.277 / 130 SST impact speeds

[Northwest Cajun]

Hi guys...
At what speed does the 130gr .277 SST reliably expand on game?

I'm loading it in a 6.8 spc and the muzzle veloicity is only 2300-2400 fps.

My limit on game shots are 250yds or less, the bullet should still be traveling 1900fps +/-

Will it still work?



As an experiment... I removed red polimer tip on a few of my reloads to get more clearence in the magazine of my AR-15, will that dramatically decrease the expansion?

 

[Ol` Joe]

Give Hornady a call or drop them a e-mail I`m sure they can give exactly what you want and there will be no guessing or assuming by others.
Tech line; 800-338-3220

 

[GooseGestapo]

Unfortunately, most of the Hornady bullets have been changed in the last few years because of the proliferation of "super mags". (not a derision, just a fact as I own a couple, too). In years past (pre ~1990's) I had great luck with them in .224 ", .257",and .308".
Since then, all my "bullet failures" have mostly been "Hornady's". Either in-flight jacket separations (.257" in 1993; quality control issue) or failure to expand (.338" 200grSpt in 2003, or 7mm- .284" in 2005).
I found that the Hornady 140gr SST's much too hard for shooting deer with my 7mm-08.

I was running them to about 2,750fps and lost 3 of 4 deer I've shot with them. The one deer I did collect was shot in the top of the neck at 45yds while facing me with head down. Neck was penetrated, and expaned bullet (what little it expanded) exited the sternum (breast bone) leaving a 7mm diameter hole and smaller exitwound to the skin. Fortunately deer was DRT, as there was no external bleeding evident (reason I lost the other 3 broadside lung shot deer).

I think that you'll find the Nosler Ballistic Tips to be a bit more fragile and reliable expanding. Just looking at the width of the plastic tip where it meats the jacket will indicate such is probably the case.

I'd stick with the Sierra 110gr bullet for most purposes you'll have for the 6.8SPC.
Possibly the Remington 130 CorLokt if shooting at closer ranges where optimum accuracy might not be needed.