need input on honrady 165gr sst's

[BrowningBARguy]

I recently purchesed a box of hornady's 165gr sst custom ammunititon from fleetfarm at a great price. My Browning BAR (30-06)shoots dime size groups 100 yards gun)I love it. However there is alot of stories of lack of penetration some have found no internal locking ring to keep the bullet from seperating, some even think that its too soft for whitetails. Where I hunt here in north Minnesota shots are 100 yards or less and the deer I see range from 80lbs field dressed to 170lbs. Hornady says this is a deep penetrating bullet. But those who have used this I seek your personal stories and working knowlege of this round.

Thank you for your input

 

[Browninglover1]

I personally wouldn't hesitate to shoot deer with them. My buddy has shot the 165 grain SST Superformance load out of his 308 and it's performed wonderfully on coyotes and 3 mule deer does. That load out of his 308 should be shooting about the same velocity as your 06 custom loads. He had complete penetrations through all deer with shots ranging from 300 to 500 yards.

I've heard of some guys who have had bullet failures with the SST but I've seen Accubonds come completely apart on a cow elk shoulder and they supposedly "never" come apart. I think if you shot 100 deer with the SST you might see one or two bullet failures, but then again you might have none. Shoot em up.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

You heard one positive. Now I will respond with this. I used the SST in my 30-06 several years ago to shoot a mulie and one cow elk and shot the rest at the range because they were crap! The buck was quartering to me slightly at about 100 yards and I put the bullet right on the right front leg. The buck went down fine, but when I walked up to him he had an entry hole the size of a softball and no exit wound. The bullet blew up completely and nothing but fragments was found when I did a close examination during gutting. The cow elk was shot broadside at 125 yards right at nightfall off my camera tripod. She took off like nothing had happened and by the time I found her in the morning I had lost over half the meat because of warm weather. Of over 100 animals I've shot since I started hunting in 1953 that is the only animal I've had go over 25 yards and the only one I have ever lost meat from! The autopsy on her showed that I had hit her perfect and the bullet had blown up completely on the near side rib. The near lung was a mess, but there was absolutely no penetration beyond that point. I immediately changed to their BTSP in both my 30-06s and my 25-06 that I use for antelope and have shot about a dozen animals with them and will never go to another bullet. Every animal has been dropped in it's tracks with one shot with them at distances of 100+ to 311 yards with great penetration and bullet expansion. I would throw those SSTs at paper targets and go to the SP or BTSP bullets in a heartbeat if I were you. This buck was shot at 174 yards in Wyoming this year with a handload 150 grain BTSP using 59.7 grains of IMR 4350 in a pre64 Model 70 and the shot cut his heart in half and he never twitched. I also shot a doe antelope for meat at 125 yards with my Ruger M77 using the same powder (50 grains) and a 117 grain BTSP. The shot was broadside through the lungs and she took one step and down for the count.

 

[Browninglover1]

Topgun,

I've heard the BTSP and the SST's shoot to very similar points of impact. Have you found this to be true?

Sorry you had back luck on two animals. Were you shooting the 165 SST's when you had bullet failure? It makes me wonder if different lots are tougher than others, or why some people have no problems with the same bullets shooting lots of animals and others claim perfect bullet performance on all the animals they've shot.

I personally know people who refuse to shoot Bergers at big game due to bullet failure they've experienced on multiple animals, but all animals I've shot with them have been DRT. It confuses the hell out of me as to why some guys have good luck with a certain bullet, and others experience nothing but trouble.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I have found that they shoot to almost the same POI and so do the Interbonds that are the go to bullet for elk IMHO! I was using 150s on both the animals I mentioned because I couldn't get 165s at the time and just stayed with the 150s with great performance. I would probably go up to the 165 or maybe the 180 Interbond in my 30-06 if I ever decide to shoot another elk. I think part of what you have mentioned is the distances the animals are being shot. It seems that the SSTs may be best for long distance shots at maybe 300 yards or more where the velocity is slowing down some and allows the bullet to penetrate and expand while at shorter distances they seem to explode violently when the velocity is a lot higher. That is the only explanation I can come up with to explain why some love them and why I had such poor performance at shorter ranges with them. Anyway, I have enough SPs and BTSPs in both calibers now to reload them for the rest of my life because I like them so well for all ranges and sizes of animals!!!

 

[Scot E]

Many shooters have a real hard time understanding the design of particular bullets. SST's are not controlled expansion bullets. The polymer tip opens them up very quickly by design. Therefore you should not be aiming at the point of the shoulder. But if you use traditional aiming points, or take a high shoulder shot you will be just fine. They are a very good bullet IMO and shoot very well in my 30-06 also. My son shot a nice mule deer buck this year with the 150 grain SST's. At 200 yards the bullet impacted right behind the near shoulder leaving a small entry hole and breaking a rib on the way in. It penetrated completely leaving about a 1 inch hole through the offside shoulder. The lungs were mush.

If you are one of those hunters that can wait and pick their shot then you will be very happy with SST's. If however yo are one of those that has to instantly shoot regardless of shot angle, etc then you will be more happy with a controlled expansion bullet that will get good penetration through bone and long angled shots.

HTH,

Scot E.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Excuse me Mr. Expert, but Hornady touts their SST for both rapid expansion AND deep penetration. That is why I believe what I stated in my last post may be correct as far as how they react at various distances. Incidentally, if I shouldn't have shot that buck with them where I did, why would I want to shoot him high on the shoulder where there is still a lot of bone? Also, with over 50 years shooting big game and never having lost an animal that I shot, I don't think I need to hear from you that I didn't know what I was doing and should have more patience to wait for the perfect shot, LOL!!!

 

[Scot E]

Excuse me Mr. Expert, but Hornady touts their SST for both rapid expansion AND deep penetration. That is why I believe what I stated in my last post may be correct as far as how they react at various distances. Incidentally, if I shouldn't have shot that buck with them where I did, why would I want to shoot him high on the shoulder where there is still a lot of bone? Also, with over 50 years shooting big game I don't think I need to hear that I didn't know what I was doing and should have more patience to wait for the perfect shot, LOL!!!

I think you may be referring to my response? If so I would like to clarify that nothing that I said was directed toward anyone's post to this thread. If I was responding to you I would have quoted your post, which I did not. I only read the OP and was posting my comments based on the information the OP had gotten regarding the SST's, that's it.

You may want to take a deep breath right now! Doesn't that feel better.

In response to your question. There is a big difference in bone density and strength when you compare the leg bone/shoulder joint and the blade of the shoulder. They aren't even comparable.

Also, I make assumptions that guys asking questions on this site are wanting answers based on LRH experience not point blank or traditional hunting shots. However, I do realize that as more and more folks join this forum that concept seems to be getting lost. For the LR game, for me that means 600 yards and beyond, I really like the SST in many cartridges. I am mostly a 1/2 mile and under hunter and that bullet will do well in many cases. And I have had good success with them at closer ranges as well, hence the story I offered.

I too like Hornady's BTSP. I have killed more animals with them than all the other bullets I use put together. I just wish they had a better BC for the LR game.

Scot E.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Dang right I was referring to you and your post in reference to comments I made and I don't need to take any deep breaths! This is from your post referring to MY aiming point on the buck I mentioned: "Therefore you should not be aiming at the point of the shoulder". Then you ended with comments stating if a person can wait for the proper shot the SSTs are fine. That again, whether you posted it as a quote or not, was meant for me and don't say it wasn't. Also, the thread is not talking about 600+ yard long range shots or it would have been placed in that Forum! I am hear to learn along with everyone, but at 64 years old and having hunted since I was 6 and big game hunting for a good 50 years I don't need to be talked down to and that's what your post sounded like to me. Sorry if it wasn't, but it sure looks like it!

 

[Scot E]

Dang right I was referring to you and your post in reference to comments I made and I don't need to take any deep breaths! This is from your post referring to MY aiming point on the buck I mentioned: "Therefore you should not be aiming at the point of the shoulder". Then you ended with comments stating if a person can wait for the proper shot the SSTs are fine. That again, whether you posted it as a quote or not, was meant for me and don't say it wasn't. Also, the thread is not talking about 600+ yard long range shots or it would have been placed in that Forum! I am hear to learn along with everyone, but at 64 years old and having hunted since I was 6 and big game hunting for a good 50 years I don't need to be talked down to and that's what your post sounded like to me. Sorry if it wasn't, but it sure looks like it!

Friend,

I don't know how much clearer I can be. I only read the post by the person that started this thread and responded. I didn't read your post before posting. Maybe you have a guilty conscience? Ok, ok, I am just joking! Hitting the front leg, joint and lower shoulder bone is going to give almost any non-controlled expansion bullet the potential for problems. That is why I mentioned it. Sorry if it hit a nerve.

And FYI this entire site is about LRH (long range hunting), ie longrangehunting.com, so it doesn't matter which sub-category it is in they all in theory should be related to LRH. Having said that I realize there seems to be hundreds of sub-categories now so maybe the line is getting blurred.

I realize the OP stated he shoots shorter distances. This is the reason I shared a story of shooting a deer at closer ranges instead of the many others I could have used at further distances.

Sorry you found my attempt to help the OP lacking and think my only real intent was to belittle you. Neither were my intention.

Scot E.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Whatever, but it seems a little funny that you specifically mentioned what I had stated in my post if you didn't even read it! Same goes with some of the other comments made if you didn't read the other member's posts, but only the OP like you stated. Anyway, if the SST is supposed to be a bullet that will penetrate deeply like Hornady claims, it's amazing how many people have come on various hunting sites stating the bullet blew up with little or no penetration at all regardless of whether it hit bone of just flesh. It would seem that if they want the polymer tip to initiate immediate expansion like it does that it would only be offered in a varmint grain or varmint calibers. Peace Bro!!!

 

[BrowningBARguy]

wow, lots of feed back, all of it good thanks, sounds like a may want to look into the btsp a little more . im sorry if i started an argument but i think i posted my shooting range is 100 yards (i got bad eyes) and the woodlots here dont allow for much more than that unless i get to a power line right of way.
thank you everyone for shared comments

Tom

 

[ejg]

Only used the 165 sst's out of a 308. Shot a few deer with them. My take, they do not really behave any different to the 168 a-max. The A-max is more accurate out of my rifle. The 165 sst is fairly soft which is great also for longer ranges but might create a problem on shorter ranges or higher speeds especially hitting some bone on entry. Just choose the spot you put the bullet into......if one can.
I cut open a few bullets just to see how they look inside.
left to right. Hornady 150gr interlock, 150gr Nos BT, 155a-max, 165sst,
165 nos bt, 190gr SMK

165 sst after going through head and traveling down the spine of a sika stag.

Entry and exit wound on this spike where equally sized. Shot was 90yds off hand and went a bit too far back. The spike was being chased by a dog earlier and very alert. Dropped on the spot. 165sst.

edi

 

[BrowningBARguy]

thanks ejg for the pictures, worth a 1000 words.