Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 260rem and 129 Hornady SST

Hi Guys,

I have been using the 120NBT's oretty much exclusively in my 260 but came across a bunch on 129sst's at the right price. Does anyone have any good loads they wish to share? Also, how is this hornady bullet for both accuracy and as a hunting round.

Kind regards

LowBC

Hornadys are good hunting bullets. I don't have any experience with the .260/129s as I use a 140gr core lokt in my 260 but I've used Horns in several other calibres w/o a complaint.

I would think that you could drop back a couple of grains from your load now and work up.

I load the regular 129 grains in the 260...

just drop your 120 grain load by about 2 or 3 grains....and you should be good to go...

I just tried one powder with that bullet and only just a few different charges at that but H4831sc seemed to work ok out of my 15" barrel.

Never did hunt with it so I don't have any first hand experience it but I was told it was a softer constructed bullet similar to the BT's.

worked up a load in my 260 with the 129sst. 44gr of 760 gave me one inch groups at one hundred yards never hunted anything with it.

Ed

huh?

This is what I got in MY rifle, Kimber Montanna .260Rem with Hornady 129gn SST. RP Brass. Don't recall the primer but could check ammo box in a couple of weeks if required. I worked up to this load 1/2gn at a time in brackets of five, air temp 95F. Absolutely no pressure signs:

47.5gn AR2209 (H4350) gave approx 2980fps.

Worked up from much lower and no pressure signs.

120gn Nosler BT, 47.5gn AR2209 (H4350) gave approx. 3020fps, no pressure signs.

It was a very warm day with full sun exposure whilst shooting.

My advice is to start much lower and work your way up.

Loads were accurate but haven't used the 6.5mm SST's on game yet. However, the 130gn .270 SST's have performed very well on pigs in my Mod70 .270Win.

Cheers, Chris

R19 or H4831 have been best in my 260 with both the forms of 129s and 125gr bullets.

Thanks guys. I have loaded some up with H4831sc for testing this weekend. Starting at 46 grains so will be interesting to see how it performs.

Rockdoc, thanks for the advice re H4350. I reckon you are a few grains over max so I will start well below if H4831sc doesn't work out.

I must confess to being a bit surprised that no one appears to have hunted with this particular bullet. Is there a reason for this or simply just unfashionable

LowBC

I can't help you much on load data and such, but from some testing into wet phone books I'd say the SST is real soft so would suggest staying out of the heavy bones. Both the standard interlock and NBT held together much better then the SST in my testing. However I always thought if you found a good load with them that shot lights out you should be able to easily subsitute a 129gr. Interbond for your hunting loads and use the SST for practice as they have the exact same BC.

Was using the 129sst in my 260. My rifle definitley shot most accuralety with H4350.

Had excellent on game preformance on red deer of differing sizes and couldnt fault bullet preformance. Used sst in my 308 few years back,shot many animals of differing sizes and also had excellent on game preformance....

I run the 130AB with H4350 and I believe I'm at the Nosler manual's listed max. Velocity is a bit over 2,800fps from a 22" barrel. I found the .30cal SST's to be a bit soft for my liking, so I've stayed away from them.

I have used the 129 SST in my 6.5/06 and have taken Mule Deer, Antelope and Caribou the only concern was that I was hunting Caribou where Grizzly can be found (and I seen one) I was feeling a little under gunned for Grizzly defense. But the bullet did everything it was suppose to every time. It will work out of a 260 with perfection as well.

8mmwapiti

T/C Encore pistol, I'll put a LOT of money on it.

Yes indeed, an Encore pistol. There are a lot of Strikers and XP-100R's though that are chambered for 260 too. I also have a 24" 260 barrel but I don't shoot it all that much.



I was looking at it because it was softer constructed for better performance at handgun velocities but I picked up a pile of 120gr Core-lokts and went that direction instead. I'm not an expert by any stretch on sst's but it seemed to me that in other calibers the sst's have worked well but I read a lot of reports of poor accuracy and game performance from the 6.5/129gr in particular. Take that with a grain of salt, it's all second/third hand information.

The SST just doesn`t shoot as well in my rifles as the IL, and the everyday 129gr Inter-Loc already has a proven record on deer with me.
Why change a proven thing?

I've run a half dozen or so of them into wet newspaper and I've never seen one not slip a core. I've never seen any other bullet lose a core in my testing. They did shoot fantastic in the one rifle I tried them in though so I'll be trying them again soon when my new 6.5x55 gets done.

My exzact experience! Those ran into wet phonebooks and through one sheet of 3/4 ply(to simulate bone) all lost the entire core. Every bit of it. Penetration was pretty darn good despite the loss. The 120BT will hold up better in the 260. Hit a deer in the lungs and I've no doubt the 129sst will work lights out.. But if meats on the menu best not try to break the critter down.

I have heard the same on the SSTs in 129. Likely work great for long range, giving sure expansion, up close, I'd avoid bone.

The Original 129 SP is a great bullet, shorter ogive often gives MV similar to 120s. They shoot well in everything I tried them, and kill fine. I'd put the Plain jane SP right next to the 125 in my mind as I think it's that good of a bullet, as far as holding up at typical speeds in say a 6.5x55. Never heard any complaints on the SP version, but would guess the SST might shoot a tad more accurate. I'd use them on Deer and Bou but not Elk, Moose, or Bear myself.

Like JPro, happy with my 130ABs, but if you got a deal on those SSTs I'd use them in a pinch, I usually opt for lung shots to save meat unless I get a close shot that I decide for the head/neck.

Test media was water soaked phonebooks with a piece of 3/4 plywood(simulate bone) 2" behind the first phone book.

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What was very surprising was how deep it actually penetrated.. One of the reasons I've yet to run a solid on game is that they aren't gonna open up like I'd prefer at longer distances..

I really need to catch a few of these at 700-1000yds to see expansion at those velocitys...

But these pics are pretty much typical results outa my test media at 100yds.. As you can see core is gone..