Hornady SST bullets

[YoteSmoker]

Has anyone had a bad experience using these bullets? Have you found Ballistic Tip bullets to work better on deer?

 

[corbin9191]

I have used both of them and I would go with the nosler BT any day. THe SST does not hold together and everytime I have used them I have had jacket/core seperation. just my $.02

 

[TBASTIAN]

I lost a four point mulie a few years back, when the bullets first came out. I was using a .30-06 with 165 grain SST's. The shot was on the front shoulder, and the buck was last seen two ridges over from where I shot him, going strong, by a hunting partner of mine. It made me sick to lose such a nice buck.

I also witnessed a near loss with a friend on whitetails in Idaho. He was shooting a .308 with 150 grain SST's. We jumped a nice 8 point which he shot right on the front shoulder. The bullet didn't penetrate more that an inch or two and exploded. We tracked the deer for close to 1.5 miles before finally jumping him again...two bullets later he finally expired.

I've seen the bullet in action twice and will NEVER use them again for anything but punching paper. They've been extremely accurate for me, but they're marginal at best for hunting.

 

[SJB358]

I guess I am the twist, I load the 150gr SST in my wifes 308 with Varget and I use a medium load that pushes them at 2850. It shoots through deer, and has taken a medium size (200lb) black bear at about 75 yards. They are decently accurate, and seem to hold together well at 308 speeds. I am sure they would be very explosive if pushed over 3K, but then again, so would the BT's. I would like to switch to BT's or Accubonds, but I have a bunch loaded and a bunch still on the bench. I would use them on any deer without fear, but again, just my experiences with them. Scotty

 

[wildman]

I use the 139sst a bunch in one of my 280 rem. never had a problem shooting through deer with them .Most of the time it's a bang flop kinda deal with lots of red mist on the ground ..Geo.. :grin:

 

[Divernhunter]

They have worked well for me. Actually better than the BT bullet. I still prefer PAR bullets or the Bonded bullets.

 

[Desert Fox]

I load them for my 308 and 280 at one time. The accuracy is comparable with Ballistic Tip but never had a chnce to shoot any thing with it. A friend though used it in his 308 on California muleys with great success. I believe he use the 165 grain.

 

[lefty315]

Before the AccuBond came out they were my only load for my .30-06. I used a 180 grain SST to take several Whitetails and and Antelope. I only recovered one bullet, a frontal shot on a doe that traveled the entire length of the deer ending up under the hide on a back quarter. Still have the bullet, it retained 61% of its weight. The range was 40 yards, so I guess that is as close to muzzle velocity as it gets. I did switch to the AccuBond and have been extremely happy, but I would not hesitate to use the SST if your rifle likes them.

 

[YoteSmoker]

I've been working with 140 AccuBond in my 7mm08 Encore rfile. So far I have it grouping right at 1" with IMR4350 and Fed210M. I will try seating the bullets in and out a bit and may try a WLR primer. If that doesn't work I'll give Varget a try next.

I was just thinking that the 139 SST might be a decent substitute with 2800 FPS muzzle velocity on the game I would hunt with this rifle. I'll try working more with the AccuBond but if I can't get it to group more to my liking, I think I may give the SST or BTSP Interlock a try.

 

[SJB358]

I would try the SST's. I have had great luck with them and they are cousins to the BT's. I like them, and the Interbonds and would shoot more of the HDY bullets if I could get seconds like I can with Noslers. I really like the 130gr HDY Interbond in my 270WSM. Scotty

 

[cloverleaf]

Only SST's Ive shot have been in 12 gauge slugs. :wink: got no complaints really. Made poor shots on my deer last year so I had a "runner" and a tenderloin shot. Neither was an impressive bang flop but I will atteribute that to operator error. They are cheaper than the barnes expanders loaded in the federal premiums. CL

 

[JD338]

I've been working with 140 AccuBond in my 7mm08 Encore rfile. So far I have it grouping right at 1" with IMR4350 and Fed210M. I will try seating the bullets in and out a bit and may try a WLR primer. If that doesn't work I'll give Varget a try next.

I was just thinking that the 139 SST might be a decent substitute with 2800 FPS muzzle velocity on the game I would hunt with this rifle. I'll try working more with the AccuBond but if I can't get it to group more to my liking, I think I may give the SST or BTSP Interlock a try.

Yote

Take a look at RL 19 with 48.0 grs and IMR 4064 with 42.0 grs too. :wink:
Work up.

JD338

 

[YoteSmoker]

Jim, thanks for the advice on other powders. Unfortunately at this time I don't have either but I do have some H4895 that might be worth trying as well.

Having worked up loads using 140 ballistic tips or accubonds in 3 other Encore barrels, they all shot 3/4" or less with 46 grains IMR 4350. I seated the bullets to 2.825"....figured that was a good starting point in this 4th barrel. It looks like I may be wrong after running the stoney point oal gage in the barrel last night, it looks as though mine is shorter throated than even the book max of 2.800". I am play with shorter seating depths to start as there is a good chance that is where the problem lies. I see that Hornady recommends an oal of 2.755" with their SST or Interbond, which is only .001 difference in BC compared to the BT or AB. I'm not sure of the difference in Ogive measurements, as I do not have any hornady bullets to compare. My plan is to load up rounds from 2.740 to 2.800 in .010" difference 3 shot groups and see If I can't get it to shoot under an inch that way. If not, I will then try different powder combos with whatever seating depth worked the best with the IMR4350 test loads. Wish me luck. If you all have any suggestions that may be better than my halfwhitted idea, please let me know. I'm hoping to get to the range tomorrow to see how things work out. I realize most guys would probably be half way pleased with 1" groups but I'm anal when it comes to accuracy or at least trying ring things out.

 

[Divernhunter]

In my Tikka T3 Lite RL19(49grs) did poorly as for speed. I only got 2590FPS and with win factory ammo 140gr I got 2680FPS. I got the following with these loads using a 140 gr Nosler PAR bullet..
49gr Win760-2830FPS
45gr Win748-2816FPS
43.5gr IMR4895- 2779FPS
43.5gr IMR4064-2752FPS
42.5gr Varget-2722FPS
41gr IMR4895-2697FPS
47.5gr Win760-2682FPS
46gr IMR4350-2657FPS
49gr RL19-2590FPS
40gr Win748-2438FPS

Using a 120gr Nosler BT bullets I got the following.
52gr Win760-3012FPS
45gr Varget-3039FPS
46.5gr Win748-3004FPS
46.5gr BL-(C)2-2980FPS
44.5gr IMR4064-2976FPS
51gr Win760-2956FPS
43gr IMR4895-2851FPS

Win factory 140gr loads were 2680FPS

 

[Polaris]

I've shot 3 deer with them, my wife one deer. Mine were shot with a .280 rem 154gr SSt, my wife's in .308 win with the 150 grain slug. One of my deer was a large doe shot broadside in the lungs. Bullet expanded in cavity, wrecked organs and left large exit hole... perfect. Second deer was shot in the neck at the base of skull. Bullet detonated, killing deer instantly and blowing large chunks of hide, meat and bone away. The problem comes in with the 3rd deer. This one absorbed 3 body cavity hits at 110-50 yards with this bullet before dropping. First bullet hit just forward of diaphram quartered through front of liver and into one lung and stopped. Second hit just behind shoulder broadside and fragmented on rib, failed to penetrate lungs. 3rd bullet hit frontside shoulder and didn'nt penetrate front shoulder but still dropped deer from shock. Largest piece of bullet I recovered was a separated jacket with a bit of lead weighing ~25 grains. The deer my wife shot was hit in the back edge of the front shoulder, bullet fragmented and wrecked the heart leaving large entrance wound, no exit. All 3 deer were recovered and would have died shortly without the follow up shots, but I will no longer use these bullets. They seem to come apart if any heavy muscle or dense organ is hit. They also destroy a lot of meat. I have reverted to conventional SPs e.g. the Speer mag tip. If I wanted a longer range bullet, I would look into the AccuBond or Hor. Interbond.

I used to love the Nosler 150 gr "solid base" BTSP in .308. Wish they still made those

 

[YoteSmoker]

Thanks guys. I'm commited to making these accubonds tighten up for me. I've heard of no bad reports of the 140 AccuBond and 7mm08 on antelope to elk. For a 300 yard or closer animal, I'm sure they would work just fine. I'm just on a quest to tighten up the groups a bit and I think I will find it. I've got time over the winter to figure it out. I truly will try my damndest to make these bullets work...think i was just rushing things before my math class begins...as I know i will need to devote time to that as well so I can finish out my degree. Funny how that is the last class i need....I suck at Algebra! I'm breathing through a paper bag and life is good now! LOL

 

[YoteSmoker]

I was actually on Bivwak and the Nosler site earlier today hoping I'd find a 140 solid base bullet available....to no avail. I figured that would be a good all around general use bullet....not too thrilled that Sierra, Hornady, and Speer dont have a solid base available in any of their offerings. I love Nosler bullets for my big game loads and Hornady for varmint hunting!

 

[Polaris]

You're grouping right at 1" with a bullet intended for big game hunting, IMHO you're only splitting hairs trying to get tighter. Save your money for beer. Work up a bullet with similar BC and velocity that is cheaper to shoot (the SST may be perfect here) and play with that one at the range. 1MOA equals 4" at 400 yards which is past the range you should be poking at any big game animal with a 7mm-08. The Speer 145 HPBT match bullet might be a fun one to play with too. In my .280, I get better accuracy with 150-160 gr bullets. As an added note, that 154 SSt is pure hell on varmints from my .280. Shot a couple of chucks this summer and a coyote... poof...

 

[Bigfoot]

I bought a box of 150 gr SSTs the other day and they are still sitting on the bench. I knew they were on the soft side but not as bad as I've read here.

I need a high BC 150 gr bullet for a medium velocity deer load at 2600-2700 fps. Think the SST will hold up at that velocity?

I thought the NBT liked to lose cores at low velocity and the A-Bond might be too much bullet. I see that the Speer BTSP is still on my wish list.

 

[SJB358]

I think you will have great performance at that speed with the SST. I like them shot under 3k and they are doing very well for us. Try em, I think you will like what happens. Scotty