Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 308 win with 165 sst suitable for elk?

I am planning an elk hunt for 2017. I plan to carry my 308 win rifle. I have a decent shootinget load that uses 165 gr hornady sst bullets. I know it isn't a bonded bullet, but is it sufficient? It's not a big deal to find and buy something else, but I'd figure I'd ask seeing how I have a lot of them on hand. If the sst isn't good enough, what else can you recommend?

Bull or cow? The SST is not known as a "tough" bullet, generally. It is not seen in the same company as, say, Partitions, TSX's, A Frames, and the like. I'm sure it's fine with well placed shots on cows, but I'd want something a good bit more solidly constructed if going after big ol bulls. Keep in mind that Murphy's law can, and does, kick in. Mr Murphy loves elk hunting too....prepare for less than optimal shots, etc.

Best of luck to you on your hunt.

The 308 Win is pretty gentle on bullets, and your 165 SST will work just fine. Having said that, I like Nosler's 165 or 168 Ballisitic Tip better (I think they're harder bullets than the SST), or better yet a 165 Accubond or Partition.

Bull.... hopefully. I tried the partitions awhile back, and couldn't get them to shoot very well out of my rifle using RL15. I have done some work to the rifle since, so I may try them again. I still have a few laying around I think.

I use 180 grain Hornady interlock out of my 30/06 on a bunch of elk. I'm sure 165 grain interlock out of you 308 will kill them just as well.

It would be one of my last choices. I shot the 139 grain SST's out of my .280 for years on blacktails and some hogs. Very accurate but explosive on entry with angle shots. I've switched to Barnes in that rifle for deer and am shooting up my remaining 140 and 160 grain TB Bear Claws for elk.
I've shot elk with Accubonds and Partitions but have not been happy so now I use the TBBC and 165 gr Barnes out of my 300 WSM and 300 WM.
The problems with elk is that you don't always get that perfect broadside shot,especially if they are in timber.

After shooting a couple of average whitetails last year with the 165SST loaded at 2650 in an 06 I'll never use them again for anything bigger than a varmint. There are better choices out there.

Partitions can be finicky. I've had better luck with the 165 Accubond in my 308's.

I've taken bulls with the 165 Accubond, Ballistic Tip, Partition, TTSX, Speer Hotcore. They all work. Accubonds and Partitions are my favorite.

Try Varget.

SST's would be way down on my list, maybe off the paper...

If I couldn't get NPT's to group, I'd try NAB's. If not satisfied, then mono's, E-Tip, TTSX, GMX. Barnes accuracy load with 150 gr. TTSX is 46.3 Varget at 2,910 fps.

Scenarshooter likes the 155gr. Scenar in .308. He has photo evidence, a bunch of dead critters...

DF

Some claim a slightly faster powder at max fps will aid NPT accuracy.

Some guns like'em, some don't.

DF

After my experiences using SST's on deer, no way I would use them on elk. Don't try to save a few bucks on bullets and let it ruin a hunt.

I was sitting next to a friend when he shot a very nice Colorado bull at about 20 feet with a .308 shooting 150 grain SSTs. He hit the bull in the heart, it ran out 20 yards, and fell over. The bullet exploded, which is probably expected. Obviously, it worked but would not be my choice. This was an extreme example, but nonetheless a real experience.

Nosler Accubond 165's for my .308, and I really like it so far. accuracy is excellent in my savage.

no game tests so far.

should fly pretty comparable to the SST, and from all reports, is a tougher bullet. YMMV.

I'd go with a Interlock instead of the SST. I like the Interlocks at 308 speeds and partitions or other premiums at 30 cal mag speeds. I'd consider a SST in a 300BLKOUT or other slower round IMHO

While I use SST's for cheaper practice rounds, I match the loads to mirror AccuBonds and use the AB's for hunting. The last range session or two I'll put some AB's downrange to verify the hunting loads.

Thanks guys. I'll give the accubonds a shot here soon.

Had great results with a 308 and 165 ABs along with RL15. Was able to get right at 2800 with them and accuracy was very good. I'd be just fine with that same exact set up for hunting elk if I weren't expecting to be shooting at the outer edges of the bullet opening up well.

I have no experience with elk but I used to use 165 SST’s out of a 30-06 on whitetails. They were very explosive. I switched to 165 Interlocks and have been very happy with both the accuracy and performance on deer.

I would have no problem using the SST but would use the 180 gr version over the 165 gr

I have used Hornady Spire point's and then interlock's a whole lot of year in a 308 165gr. Never once a failure or bad proformance of any kind. I use the Hornady interlock 117gr bullet in my 25-06, never a failure or bad proformance. The premium bullet so many use work well but for me in mot case's not needed. i found the two best weight bullet's in my 308 to be the 165 gr and the 180 gr, best accuracy with them. I have tried partition's but never had much luck getting them to shoot well but generally well enough for hunting. The only experience I have with bonded bullet's is with the old Speer hot core bullet's. I'd be shooting them today but the Hornady bullet' out hot them by a bit. In regard to calling a Hot Core a bonded bullet, I have recovered several shot into wet news print to stop them. I never aw a Hot Core shoot loose from the jacket. It was my bullet of choice in an old 7mm Rem Mag. I don't hear a lot about them anymore and don't see them a lot. Vernon sold out and his business took a step backward.

never had an issue with a 7-08 sst or amax on elk
cant see where you would have an issue

My sister has killed elk, one being a real nice 6x6, with an -06 shooting SSTs. They worked well. I don't know if they were 165s or 180s though.

Broadside or neck shots inside 200 yards the SST will probably be fine. Sharp angles, longer rages, or shooting through a shoulder they are a very poor choice and could ruin your hunt. If you don't mind passing up shots because you loaded an inferior bullet stick with th SST.

My favorite is the TTSX but Accubond and other stout bullets are a better choice. I've killed them with NBT but also had one blow up on the ribs and run 600 yards before dying - luckily it was in the snow.

I have had two "failures" using an sst 165. One on elk one on deer. I am not sure if I had hit the elk at 90 yards.(my wife who was standing next to me at time of the shot said I absolutely hit it). I found blood on the whitetail shot....just no deer. How ever I have had good repeatable luck with the ftx bullet but at ranges over 150 yards. I would assume the ftx and sst are very similar. However I no longer buy sst bullets.

This^^^^^

AMG08,

I know nothing of SST bullets. However, were you to use a 165 grain Partition, make sure you have your quartering stuff with you.

Hornady interlock 165 gr is a Elk's worse nightmare. They hold up very good. And they shoot great. All I shoot are the Interlocks from 25-06 to 300 Wby and have never looked back.

Here is what a 150gr Interlock looks like after killing a 325" bull from a.308.

IMO, the SST is the worst mistake Hornady ever made. They may shoot OK, but they are flimsy crap. An elk deserves better. I have never had issues with a standard Interlock, Nosler Partition, or Accubond.

It is your hunt, but an elk deserves better than an explosive piece of crap bullet. If you must use them, go with the 180-grain, as the other may very well fail. I think that they are actually worse than an A-max target bullet on game.

Take some time and money and find a premium bullet that works for you. This year I plan to use a .308 with 165 nosler acubonds.

I shot a cow elk two years ago with a .338 RCM 200g SST Hornaday load at 2950 fps muzzle. The range was 380 yards, according to the ballistic tables at impact it was 2400fps.

The bullet ended up shedding about half its weight with what ended up being a near side shoulder shot. Fortunately there was enough residual weight to continue through the vitals. The remaining bullet base was 95 grains.

The sst bullets are my favorite deer bullet and I use them in a 7 mauser, .280, .300 sav, and .308 with great results, but something stronger is needed for elk.

I've killed a few elk with the 308 Win in a Savage 99 and a couple Kimber Montana. The 99 loves 165 grain Speer Grand Slams. The Montanas like the Hornady 150 grain GMX. Both work well for elk. The Montanas also like the 130 grain TTSX. Not sure I'd try them on elk though.

Bought some 165g SST's yesterday. They will be used to work up practice loads for son-in-law's 30-06. If they work out I'll try to match the load using AccuBond or TTSX.

While I agree wholeheartedly with DonFischer that premiums are not needed in "most cases". It is the other cases I'm concerned about.

Not all "premium" bullets provide the consistent performance I want and the old Barnes X bullets were a prime example of same. Barnes TTSX have been uniformly excellent performers for my group, as have Nosler AccuBond and Partition, Speer Grand Slam and Swift A-Frame.

If using factory ammo I would try to find two loads that shoot about the same, as verified at the range, one a cheap practice load and one using a proven premium for the actual hunt. As a handloader, I find shooting premiums is no more expensive than standard factory ammo and often less. Shooting SST's and other cup-and-core bullets for practice further cuts the costs. Once a premium load is developed the incremental cost of using them on a hunt is vanishingly small when compared to the other costs of the hunt. I've found even development costs can be cut significantly by shooting a string of loads with .5g increments and finding 3-4 consecutive shots that group well. Pick a load in the middle of such a string and retest and quite often you are done. Shooting premiums doesn't have to empty your bank account.


"Plan for the worst and work for the best" is a motto that, if followed, will save you a lot of grief in all facets of your life.

You could also try the Swift Scirocco in 165gr. Outstanding bullets. Can't understand why more guys don't use them.

I'll admit right up front that I've never shot an elk BUT I have loaded the 165 SST in my 06 and killed a couple animals with it and I do load it for a friend's 308 & seen him shoot a couple animals with it.

The hogs I shot w/ early models pushed to 2950-ish from my 06 went down but the bullet was extraordinarily frangible like old ballistic tips. Personally I wouldn't use those on elk myself but I'm sure they'd work if you were cautious about the shot placement.

The newer ones my friend has put through whitetails at speeds a couple hundred fps slower seem harder as they've held together thru double shoulder shots.

Again I haven't ever shot an elk (it's on my to-do list) but when I do it'll sooner be with a 165 Interlock (non-tipped version) than SST.

Good luck w/ yer hunt!!

I have seen multiple elk die from 308s stoked with 165s and 180s. All one shot kills.

Not a fan of SST's, Use the BTSP!

Can't wait to get my 165g SSTs to the range for some water jug testing. If they don't come apart in the first jug or two I'll be more than a little surprised.

I'll be interested to see what you find. The 165 SST's were far and away the most accurate bullets in my previous '06, but I never found anything but fragments in the backstop. Maybe they're tougher than they were 10 years ago. Maybe 100 fps less from a .308 will stress them less. I'll be looking forward to your pics.

FC

update?

beretzs what kind of 308 do you have

Haven't had a chance to do anything with them. Full time job, 2-1/2 hour daily round trip commute, weekends busy finishing deck teardown/landscaping/rebuild project I started last year after my hip replacement. Next project is to replace cedar siding where the $#%&* flickers have poked 2" holes in it. Range time has been pretty limited.

Don't know if I'll get to water jug shooting this year, although I probably have 50 or more in the garage. Might get a chance to test .243/95g SST and .308/165g SST in jugs this weekend. I figure 2 jugs per load with a fresh paper or cardboard backdrop will tell me what I want to know. Pretty much expect the backdrops to have a lot of holes in them but maybe I'll be surprised.

My wife & I are going to be in Montana late Oct for an elk hunt. I contacted Nosler & Hornady early this year about what bullet they recommended. They did not recommend the balistic nor the sst for elk. The accubond or the Interlock or the Interbond if you find them. The wife will be shooting a 7x57 AI with 150 TTSX & 51 gr of RL-19. Her backup & mine also will be a 30-06 with 150 Accubonds & 54 gr of RL-17. My go to is a 30-06 with 165 Accubonds & 61 gr of RL-22. COME ON October 29th!!!!!

Look at 155 scenars,and varget. A lethal and accurate combo. I killed a big 6 point with it last year.He was laying on his side within 5 seconds of the shot.(200yds.) We have taken numerous big bucks with it as well including a 200 inch mule deer last fall. The bullets open up nicely,and leave a good exit on deer.

It would kill an elk. But with that much time, it's worthwhile to find a better bullet that shoots well. I'm sure there is one, factory or handload. That's the beauty of the .308

"I never found anything but fragments in the backstop. Maybe they're tougher than they were 10 years ago"

Maybe. Shot a 165g from a .30-06 through a water jug today with a blank sheet of paper behind it. LOTS of holes from lead fragments. Found a piece of jacket stuck to the inside of the blown-apart jug.

We tested six loads at 20 yards. All loads were chrono'd except the Core-Lokt:

.243 Win, 95g Hornady SST, 2925fps (avg.)
.257 Roberts, 100g Barnes TTSX, 3233fps (avg.)
.30-06, 150g Winchester Ballistic Silvertip, 3005fps (avg.)
.30-06, 165g Hornady SST, 2863fps (actual)
.300 WM, 180g Winchester Power-Point, 2825fps (avg.)
.300 WM, 180g Remington Core-Lokt, 2700fps (factory spec)

The only 'clean' target was with the 100g TTSX. You could clearly see where the TTSX had expanded and left a 'three-leafed clover' hole, with a second hole where the fourth petal hit the target.

All of the lead core bullets had multiple hles in the paper target - lots of them. That said, the worst IMHO was the 165g SST target:



When I get time I'll post all the target photos in a separate thread.

.

My hunting experience with Barnes is similar. I have recovered only two bullets from elk. Both of those were 100% intact and mushroomed.

SST's suck when shooting at anything other than paper...Or coyotes...

My testing showed what I already knew - every cup-and-core bullet tested sprayed lead and/or jacket material. The 'non-retained' weight has to go somewhere.

For big game I haven't used a standard cup-and-core bullet in a bolt gun since the early 1980's. Speer Grand slams got the call for the 20 years following my first animal, followed by North Fork SS and FP, Nosler AccuBond and Barnes MRX and TTSX. The last few years I've been using Barnes TTSX (and the older MRX) more and more. They have been great performers both in accuracy and on game and I like the idea of 'lead-free' meat.

This year a future son-in-law and I will be using SST bullets for antelope simply because I worked up those loads first for target practice and haven't had time to work up AccuBond or TTSX loads for the rifles we will be using.

Hoping the SSTs don't destroy as much meat as the A-MAX a son-in-law used a few years back.

Deer hunter checking in.....

Sitting on my desk right now is a brand new box of Nosler Ballistic Tips, 165 grain 30 caliber. On one end of the box it says "Game Recommendations: Deer, Antelope" and for folks who can't read there is a picture of a mule deer.

So from that we can surmise that they are designed for deer and similar LIGHT big game. The SST is the functionally equivalent competitor. Both are as good as it gets for deer hunting based on my experiences and that of friends. They may have sucked back in the day but as far as I am concerned they sure don't suck now. I expect they would take out an elk, especially with a lung shot. But, that is not what they are DESIGNED for, although I think they are at least as good as the traditional core-lokts, power points, etc which people have used on everything for decades.

I would use a bullet designed for "controlled expansion", probably a partition if I ever get to go elk hunting, although if you like the SST, you could try the Hornady gilding metal bullet or Interbond that would probably shoot to the same point....check on range to be sure. Why try to fit a square peg in a round hole, especially when you are hunting something you don't get to all the time?

Thanks for sharing the target pic.

When I tested 200gn .338 SSTs against a tough target of some dry magazines they turned to dust and small fragments of copper. With the magazines wet, they did ok. I guess I'd use them on deer, but no chance on elk. Too many excellent other bullets that I would have complete confidence in, to include excellent C&Cs like the HotCor or Ballistic Tip.

While I would hope the BT has a thicker jacket than the SST, I do not know this to be the case. (Note to self: Check on this tonight.)

In any case, I’ve had bullets drop deer instantly when passing from ham to sternum (7mm North Fork SS) and passing front to back through the body with exit (.30 caliber Barnes MRX and TTSX). These same bullets have been equally effective on broadside shots. The only downside I see to these bullets is their extra cost when compared to C&C bullets.

I don’t see it as a ‘square peg, round hole’ situation. I see it as wanting to use a bullet that will expand in a controlled, limited and reliable manner, providing high weight retention and deep straight line penetration. For me, deer hunting is done in conjunction with elk hunting and the deer are more targets of opportunity to be ignored if taking one might interfere with getting an elk. As a result the same bullets get used for both. I have yet to find a bullet that works well for elk that fails for deer.

The BT's have a heavier base than the SSTs starting about halfway back. I have not noticed much difference in performance between the two on deer as both have blown through every deer or hog I have shot. Absolutely great bullets for that application....Elk maybe not so much which was the point of the analogy.

Elk aren't that hard to kill and the 180 gr SST would work just fine as long as you shoot them where they live and if you don't then another brand of bullet won't make a bit of difference. Premier bullets don't make up for poor shooting

That premium bullets don't make up for poor shooting is something I am painfully aware of due to personal experience. (Lost my first big game animal, a cow elk, in 2014 after misjudging the wind.)

That doesn't mean that premium bullets are without benefit. The first big game animal I ever shot was a bull elk at about 110 yards using a 7mm RM and a 162g Hornady BTSP. The bullet hit a rib dead on center, missed or barely nicked the far ribs and came to rest under the hide on the off side. Retained weight was under 48%. Although the spike bull went down, I was not impressed with the bullet performance as I didn't think a single rib was much of a challenge to its integrity.

The next year I switched to 160g Speer Grand Slams and used them exclusively without complaint for 20+ years. The first bullet I recovered was from the end of that period, from a 5x5 bull elk. The bullet had passed through and destroyed both shoulder joints before coming to rest on the far side, still in bone but exposed. Retained weight was over 70%.

My philosophy is to shoot until the animal is down and stays that way. While one shot will usually do it, I have had elk get back up. After doing so I'v never had one come towards me. When that happens and all I have is a bad angle, I want a bullet in my rifle that will expand reliably but in a controlled and limited manner and drive the length of the animal to reach the vitals. Grand Slams have proven to be capable of doing that as have North Fork SS, Trophy Bonded and Barnes MRX and TTSX.

Equally important to me is that none of these bullets (GS, TB, MRX or TTSX) have in any way failed on smaller game or on broadsides. The last few years I and my group have used a lot of AccuBonds, too. While we haven't shot any animals lengthwise, the broadsides we've taken have all resulted in exits.

Another advantage of the premiums (or at least the good ones - there are some 'premiums' I refuse to use based on their design and manufacturers performance claims) is they can provide more consistent performance over a wider range of distances. That is also important to me because, while I practice out to 600 yards, I've had 25-foot shot opportunities where I expected a minimum of 400 yards. I don't want a bullet that will blow itself apart at high impact velocities.

That said, I will be using a 95g SST in my .243 Win for antelope this year. As I mentioned in a previous post, I hope it doesn't perform like the 165g AMAX my son-in-law used on an antelope a few years back.

Correction (too late to edit the original post).

My future son-in-law will be using a .30-06 and 150g Ballistic Tip bullets for antelope this year, not an SST. Like the SST I'll be using in my .243, this will be the first year anyone in my group has used a BT.

Nosler 150 gr BT on antelope you couldn't do any better

I would go with the 165 interbond or the GMX. They both should load similarly to the SST. Might need to drop down a little with a GMX. I used a 185 gr GMX in my 338 win mag on elk. Couldn't find it to see the mushroom.

I've only killed 6 or 7 elk, I'd switch to a 165 partition or accubond in a heartbeat provided accuracy is there, RL-15 is a good 308 powder.