I didn't quite read through the entire thread but I have had some experience with the 30 cal SST's. From my experience they do tend to "explode" on impact. My dad hit a coyote with a 300 WSM at about 100-150 yards and the bullet didn't even go all the way through the animal. Granted it was a BIG coyote but I've hit coyotes with a 300 WSM 180 gr Accubond at 250 yards that went through.
That being said, the expenditure of the bullet's energy definitely was taken out on the animal. I would say anything less than 300 yards an SST would be fine if you're accurate with it. The SST is pretty neat, especially since it expands so well at low velocities. That's the one bad thing about the solid copper bullets is that you need speed to get them to open up.
I've killed many elk and deer with good old 180gr Speer spire point flat base bullets though out of a 30/06!
The key obviously is accuracy. No matter how much you want to use a bullet if it doesn't shoot from your rifle then it's useless. I REALLY wanted to use Sciroccos out of my 300 WSM but I couldn't group them well enough to use it. I have a great load for 168 gr Barnes TTSX's that I'm going to use this year. I've heard GREAT things about them.
Also, I'm not sure why a lot of guys are so amped up about Bergers. I'd try them if I didn't have to buy 100 bullets just to see if I like them or not. There's WAY too many good bullets out there to throw money after them. If I want a super duper BC I'd buy some custom rounds.
