Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 168 grain Ballistic Tip and 165 grain Hornady SST

Hi Folks.
I would appreciate hearing your experiences with both the 165 Hornady SST and 168 gr Ballistic Silvertip in 30 caliber. I am interested in cartridge, velocity, distance, penetration, etc on deer and black bears.

I shot a buck with the 168 ballistic tip back in 2003 from about 30 yards front on. Bullet went through the brisket and came out near the hip. That was from a 20 inch BBl remington 308 so velocity was not real high.

I am planning on trying both bullets in my 20 inch Tikka which shoots 165s around 2650 fps. I have never tried the 165 SST but got a partial box in a recent deal and want to fling a few down range.

Thanks a lot.

Colin

The 168 NBT has performed beautifully for me from my 06 @ 2950-ish. They're identical to the BST you're asking about.

The SST is much more frangible. At 308 velocities likely fine, but I like a little tougher myself. IMHO the 168 NBT is a nice balance.

I used the SST out of a 30.06 10 or more years back so take it with a grain of salt. I shot a doe at 20 yards with it. Don't recall the load info but it was mild. It made a mess of the insides and I don't believe it exited. I know I remember it being to fragile for what I wanted and used the rest for the range. I much prefer the Nosler BT and Hornady Interlokt over the SST line!

Shot the 168BT for a season or two just a few years back (20" .308). Had nothing but good results. Decent penetration and ideal performance on deer and hogs.

Shot the 165 SST for one season about 8-9 years ago in a 22" 30-06 with factory Hornady Light Magnum ammo at 2,950fps. It made a mess of one buck and failed to exit on another (quartering away slightly). It did kill the heck out of stuff, but I would restrict it to lungs/neck only. At 2,650fps, it would be less of a factor.

I used a 150 grain '06 SST Superperformance @ about 3100 MV on 3 caribou and a moose, at ranges of about 300, 200, 70, and 30 yards respectively, on Nov 1 and 2, this year.

Performance was about what I expected. Quick expansion, large exit wounds.

The only bullet recovered was on the bull moose, shot an inch under his right ear... pics posted this forum under "SST Performance" or some such.

SSTs, especially in Hornady Superperformance ammo are IMO are best used at 300 yards plus, which is what I chose them for. Or if you want severe damage and a large exit wound on body shots. I have no prob with that. Have never used a BT on game.

In my 27" heavy bbl rifle, I get better groups and less wound damage with Remington factory Corelokts, than with the Hornadys - but not significantly better groups, and the Hornady's have a better 300 plus yards trajectory. I can spare an inch or so group size at 300 and out for a flatter trajectory.

I haven't seen any difference on bang-flops between the two, having all been bang flops in the last 5 years, 2 moose under 100 yards, and about 12 caribou all but one over 200 yards here out of Kotzebue.

Inside 300 yards, for my rifles, I favor the factory Corelokts at this time. (Is that enuf weaseling for you ?? ) No dis with Hornady Interlocks over the years either.

It really ain't what you hit em with, within reason, but where..... Any well constructed for the purpose plain jane or premium will do the job. I tend to go with accuracy first, and if there, have largely gone back to plain janes rather than expensive premiums. I reserve the right.......etc....

Both work good WHEN used as they were designed for - long range controlled expansion. In my experience both perform like a varmint round at short ranges. I've never been impressed with either for penetration at the ranges I hunt.

The NBT will hold together better than the SST. Both good at those MVs, but I'd not expect exits all of the time with the SST.

I've used a lot of BT's over the years, mainly in a .308. Mostly they were .30 cal 150's and this year a .30 cal 168. no complaints.
I used 165 SST in a '06, and found that it lacked penetration. On a broadside buck, it was OK. On a small doe quartering away, I did not get an exit. I no longer use the SST.

Thanks guys.