Hornady SST Info

[TenDriver]

I was blessed with what I believe are some 130 grain Hornady SSTs for my .270 Winchester (Thank you TecWrench!!). The bullets are red ballistic tipped, cannelured, with small score lines running the length of the jacket stopping before the cannelure.

Has anyone used these on whitetail? I hunt over green patches with the farthest shot I would generally take being between 70-150 yards. I've read reviews on this bullet that go both directions, several people saying they had walk offs with a blood trail, and a few DRT shots. In a nutshell, does anyone have any hunting experience with this bullet? Hornady lists their factory ammo as going 3200 fps at the muzzle. Does this bullet do well going slower, if so, how much slower.

Any insight is appreciated, and thank you again, TecWrench for the bullets!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

It's a good whitetail bullet.
I've killed 2 deer with the 165 grain variety out of a .30-06 and had good results both times. One was an 80 yd broadside shot with a pass through that was DRT.
The other was about 60 yds, quartering away. The bullet hit mid way in the abdomen and came to rest just under the hide at the opposite shoulder. It ran about 30 yds and piled up dead.
I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Hope this helps.

 

[jmr40]

SST's have a reputation for rapid expansion and quick kills. They are probably a very good choice for whitetails. If they have a fault it could be too much expansion too fast, especialy at close range with lighter bullets when they are going fast. I'd say they are a better long range bullet because they may actually work better after they are going a little slower.

I'd not hesitate to use them on deer at any range. Probably not the best choice for larger game where deeper penetration may be required, but they would still work as long as you put the bullet in the lungs.

 

[TenDriver]

Think they would do better going slower?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The expansion will be more controlled at lower velocities and more violent at higher ones.
It depends on what you're looking for. If you want spectacular, drop them in their tracks performance, push them fast. The bullet that expands violently is the way to go. If you want to ruin the least amount of meat possible and don't mind them running 50-75 yds, push them a little slower. I don't like to track them, so I bump them up close to max.

 

[TenDriver]

Gotcha. Thanks. I think I had it backwards.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't think I've ever hunted with them, but they have been great regarding accuracy from my .270's.

GS

 

[balderclev]

I've killed a lot of deer from 30 yds out to 300 yds with 150 SST factory loads in my 308. I shoot high shoulder and very seldom have had one do anything but drop. I did have to track one for about 30 yds once with a double lung shot. The key with the SST is to always make sure to hit a bone.

I've made up some 125 gr SST that I will hunt with this year.