Bullet failure?

[hendog]

I shot a forked horned blacktail @ 100yds with a .308 Hornady 165 hornady SST. Hit him facing me where the neck meets his chest. bullet traveled 24" then hit mid way in the ribs.

I found the bullet complete jacket with no lead core in the ribs. The buck dropped in his tracks.

I have killed 3 other bucks with this bullet and all exited. I think this works OK for deer, but would not think of using on Elk. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well I do not know what to tell ya man ...my son just shot his Muley at about 150 with a 25-06 ( 117gr ) hornaday SST and it dropped like a bad habit .... hit behind the shoulder going forward into his neck ...night night ... very little blood shot meat but I did find pieces of the bullet here and there but it did a good job for such a light bullet ....just check out the blood which was coming out his nose !!!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

You can see where he hit it ....to the left of his scope ...never took one step !

[BULLBLASTER]

Can you explain how 24inches of penetration and a dead deer is a bullet failure? Sounds like it did.its job to me.

[hillbilli]

good expansion, lots of damage, 24" penetration.. hard to beat performance for a deer bullet.. if it penetrated 24" on your elk... create a mental picture of the shot that this is not enough penetration for... If you need a tougher bullet remember the accubond is the same profile, weight, shape, usable with the same load data.. but tougher..

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Here ya go.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,86313.msg1081777.html#msg1081777

[hendog]

I already planed on using Hornady's 165gn interbond for larger game than deer. Just dont like jacket/core seperation, but will continue to use SST on deer size game. The BC (.447)  &  SD (.248) is the same for the 165gn SST & interbond.

Here is my load: .308win  Federal match brass, Federal match LR primer, max load of Hodgon's varget powder. I get 3/4"  three shot groups @ 100yds.     

[Huntbear]

Accubond are some tough bullets.

My buddy shot his 4x4 bull at 20 yds. this year with a 225 gr. accubond out of a .338 WM.  The elk dropped where he stood, lung blood gushing out his mouth and nose.  Bullet never exited.  That elk died as fast as if you had cut his throat.  So did that bullet fail? 

[Biggerhammer]

Bullet failure!  LMAO!  The buck dropped in his tracks. Doesn't seam that bullet could have killed him any quicker, if it failed in your mind because it didn't exit? The I have 15- 20 stone cold dead Mulies, two which are on the wall that were all killed by a bullet that failed. . A little more time in the field and a few more animals and it will all come together for you.

[thinkingman]

OP,
I get what you're saying...it doesn't inspire confidence, especially if you're considering elk, when the bullet comes apart like that.
I like solid copper Barnes and partition bullets like Swift A-Frame.
Bonding is fine, solid metal is finer.

[hendog]

"I get what you're saying...it doesn't inspire confidence, especially if you're considering elk"

I can see why your handle is Thinkingman

[Huntbear]

Now.. SST bullets are not my favorite.... the 117 gr. in my .257 Bob, actually exploded at 35 yds. on a forked horn buck this year.. still he dropped where he stood..  so did that bullet fail?

[Biggerhammer]

Several Mulies I have shot with a .257 Arnold Magnum used the 100gr Nosler BT. dropped right where they stood, the one at 300 yards sounded like you slapped him on the arse with a boat paddle upon impact ( LOUD!!). I only found pieces of bullet and even the blue tip. In no what do I consider the bullet a failure in any way. I chose the bullet for the caliber and the game and conditions I would be shooting. If your looking for a all around caliber bullet combo, deer, elk, bear etc. Then you need to make a change on your bullet, cartridge and or both. I like to mix it up, I like to use a different cartridge almost every year. Sure I have my tried and trues in the safe but I like to mix it up.

[Biggerhammer]

Wrong button!

[Atroxus]

I don't see how that could be considered a bullet failure. Do you really want end to end penetration when shooting a deer head on? I can only presume that the 3 deer you shot where the bullets exited were at angles other than straight on. I can't see how anyone would consider 24" of penetration inadequate regardless of what condition the bullet is in unless you are hunting dangerous game in africa, or are the the habit of taking "texas heartshots". Do you really think an elk shot with the same bullet/angle/shot placement would be any less dead? I don't, but thats just my .