't move very much or fast... But their performance after wasn't what I was expecting from Hornady... I love their stuff... Way better than Powerbelts still imo... But their Monoflex is better...  It's a monolithic... Expands and penetrates... Actually leaves blood trails with lung hit elk... They come in 250 and 300 gr... They are easy to load in my Wolverine and X-150... Very accurate as well...

[RobinHoodlum]

Thanks for the info guys! Confirms what I had previously read. Will stick with what's been working.

[Kingofthemountain83]

Thanks for the info guys! Confirms what I had previously read. Will stick with what's been working.

What's been working for you? Please tell... I've tried a few... Lost a few elk to Powerbelts opening on impact... I fell to the hype... But took quite a few with them as well on perfect occasions and one rare not... They aren't an elk bullet... They are a whitetail bullet... Unless you get the dangerous game ones... I actually prefer the 370 gr maxi ball out of the Hawken for penetration on elk... Blows through them... At all angles with bone in the way for a bit... 

[headshot5]

We use the 300gr SST's, and they work fine for elk.  Generally the bullet is pushed up against the hide on the exit side.  I'd say 250's are to light.   

[RobinHoodlum]

I tinkered with many bullets and charges when I got into muzzy about 10-ish years ago. As stated, those SSTs group slightly better than anything else. But what I've landed on for hunting is the Barnes TMZs in 250 grain (with 100 -110 grains of loose powder).

For both deer and elk, this load has been devastating. The copper petals peel back perfectly to form a wider surface area and each petal edge forms a sharp cutting surface. How do I know? They stay 100% intact most of the time and don't always pass completely through. I've recovered a few in the off side shoulder, neck, against the hide, etc.

Accuracy is only reason I circled back to the Hornady SST. They somehow just seem more consistent/less 'touchy'?

[HntnFsh]

You mean like the one in my avatar. And a couple others I have recovered!

[RobinHoodlum]

Yes, exactly like that HntnFish!

I also use a Barnes copper bullet in my rifle (TTSX) for bear. Same results except that they more inner to mm pass through and may loose a petal or two. 100% Lethal

[Kingofthemountain83]

The Monoflex looks like that too after... Will lose petals if you hit harder than rib bone... But keep busting through...