Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Hornady 165 SST

Thinking of running some 165 .308 Hornady SST interlock into the high shoulder @ 2780 fps.

Anyone doing this with good results?

The 165 SSTs I've loaded were launched at about 2740 fps. My friend who hunted using the loads never took that particular shot. From the various angles of chest shots he did take we found the bullets to be on the soft side. No blowups with failures to sufficiently penetrate, but we did find an expanded bullet retaining maybe 25% weight under the far side hide on a pure broadside, just behind the leg type shot.

That said, these were SSTs when they were relatively new, at least two packaging changes ago. Like Ballistic Tips the SSTs may have been stiffened since.

Pick a better bullet like the Interlock. The 165SST is the worst bullet I've used.

The original lead tip interlock is a tougher bullet than the SST. The 165 SST is the only bullet I've used that stopped in a deer. That includes shots taken with a .223 and 25-20.

It ain't like the regular Interlock. I blew one up on a 100 yard lung shot at started a 2650 on a 100 pound doe last year. Its a varmint bullet to me.

Pick a better bullet for breaking bone.

Hope they don't bounce off mule deer because that's what I'm running in Idaho in a few weeks. Guess I'll find out because my 308 loves that bullet, .5moa which is as much as this guy could ever expect.

MM

I tend to disagree, the SST's I"ve shot were too hard on hides to be even a varmint bullet.

Expect separation and fragmentation if you use them!

Well, opinions are like, well, you know. But if I had to pick 10 bullets in 165 flavor, the SST either wouldn't be on the list or it'd be because I only came up with 9 others.

It'll likely work just fine but I've seen them in action. Perhaps they've changed the structure of the bullet in recent years but I won't be finding out.

Well, they shoot the same, POA, POI, fps, as the Federal 165 TBT out of my rifle. I guess I can use them on paper and the TBT on shoulders.

That would be a good move

They haven't bounced off the last 10 or 15 whitetails I've shot with 150 grain SSTs out of a 30-06. Haven't exploded either as none failed to create exit holes, rather big ones at that. They are good bullets but heck, all of em are.

Shooting a deer with a 165 grain from .308 or 30-06 is kinda like killing a fly with a hammer. Doesn't make any difference to the fly if the hammer came from Plumb or Stanley as long as you hit it!

I have never shot a deer with the SST that got away and i have never recovered a SST bullet .

[/quote bea175]I have never shot a deer with the SST that got away and i have never recovered a SST bullet .[/quote]


I'm interested...... 165 SST 308, high shoulder? Accubond and TBT I have no problem with, but I don't see the speed with the 165 Accubond, and the Federal P308TT4 HE 165 TBT has been discontinued. I have no experience with the 165 SST except on paper.

I'm not sure I understand the question. You are using a .308 Win right? You are not going to have any problems killing any deer on the planet with a high shoulder shot with any 165 grain bullet if you place it properly. Pick one you like and go have fun!

A friend of mine had a bullet test of sorts using the Hornady SST from a 243 on Springbock

After his results on 100 pound antelope I will never use an SST in any diameter or weight in any rifle

There are far far better bullets in this world

I won't use 'em either, ever. Too many good choices out there.

I'd shoot lungs with them, if they were all I had. But I've shot shoulders with the 165 SST in a 30-06 to gruesome effect. They will certainly kill, but they are a bit softer than I like. Bet they'd be great for reduced loads or long-range impacts where such attributes are warranted.

I'd never waste my time with them.

I have shot several deer with them in 6mm rem. they work perfectly! I have a couple that I have recovered and they look like a picture perfect mushroom. and they are super accurate.