Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 7mm-08 139 SST's?

Anyone use them? Just curious on your experiences with the 139gr SST on deer/antelope size game. Trying to figure out what bulltets I want to try out of my new 7mm-08.

I've used the Hornady Light Mag 139 SST's for years now. Usually the most accurate factory ammo out of several different rifles I have had. Shots under 60 yards or so they can either pass through or blow apart and cause major damage to meat. 100 yards to 400 yards they have been excellent on deer, antelope and Caribou. September Antelope in NM used this round to anchor a nice buck at 287 yards.

I've used the 139 SST's in 7-08 Light Mags by Hornady on 6-7 antelope, all 100-150 yards away. They were violently explosive, maybe a bit much meat damage, and the goats tipped over immediately. Any standard cup and core is fine for antelope.

Yep..they tend to blow up....

sst bullets suck,by far the worst bullet hornady has ever produced. stay with the interlok.

We tried 117 grain SSTs in a .257 AI and 139 grain SSTs in a 7mm-08 and a .280. After taking one pronghorn and one mule deer, we quite using them on game--they just ruined too much meat. The pronghorn was shot a little high with the .257 AI and the bullet hit the spine, shattering and embedding pieces of bullet throughout the front quarters of the animal. The mule deer was shot by my wife with her .280. He was quartering away and she lined up the shot with the off shoulder. That shoulder was mostly ruined. The mule deer was taken around 125 yds and the pronghorn was just short of 200.

Interesting comments, I have shot many whitetails for years now with a 150 gr. SST in a .308 (carbine) at around 2600 fps with wonderful results. YMMV

Randy

I don't know guys... I've been shooting SST's for a long time and have taken some nice critters at all distances with them with nary a hiccup... Yep, they put 'em down pronto, and that's what I like. I don't care that much for shoulder meat, and there's not that much of it anyway. (grin) I like killin' what I shoot at, and that's what happens when I touch off a SST.

This large bodied Kansas whitetail was taken at a bit over 500 lasered yards with one shot with a 139 grain SST leaving my 7mm Rem Mag at 3250 fps. Lights out right now, and look at the bullet performance even at that range.

What cha reckon his opinion of 'em is?

jeffpg, if the boys dont like the meat damage of a SST they sure will not like what a Berger does! I shot a couple of does last year with a 280AI, 140 grain Bergers at 3000 fps and HOLY MOLEY now they tear stuff up!

Randy

I've been leaning towards trying the Bergers for a long time now Randy, I just haven't made my mind up to do so because a few of the guys who "won't use them on elk" have me kinda concerned about how they'll deal with a quartering away shot on one. I have seen what they have done for the long distance hunters and I'm sure I'd like 'em, I guess the Accubonds are simply working so well for me on the big critters.

At what distance did you take the does?

Man, I do love a 280AI... I just picked up a 1st generation Rem Ti in .270 and I am almost hoping it don't shoot to my liking so I can rebarrel it to the Ackley. Almost, that is. This .270 hasn't been fired much and although it's not my favorite caliber, it is plenty capable of getting the job done and really isn't far from a .280.

First off, let me say that I'm not a big fan of BT's. But back in 2000, before I started reloading, bought some Hornady LM SST for my .30-06, one box each of 150 gr and 165 gr; my .308 Win., one box each of 150 gr and 165 gr; and my .270, one box each of 130 gr and 140 gr.

IME they were not every accurate. They might blowup if you hit a deer on the shoulder and you might lose it.

IME a behind the shoulder, ie double lung/heart shot works beat. You will have a caliber size entrance hole and an exit hole only a little bit larger if shot at less than a 100 yards.

Jeff, I actually shot 3 does last year with the Berger's, 2 of them inside 150 yards and 1 in excess of 375 (my longest shot ever) all 3 were shot behind the shoulder on purpose just to see and the damage was impressive

I have hunted up Canada quite a bit and when I do I have always used Accubonds, 6 years ago I took my largest whitetail at a whopping 77 yards with a 7STW and a 160 grain Accubond. I broke the deer down thru the left front shoulder and the Accubond pole axed the deer. I have used Partitions, Accubonds and the older Hornady Spire Points on larger animals with much success. 30 years ago I killed 3 elk in 3 years with a 130 SGK in a 270, DRT. Who knows, I guess if you put em in the right spot they all work.

Randy

I used them a couple years ago, I wasn't impressed. Last year I used some reject 139 grain interbond that worked pretty well. In my opinion you don't really need a premium bullet for deer or antelope, the plain old 139 grain spire point is all the bullet you need.

I have taken several deer with a 7mm08 & the 139gr SST.
I hand load so my loads are running about 2400fps. I like the SST for the type of hunting I do. They work great for me, give them a try.

B.S. on that. If an SST hits a deer in the shoulder, he's dead, particularly if an SST "blows up".

I've only shot these on paper but my rifle likes them alot I mostly use the 139gr il flat base.

The 154g SST is a tougher bullet in the 7mm class, especially for the 7 mag at 3150+, really puts the shock on deer.

Now the 162g SST is a really tough bullet, totally in another class of toughness.

These two particular SST bullets like to kiss the lands, accuracy can be supurb if the rifle likes them at all.

My 270 hate the 130g SST(Have some for sale), and my 7 mag hated the 139g SST.

There maybe some magic load out there that is magic or these two bullets.

In my 7/08, I shoot a load of IMR 4895 with a 9 1/2 with a Speer 130g SpBt...unreal accurate and simply flops deer.

I have a 284win that I'm working up loads for and the 139 SST is one of my choices. After seeing what the 165 SST out of my 30-06 did to the 3 NC deer and bobcat I shot last year, I thought they'd be just the ticket for the 284.

Since you are asking about factory loads - thought I'd share that I tried the Superformance 139 SST ammo in both of my 7mm08's and was not impressed. However, the 140 grain Barnes tsx Federal Premium ammo shot sub 1/2 inch at 100 yards in both guns. Everything I've shot with a tsx (28 deer or bigger critters and counting) have been 1 shot kills with everything from .243 to .338RUM.

I also had the same Berger experience as the posts above. 140 grain 6.5mm at 3400 fps - 150 yard shot left 5 gallon bucket sized exit. Sold almost all my VLD's and might sell the rest - way too much meat damage. Here's an example...

Damn, two deresonators? Did it really help accuracy? Thanks!