What's the verdict? Bombs? Have a box of 140's moly'd up for a 270wsm.

I'm the wrong guy to ask as I won't use cup-and-core bullets in bolt guns on big game if there is an alternative.

At WSM speeds I'd at least use the InterBond or AccuBond or Partition.

I tend to agree. If you reload, and SINCERELY want bullet performance, I believe you should load them down a bit. Having said that, I've never used them.

I shot 11 deer with 150's from a 308. Most all were short range, less than a 100yds. 10 exited and one did not, at least exactly. The one that did not exit broke both shoulders of a buck and the jacket and core seperated. I found the jacket under the skin on the far shoulder and the lead core exited.

I think its a "softer' bullet than the standard hornady IL. I think the 150 308 would be a good hunting choice for cartridges like 300 savage or in 308 or 30.06 for longer ranges.

It wouldn't be my choice for animals larger than deer or for hunting with very high velocity cartridges.(300 mags)

If the target bullets didn't work.. it might be a choice for long range target work and plinking.

From what I saw this season I'm inclined to agree, the 165 gr. .308" SST does seem to be relativley soft. I haven't tried a .277" SST though.

I have used 117s in a 25-06. They were responsible for a couple of bang/flops. Just under 3000 fps MV and ranges under 100 yards, both through the ribs, broadside, very small exit. IMO they are the type of bullet that trying to salvage a shot shoulder will create some excess lead intake. I will not use them on anything larger than varmints up to coyotes.

The only two I used on deer were a 139gr in 7mm-08 and a 150 in 308. Both were started with a MV under 2700fps. The shots were broadside at 25yds and 40yds at calm animals. Both bullets hit just behind the shoulder breaking one rib then fragmented taking out only one lung. Both deer required longer tracking than I prefer. I won't say the bullets failed cuz there was a dead deer at the end of a blood trail. I will say the bullets did not perform to my expectations and I no longer use them. I switched to the Interbond and have been thrilled with their performance.

RH

I use the 129gr SST's in my 264 Win Mag,they whop the HELL out of deer,hogs and varmints.I've never had a problem with them.

My brother used them for years in a 6mm Remington. Had no way to know speed at the time but had no troubles with them. He killed several deer with them a year for a few years.

Been using them on deer/antelope for past several years with great results. Many dropped in thier tracks instantly, including mule deer up to 320lbs live weight. Bullet placement is obviously more important than the bullet IMO.

I only have experience with the .308 150s and 165s. IME these light for cal SSTs pushed fast will often explode. I took several whitetails with the .308 150s and witnessed a few as well(2950-3200 fps). They often wouldn't exit even at the 2950 MV. Alot of fragments and core seperations. The .308 165s held better on deer. I wouldn't hesitate to use them at 308 win velocity. I load the 165s for a friends 308 win(2700fps) and he's had good results thus far.

I've had alittle better luck with NBTs.

Good Luck

Reloader7RM

the SST could be the best varmint bullet in hornadys line. HAPPY HUNTING

That's similar to what I've done with them. I loaded them for a friend's 308 to about 2750 fps on top of 46 grains of Varget.

Mathman, that's close to the load I used. 45grns Varget, win brass, and WLRs for 2700fps with single digit SD. It is a LVSF Remington and after I free floated and bedded it, it shoots sub moa with that load at 200.

Have a good one,

loder

I've loaded them (140 sst/270) for years for my buddy's son. We have them going very accurate at about 2800 fps so it's not hot.
The kid has a golden horseshoe during huting season and usually gets 3-4 deer per year for the crew he hunts with.
Nobody in his crew could believe the size of holes the bullets were leaving....they had not seen what a plastic tip cup and core can do. Some of the older hunters refused to believe he was using a 270.
Anyhow after years of cleaning his shot up deer they politely told him when he was out of that ammo he should go to something different. I just loaded him up some normal 140 horn bt's for the upcoming years....no more big big holes.

A very interesting topic for me, and I hope others too.
I load a 139gr. SST for my 7mm08 (41gr. of IMR 4350 to get excellent accuracy at just under 2700fps).
The first deer I shot with it was at about 90 yards - excellent placement behind the shoulder. He turned as though unaffected, but I saw blood coming from the exit wound. He then ran for over 100 yards before dying.
This disappointed me because with other loads (same caliber) under seemingly similar circumstances, I had more dramatic results - the deer fell and died instantly. This result is similar to what himmelrr posted.
The next deer I shot with the same load presented a totally different result. The buck came out of the dense bush walking away from me. The shot was between 80-90 yards. I aimed about 2" to the left of his anus, and shot. To my surprise, he dropped like a ton of bricks, never flinched and died where I hit him.
The SST entered where I aimed, significantly damaged his hip and guts, and exited on his right side through the skin covering his liver.
My point is that the SST performed very well on the second deer for what I believe was a much more difficult (and maybe less mortal) shot placement.
I have shot many deer under many different conditions and shot placements. It is important to me that I shoot well and understand what happens. However, I'm still not sure why some animals die the way they do - despite appropriate shot placement/loads/calibers, etc. Conversely, there were times I felt I shot poorly, and the animals died instantly.
I'd gladly change the SST's for a bullet I thought was better. But what bullet, and under what circumstances?
In fact, I used to load Nosler Partitions for this rifle. They killed well, but lacked the accuracy I wanted. So, I switched to the SST. Then I got the accuracy I want, but still lack an understanding about performance/killing affect.
So I'll watch this topic and hope to get some clarity for a topic I believe will be very important to settle.

I have taken a couple of deer with a 270 Win and 130 grain SST at 3070 muzzle vel, the first a older doe was behind the shoulder in the ribs with a nickle size entrance and a quarter size exit.

The second was a 7 point buck that was chasing a doe and at forty yards angling away and when I walked up to him I said I would never use the SST again as there was a grapefruit size hole in his side starting at his first rib and going forward toward his shoulder. About that time my hunting buddy walked up and I was telling him how the bullet had failed by coming apart on impact but when I opened him up to field dress I noticed how the bullet had busted 7 ribs down one side deflected across his body broke another rib and I found the lead core and the jacket seperated but side by side in the offside shoulder.

This seemed like good penetration from a cup and core bullet and I had made a bad call about bullet performance before looking at the actual damage.

Still after all that for whitetail deer I have gone back to the Hornady interlock.

Yukoner here from the forum uses the 30 cal bullet in his 300 Win for Caribou.If it works for that deer will be no problems.

I've only shot one deer with the 139 grain in a 280. It worked well, but one deer isn't much of a test.

I have used 30 caliber 180 grain SSTs on deer with satisfactory results. I have not used 270 caliber 140 grainers, so I cannot speak to that with authority. But given the SST's reputation as being a "soft" bullet, I would tend to limit them to broadside ribcage shots. Nothing sux like wounding a deer and having it hobble off and die an agonizing death and not be recovered. That happens when soft bullets are placed in hard spots on game. Personally, I would choose a tougher and heavier bullet to hunt with from the 270 WSM (or 270 Win for that matter).

-

I would trust Hornady bullets. I 2nd Big Redhead about the broadside ribcage shots being best for the SST.

I have had great accuracy from 95gr SST out of my 243 win. That said, dont shoot anywhere near meat you would like to eat, they do some damage.

I used a 165 gr. SST from my HS Precision 300 wsm this year when I went to Kodiak to hunt Mt. Goats. I shot mine at a distance of 422 yds. I can tell you that I have never seen a bullet blow up like it did. It did completely penetrate the goat, but the hole it produced was devastating. I did like how well they grouped. That is my only experience w/ them.

Good for dropping deer on the spot and for longer ranges, but as others said definitely soft to explosive at short ranges and higher velocity.

In the 270 wsm had some fail to exit on small hogs. Using a 140 gr. in a 280AI the performance was text book perfect, with one exception where the bullet deflected on a shoulder and turned into a gut shot. Can't complain about 15 or so one shot kills even if a couple were messy.

They seem like the Nosler BT in general. They shot exceptionally well in both rifles.

I won't hesitate to use the rest but I generally prefer to use a more controlled expansion type bullet. Like the Accubond or TSX.

I'm gonna use them for Javelina season this year if I get a tag. I have a box of 154's for my 7mag and i'm itching to unload. From what I am hearing tho, I better make the shot over 300 yards or so so I don't explode the poor thing.

What I wonder tho is do they kill? I am not so concerned about pass thru as I am the entry. Will the bullet enter the boiler room if I shoot it or will it explode on the outside and not kill or penetrate enough to kill?

I can't wait to use them.

Kique

They are absolutely lethal. No worries with that combo for Javelina. You should get complete pass through on any broadside shot with the 154s.

Don't worry about the range. Don't make the mistake I did. I had Javelina all around me within spear range, jumped on the 4wheeler and went 300yds away to make it sporting (didn't have my spear with me) and proceeded to miss a big boar. Should have been a chip shot but I think I really didn't want to field dress the critter.

Actually, I think the SST would be PERFECT for the little peccaries.

RH

If a 22 mag will kill a javelina, I think any bullet type and weight will kill one. I am just seeing all these horror stories about blow ups and not passing thru and I am just curious. I am planning on using this bullet for everything that I hunt, and I would hate to shoot something at 400 yards and have the bullet not penetrate. Pass thru means nothing to me, but penetrating to the vitals does.
Just curious.

I remember when I was still guiding. I had one of those little guys bout 40 pounder dressed come up and smell me. He smelled, ran about 20 yards and stared at me and the client. I dropped to a knee and the client nailed him. We were archery hunting. The desert errupted with stinky rodents. There musta been 20 in that group. Fun day.

Anyways we'll see what they do. Dad will be shooting 140 accubonds out of his 270. We have never killed anything with our new guns, so this will be a break in hunt and bullet check. We will more than likely make chorizo out of the meat. That or pit BBQ it.

Kique

As has already been stated more than once, take ONLY BROADSIDE SHOTS AND KEEP THEM IN THE RIBCAGE, and you will have no trouble. Even if they do "blow up" the animal dies. Just don't hit them in the shoulder and expect good things.

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I'd have to agree. I've had mixed results with the same box of 150 gr SST's from my .308 ..
Last year I whacked a buck broadside at 35 yards and the exit hole was about 1/2" dia.
This year, I had to shoot twice at my buck...taken from the same range...and it looked like it was hit by a HOWITZER!
Maybe a 5" dia hole??

Oh well, both deer didn't go far at all, just that this year my buck stood there after the 1st shot and I wasn't going to let him get away.

I would load them to the gills out of a wsm and not loose any sleep. At least on deer sized game.

I was curious about these as well since they shoot so good in my guns. I wrote to them and asked what size game they recommended I asked if they would be good on deer and elk and they responded yes they work for both

They work in a 12 ga loaded by Hornaday. They do seem a bit soft though. I actually recovered a couple this year. The Winchester Partition Gold slugs have never been recovered and seem to thump harder on impact. But I digress. No idea in rifle bullets, but would think they would be just fine for deer.

I used them with great success in a .308win with 150 gr SST's. Then went to 130gr SST's in a .270win and found out why these aren't the best choice. I won't re-tell the story because some here have NEVER made a bad shot on a game animal in their entire life and just can't understand that it does happen with mere mortals on occasion.

To make a long story short, if you hit bone at .270win velocities with a 130gr bullet they will explode violently and cause great damage to the game and your pride. After that experience I look for a little tougher hunting bullet than a SST. I will agree they are lights out accurate though.


Terry

Have you tried shooting them, Calvin? That might settle it right there. I couldn't get them to shoot out of two different 30-06's. One of which has a Pac- Nor barrel and pretty much shoots everything...

I have been shooting 130 SST's out of my .270 Win for five years. By far the most accurate bullet I have found for my Rem 700, and given the importance of accurate bullet placement, they are what I use.

I do not use them for elk, but they are my choice for deer and pronghorn. I have had no problems with "lethality," regardless of the shot location, or ranges within 350 yards.

Have killed deer broadside, quartering away, quartering forward, and frontal. Very seldom have anything other than a "dead where they stand" hit. If they do run off, expect some pretty heavy blood trails.

On ribcage shots, excpect huge exit wounds. If you hit the shoulder, expect a lot of meat damage.

But, they kill things very effectively. Still would be hesitant to use them on elk, even though they may work on a perfectly broadside elk shot. I save the 150 partitions for elk.

Calvin,

I just bought a box of factory ammo, Hornady's Light Magnum stuff, in .280 Rem., with the 139 gr. Interlock moly coated SST bullet. I took my custom .280 to the range last week, and found that this factory ammo shoots sub-MOA in my rifle.

Next project is to chrono these rounds. If they come close to the advertised 3110 fps, then they will very likely become my go-to rounds for deer-sized game, even possibly cow elk.

I shot three bucks over a several week period at 300-325 under a fruit tree with a 7 Mag loaded with 63.0g of IMR 4350, Rem case, 9 1/2 primer, 154g SST seated to touch the lands. The rifle shoots these bullets less than 1/2" at 100.

A friend wanted me to load some 162 SST's to take to Africa for plain's game for his Weatherby Mark V in 7 STW. I begged him to let me load him the 160g Parition or Barnes Tripple Shock...NOOOOOOOOO WAY! He insisted on the 162g SST. He and his friend had the same rifles, so I loaded for the both of them.

They both collected Two Eland,two Kudu, and a bunch of other animals, all of them bang flops. They worked so well, the PH wrote an article that circulates in Africa for PH's. I would have bet even money that there would have been wounded animals running all over.

He also shoots the 130g SST in his 270 with 55.0g of IMR 4350, blows up deer real good, he says; no runners.

Please help me out. Is not the SST also an Interlock bullet? The two that I sectioned seemed to have the Interlock band near the base, so should they not act just like the Interlock bullets that others recommend in place of the SST? I ask because my 7-08 really likes the 139 gr SST at full throttle, and I was wanting to use it on deer next year, mostly at around 100 yards. The explosive nature that others talk about with the SST is exactly what I found using the Nosler Ballistic Tip in my 30-06, even when loaded down to around 2700 fps. But I need a bullet that I can depend on exiting to give me a good blood trail in needed.

I have recently shot some Hornady Light Magnum ammo in my .280, with a 139 gr. bullet advertised by Hornady as an Interlock SST bullet. In looking at their sectioned bullet pictures on the website, they sure look like the same bullet internally.

The SST is similar in having the locking band, but the regular Interlocks don't have the poly tip acting as a wedge that accelerates expansion upon impact. Same difference between Ballistic Tips and the older design Nosler Solid Base boat tail.

Side question: Does your rifle like the regular 139 grain flat base Interlock? Or maybe the 154?

Keith,
What velocity are you getting with that load out of your 7mag? I was thinking of loading the 154's with IMR 4350, and I am hoping your load will help in figuring this thing out? And what percent of max is that?

I think this round would work well for coues deer that I hunt and maybe even mule deer if I ever rifle hunt them again.

Kique

A few years ago I talked to someone at Hornady about the SST. Their comment was that the jacket was a little thicker on the SST to counter the effects of the plastic tip. That was several years ago though.

139 SST 3043 fps out of my 280. Mule deer doe shot quartering on at 100-125 yds. Entered in front of the onside shoulder and exited behind the offside.Very accurate but a bit explosive for me.I guess it depends on how large of a hole you want.