Wanted: Experienced Bullet Reports

[1 id dog]

  Pardon Me if this question is too redundant(please). I did do a search on this bullet and didn't find exactly the answer I was looking for. I have just about decided that the Hornady 45/50 300 grn SST bullet is the one for me. The real question I want answered is: How well does this bullet perform on deer in the real world. I doubt I'll ever get to hunt much else and if it I get a chance on something else I'll worry about it then. I'm shooting a CVA Optima, 90 grns. T7 loose(may change?), T7 primers. Until this year I've been a true traditionalist, but time has taken effect on the old eye's and need a scoped gun now. I'm new to this game so don't Bash the old man too hard!

[sabotloader]

1 id dog

Just a couple of things I think I might share...

1. In your post you indicated that you were shooting an Optima... I am not sure that you will be able to get the SST with the supplied black sabot down your barrel, however Hornady is now offering what they call a "low drag" sabor with this bullet.  It is an MMP HPH-3pEZ load colored red.... It should go down.

2. I have only shot the bullet at paper testing it's accuracy... It is accurate.

3. The only negatives that I have heard are at close ranges it, and its little brother the 250, can pencil its way through a deer and not achieve much expansion if only tissue is contacted.

4. There are a lot of positive reports also especially at the longer ranges.

5. Your chosen charge of 90 grains might also help the 300 work better @ shorter ranges because you are certainly not over-driving the bullet.  Even if you went to the maximum allowed charge in a CVA, 100 grains loose, that should still be effective.

I beleive there are more effective bullets on the market than the SST/SW at a much more reasonable price, but then again I am another old man that fails to be impressed by high BC's in a muzzleloading bullet.

Hope some of this information helps your quest... gotta go huntin'

[SHOOTALL]

i use that bullet in a TC  Encore with 2 50 gr. works great . never recovered a bullet all shots were pass thru . all but one dropped at the shot one doe took a couple steps . 2 6 pointers ,1 spike and several does . longest shot 120 yards a doe the first 6 pointer 80 yards the closest 25 yards .
to be honest i have used the lee R.E.A.L. bullet ( CAST THEM ) . and other bullets lead and jacketed all kill deer . Find the bullet that is the most accy. in your gun and the bullet you ask about is good in mine ,
GOOD HUNTING !

[SHOOTALL]

2  50 gr triple 7 pills
sorry left that out

[hunt-m-up]

I have a nephew who shoots the SST's out of a .45 and he's not getting good expansion. I couldn't get my gun to shoot the 250grn well with 110 grns of 777, so I quite trying. I favor one of the Barnes solid copper hollow points, they blow a big hole even at close range on pass throughs and they retain mass. If I were shooting the SST's I would intentionally shoot them on the front "shoulder" to get good expansion and I'm sure the heavy 300 grn would drive thru the rest of the deer. They probably need to be shot with heavier charges 110+ or higher velocities to get the most of their expansion, despite some of the marketing claims.
I think the poly-tipped bullets work better in the cartridge rifles they were originally intended for with higher velocities.
FWIW

[AlbanyCO]

This probably is not the answer you are looking for but why not try out a 300 grain hornaday XTP bullet? They are proven performers on deer and if you are shooting 90-100 grains you are not over driving it. All the deer I have shot with the 300 grainer have exited and left a BIG hole in it's wake. Just something to think about.

[Semisane]

I'm new to this game so don't Bash the old man too hard!

      Hey 1 id, this half blind old dawg can't help you with the SST question `cause I've never shot them at game, only paper.  But if you ever get tired of them and your shots are in the 150 yard range or less, try Speer .45 250 grain or 300 grain Gold Dots in Harvester crush rib sabots, or their regular high pressure sabots.  I gar-run-tee they will do the job - close up, far out, doesn't make any difference.