Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting hornady sst or barnes ttsx for deer?

killindeer, take the sst off your list if you want, but I think most of the problems are velocity issue's. I have seen and used the 130 SST in 270 and 150's in 308 and NEVER seen anything close to what has been shared here. My deer total with the SST is substantial. However I do run try to hot rod them. My 270 is about 2900 or so and my 308 is right around 2550.

Just real world info.

Randy

I love me some Barnes bullets, but had my first TTSX not expand on a critter. Hit a bull caribou in the lungs with a 140gr via my 7 WSM. At first when I rolled the bull over, I thought I might catch my first Barnes bullet then noticed the tiny exit hole that wasn't much bigger than the bullet diameter. Shot distance was about 60 or 70 yards or so.

Skin is rather elastic - chances are the bullet came out expanded and the exit wound came back down in size.

What did the vitals look like during the necropsy?

Forgot to add that no ribs were hit either and the lungs held up considerably well for obviously having a bullet punch through em.

Shot 2 whitetails w 165gr SSTs out of my .308 and both were bang flops. Exit holes size of a nickel.

I used the early SST's in a 30.06 was not impressed with them and won't use them again. I hear great things about the 162 SST in 7 mag so that I may try.

Smart choice IF you are running normal 270 vel. ie. 3100 fps or so.

I can attest to the dependability of Hornady Ils and Rem core lokts.

I have all I need, but I hear FINDING the Horn. Ils is difficult.

GOOD LUCK whichever.

I agree..I was looking for a good bullet in my 7-30Waters 14" Contender and talked to a Hornady rep when the SST's first came out. He told me the reason for them was good expansion at lower velocity. I've use them with hot loads in wby 257 ext..but just to see what they would do. Liked them best in 139grs. in 7mm-08 with mild loads.

I've used 150 SSTs at 2850 fps out of my 308 on more than a few medium sized pigs, can't tell the difference between them and Federal factory 150 soft points or my Corelok handloads, penetrations seems adequate to put them down quick, they don't appear to be overly fragile.
139 gr SSTs out of my 7MM RM is a totally different story, at the higher speeds they tear up a lot of meat.

I have had good luck with 150 grainSSTs in my 308 at about 2,630. I have not caught one yet but in heart lung shots the exit holes have been small however internal damage has been considerable. At higher speeds they might be a bit soft.

-Z

may use the interlocks this year instead

ive killed 5 deer with the 130 TTSX in 308win loaded over 3000fps at the muzzle and 1 deer with the 150 SST in 308 win launched at approx 2800

all 5 barnes exited
the 1 sst did not

to be fair the SST was a frontal shot, all the barnes were broadside or quartering to/away...

all killed deer

the deer traveled farther with the SST than it did any of the barnes for whatever its worth, about 50 yards

the SST retained 50% of weight and deer was approx 70 yards away

the TTSX shots were all 20-50 yards or so, some through both shoulders
3 were DRT, 2 "moved", one went 10 yards, one went 15 yards

ttsx exits:

wish they did the 110 gr barnes in factory ammo. all i see is the 130gr

i have a bud who reloads mine...ive thought about trying the 110TTSX at 3250-3300 fps

should make quite an impact but the BC is horrible for longer range

WHY?



Yes indeed! 110 gr - .308 cal >>awful B C!

IMO - For my hunting... light per caliber HAS A LIMIT!!

i mean for my 270. the 110grain. isnt that in the barnes equivalent to a 130gr in most other ammo

I do like my Barnes in several chamberings especially the 85 TSX in 6mm but still use Nosler PT's and recently loaded the SST's for a rancher's kid. His Dad swears by the Hornady offering even at 7 win mag velocities guess they should work fine in the kid's 7x57.

BTW thanks Karnis for the 7x57 cases they're in short supply everywhere.

Okay... that's certainly better. I got distracted 'from' another thread about .308 cal & 150 gr bullets.

Sorry.

I've used them in factoty Hornaday 139gr SST in a Rem 700 Classic 7x57... kills them DRT!!!

I shoot 95 gr SSt in 243 for Tennessee Whitetails (average 100-150#) Good accuracy and sure kills but not drop in tracks.
In 7mm-08 Savage heavy barrel I use 162 SST and have excellent results. Good expansion with exit hole. Yes it is heavy bullet but accuracy is 1/2" and this is the open field rifle for longer shots.
In 270 win I find the 130 interlock from Hornady better on the medium size deer. The SST in 270 kills dead but did not give me exit holes or good blood trails. Deer only went 50 yards at longest so can't really complain. Just prefer the performance of Interlock bullets in 270.