30 caliber, 165 grain, Hornady, SST out of 30/40 Krag Contender

[358jdj]

For many years I have shot Hornady, 170 grain (30/30) bullets out of my Contender 30/40 Krag pushed by 47 grains of IMR4350.  The load has performed well on big game including a few elk.

I wil be hunting bear in September.  At the range I have experienced great groups with the 165 grain Hornady SST bullet pushed by 47 grains of IMR 4350.  Given this accuracy and the nice ballistic coefficient of the SST, I am tempted to use it on the bear hunt.

I have perused the internet trying to find out if the SST bullet will perfom well on game at 30/30 rifle velocities.  Can't really find anything definative.  What are the thougths of you guys/gals on the forum?  Any experiences from practial hunting situations to share regarding the SST's terminal perfomance when started at around 2100 fps?

It is really to late to start trying different loads to include Nosler BTs ect.  Based on what you may have to say, I will either use the standby of the 170 Hornady FP or the 165 SST.

Thanks in advance for your thoughful comments.

[onesonek]

I don't have any experience with the SST's,  but would bet they would do just fine with in the low end velocity envelope on black bear. I would call Hornady as ask a tech on what that envelope is. Then to throw alil caution in there, add a 100 fps to what they tell you. My guess  they should perform about the same as NBT's which are good down to 17-1800fps.  In the 30-40, I suspect this will give the 165 SST more range than likely needed. If you are hunting close range out of blind, I have no doubt they'll work. Spot and stalk scenario in more open terrain, well with out knowing more detail, i suspect you can push 200 yds pretty hard, and maybe more.

Dave

[Mikey]

358:  a intersting thought here regards the design of the 30/30 slug and its success for you - that's a flat nosed slug.  Lots of folk here hunt bear with revolvers or ask about the best field load for a particular caliber and I always find myself recommending the flat nose slug - just seems to have more 'whop-ability'....

I believe the SST slugs are designed to extend the capabilities and range of the caliber and while they may indeed do just that I believe you can probably do the same with the 30/30 slug and if I was hunting bear with that caliber I would much prefer a long, slow moving, flat nose slug to penetrate on through. 

Onesonek is right - you can probably push that 165 gn slug to 200 yds, but I think you can do just as well with the 170 gn 30/30 slug.  I believe the difference in trajectory at 200 yds with a 170 gn 30 cal bullet at 2100'/sec should not be beyond the ability of your scope to account for the trajectory differences of the SST slug.

But then, I'm old and, well...................... Mikey.

[Lone Star]

Hornady #6 lists 2200 fps as the lower end of the muzzle velocity range for the 165 SST.    This begs the question - what is the minimum impact  velocity?  At 200 yards that bullet is traveling 1855 fps for 1261 fpe.  The 170 FN is traveling 1450 fps for 793 fpe.  If the SST expands reliably at that speed it is probably superior to the 170FN.  I seriously doubt that the FN will expand to any extent at that velocity, but its flat nose will make a bigger wound than the SST if it does not expand.  Call Hornady and see if they can give you a minimum impact  velocity for the SST.


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[358jdj]

Thanks for your comments to date.  I agree with both of you.  The bullet drop at 200 yards for either bullet is very manageable.  The foot pounds of energy remaining at 200 yards definately goes to the SST.  That, and the accuracy of the load I use is why I want to use the bullet. 

I will take your advice and attempt a call to Hornady.  I will post the results/response/comments (if any).

[358jdj]

A response from Hornady Technical Assistance:

The SST will expand out at 200 yards, you will have 1765 velocity and1141 foot lb energy.   

Guess I will give the SSTs a shot!