Anybody had good luck with Hornady SST in .30 caliber?
- Thread starter ROVERBOY
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They're basically interlocks with a plastic tip. Should expand violently. Should fly just a bit flatter since the bc is better but depends on what you mean by outperform. Basically Hornady's version of a ballistic tip.
Lone Hunter
Well-Known Member
I've always had better accuracy with the Interlock's than with the SST's. In any caliber the Interlock has always shot better than the SST. Other people may have better results than me though.
I was thinking maybe they are a little deeper penetrating than Interlocks. But, I was wrong. Everything I've heard about Ballistic tips are that they are bombs.
The varmint ballistic tips are light jacketed and fragment easily.
Hunting ballistic tips are quite different.
Like any cup and core bullet a ballistic tip will come apart if the impact velocity is too high.
The overall construction is just like interlocks. Just with a plastic tip vs exposed lead. The tip helps initiate expansion and probably causes them to expand more violently.
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All around, it's hard to beat an interlock. Same type construction as a rem corloc. Hornady used to label the BTSP. In my experience, the 308 shines with 165gr projectiles and a stiff load of Varget.
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Grizzly Johnson
Well-Known Member
I never have used them much but in my 06s 150gr 56-57 grs H414/760 did well.
Recently some 180s with IMR4451 did better than AB 2ns might take to field despite not a full work up..Will continue as time allows after season. The Abs hovering around 1 inch the only sst fired 2 through same hole.. didnt have time to fire the 3rd one. Tightest that one rifle has shot in a long time. Throat is worn bad.Might be some life left in it..
8x57 170 6.5 staball lights out
Recently some 180s with IMR4451 did better than AB 2ns might take to field despite not a full work up..Will continue as time allows after season. The Abs hovering around 1 inch the only sst fired 2 through same hole.. didnt have time to fire the 3rd one. Tightest that one rifle has shot in a long time. Throat is worn bad.Might be some life left in it..
8x57 170 6.5 staball lights out
I can't tell any difference in performance, between the SST's and interlocks. Accuracy is about the same. I reload both over 4064 and have only ever lost one deer and had to look for one other. Usually they are DRT, which is my measure of performance.
These results are only for deer, the occasional coyote and one exploding armadillo.
These results are only for deer, the occasional coyote and one exploding armadillo.
Do they exit with a shoulder shot?
I have only used them in 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 Grendel. Factory ammo only. Devastating results on deer with both cartridges.
Creek bottoms
Well-Known Member
165s shoot great out of my 308. I've killed multiple coyotes and bobcats, but no deer. I wouldn't hesitate on a big one though.
FLTENNHUNTER1
Well-Known Member
Never had an issue with SST's in my 308. Factory and handloaded 150 grain.
Yes and leave a good blood trail, but caveat that with where I hunt 150 yards is a long shot. Typical shots are under 100 for me given how thick everything is.
Union Co. Boy
Well-Known Member
Buddy and I have used them for years in the 117 grain Superformance .25-06. Extremely accurate and always DRT or a very short blood trail. Usually drop within sight. Only had a couple that weren't complete pass throughs. Those recovered were pretty violently expanded, so not the most beautiful and uniform mushroom, but I have no complaints. We've recorded kills from 35 yds out to 197 yds. Several kids have used these gun/round combos with great results.
Hornady custom 308 150 sst ammo has worked really well in all the rifles ive tried and deer dont complain
east_tn_gk
Well-Known Member
Have used the SST's in .260 & 30-06, very lethal with massive wounds. Depending on how far you shoot, the SST may shoot flatter at longer range b/c of bc as mentioned above. I have also found the old style cup and core penetrate and expand slower than the ballistic tips.
