Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting SST Hornady review and recovery.

Interesting.

My brother shot a small buck with his 7mm-08 and 139 grain SST. Deer standing 75 away broadside. Just behind the shoulder entrance and exit straight down through the brisket - bullet never made it across the body cavity. Probably the strangest bullet results I have seen. Luckily, the exit at the bottom of the brisket bled pretty well and we recovered the deer.

Even though it's reported that the newer SST's are an improvement over the earlier ones, I'm still not convinced to try them again, based on my earlier disappointment.

To me, there are just too many good choices to circle back and try those again. I will keep reading reports, won't say never.

DF

These pics are of a buck shot@ 25 yds this year with a "newer version" 154 Gr SST from a 280 Rem. Deer stumbled another 25 yds and was down for the count

1st pic is entrance

My son got about a golf ball size exit and short blood trail from a 150 grain SST from his .308 this last season with a lung liver shot. I used an older version SST 139 grain from my 7mm-08 on my last deer and it dropped at the shot from a quartering to shot from a tree stand that probably got his spine. No exit on that one which will have me shooting up those old ones and getting the newer stronger constructed ones. I haven't had many down right there deer and I'm a little put off about watching an animal writhe around on the ground in front of me in its death throws instead of it going down 50 yards away and out of sight. Contrast that to a previous buck that took the 140 grain TSX Barnes that ran away and hid after leaving 5 drops of blood and I don't like that either.

I'm not sure anyone is ecstatic about this part of hunting but it's all apart of it. Let's face it, a deer Down RT, shot through lungs/heart only lives a few seconds. I hope my death, when ever that is only takes that long...

I'll have to remember a liver shot is a good shot next time I get ribbed for hitting one to far back!

And some folks would be amazed and maybe otherwise if they saw what it takes to die.... just cause it runs out of sight, all that means is you didn't witness the rest....

If you're willing to shoot something you can't be squeamish about the aftermath.

What was the issue Ryan?

she hit it in the shoulder, bullet must have blew up, blood all over, broke bone. never recovered.

I shoot 'heavy for caliber' everything , 117gr. 25-06 , 162gr. 280ai - no wacky results so far . 208 amax in 308win. , my favorite - thanks MontanaMarine !

In my experience, the present SST's act very much like Interlock Spire Points of the same diameter and weight IF driven to the same muzzle velocity.

Velocity is apparently big factor that creates so much controversy over bullet performance. It can even make a difference in much "harder" bulets than SST's (or Interlocks, Ballistic Tips, Core-Lokts, etc).

I shoot 140 grain SST's from a 270 WSM at 3175 fps. Most shots are between 200-250 yds. The exit wounds look much like common cup and core. I've hit deer at less than 100 yds too and the bullet still holds together. I like 'em.

Dan

This season's buck fell to a 200 grain Hornady Interlock RN out of my .35 Whelen, a quartering shot at 100 yds. The bullet passed thru the chest diagonally coming to rest just under the hide on the off side, it was perfectly mushroomed and weighed 122 grains.

I'd heap rather watch'em die than have to go looking for'em...

DF

No matter how good a certain bullet or cartridge performs in the field, there will always be those who believe there just has to be something better.

It's a matter of personal preference just like some guys prefer blondes, some brunettes and some redheads.

Yes sir.
I like the hunting to be over with the trigger pull.
That theory drives my choices of chambering and bullet.

Finally remembered !






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