Author Topic: Nosler BT vs. Hornaday SST (Read 893 times)

matt d · « **on:** November 18, 2003, 12:09:05 PM »

I have been bouncing back and forth between the Nosler Ballistic tip 130 grn and the Hornaday SST 130 grn for my .270 for a couple of years now. With both bullets I have taken many pigs and coyotes. I have taken deer with the hornaday and it did a fine job, it aslo did a fine job with some large pigs in the 250 - 300 lb range. The hornaday acts different with smaller animals, mainly coyotes. the hornaday will produce a large tennis ball size exit wound where the Nosler will make a small finger size wound. I am atributing this to bullet expansion. I would never come to a conclusion if I didn't see a definite pattern, I have shot many with both bullets. The only true test that I have been able to provide either one of the bullets is I took a monster boar with the nosler bullets. They pentraded the boars armor nicely, all three of them. One would have been enough to kill the hog but the circumstances didn't allow for that. All three bullets didn't leave the hog but they all stuck in the opposite sides armor. I am thinking that the hornaday might not have done it because of the more rapid expansion. I am a pig hunter right after I am a coyote hunter and I don't care about bullet penetration when it comes to coyotes so I think I will stick with the Nosler. What do you guys think?

Lee D. · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2003, 12:27:41 PM »

Hornady partition?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2003, 12:41:18 PM »

Matt:

I am a fan of Hornaday bullets in a number of calibers. I started loading them back in the "60's." They have been very effective deer getters. I have no experience with the SST bullet design from Hornaday. As close as I can get is the old Remington Bronze Pt design. The 130 grain bronze pt. consistently gave quick kills with shots in the heart/lung region. The bullet would do massive damage to the heart/lungs and sometimes part of the liver. The bullet would never fully penetrate a deer. Very seldom would I even find bullet fragments. I assume they went out in the gut pile.

The country I hunted was covered with heavy brush and timber thickets. It was steep and the shooting would be across steep narrow draws. It is not uncommon for the bucks to travel a short distance after a shot even with their heart/lungs blown away. Sometimes they would rolled down a steep hillside some distance before hanging up in a bush or against a tree. One of my brothers was using a .270 with the same results. As I grew older(started at 12) I developed better methods to speed up recovery. One of those was getting away from bullets that did not offer full penetration on broadside, chest region shots. I wanted a good blood trail.

At the time we found that we needed to use Nosler partitions which we could not afford or go to 150 grain bullets. An extremely successful hunting partner(timber faller) who alway knew where the bucks were used the Remington 150 grain CL bullet.

With that background information are you getting full penetration with the 130 grain SST bullet? If you have recovered any from deer or pigs have you weighed the recovered bullet. If so would you describe the results. (Distance, wt. of recovered bullet, or full penetration.)

I have been drawn to the SST because of in flight efficency, as I was to the bronze pt. over 40 years ago. If it has over come the faults of the bronze pt. it must be a great bullet.

Siskiyou

matt d · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2003, 02:04:31 PM »

You know what fellas, you're right, I am mistaken. I'll find out what the hell its called and post it. Thanks.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2003, 03:19:17 PM »

Could it be a Nosler Partition and a Hornady SST? That would explain what you posted. In that case the SST would leave a larger exit wound.

matt d · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2003, 05:32:02 AM »

Its a good thing I have the option to edit my post! Thanks. So getting back to the point, have other people found that the Nosler BT is a better pentitration bullet?

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2003, 05:59:01 AM »

Not generally. Not in the .30 caliber and smaller at any rate. If you were speaking of Partition PT bullets the answer would definitely be yes. The Nosler BTs in .30 and under are really fine killers of soft skinned game but do expand rapidly and lose most of the bullet fairly soon. The don't always exit. The SST is a much newer bullet and I've not heard as many reports on it. They now have a new bonded core version you might want to take a look at. So does Nosler. These two might be even more to your liking.

GB

matt d · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2003, 10:18:09 AM »

Still not very happy with the way this thread was going I did more research on what Hornaday bullet it was and now think that it is a spire point. I really appreciate the feedback fellas! I will have fun loading a higher end Hornaday and see how it performs. What wasn't fun is realizing my facts are totally screwed up. I'm sorry to the 70 plus people that have read my poor posts today.

I guess I bring this subject up because I originally loaded ballistic tips because I thought they would put pig holes in things like they do with the smaller calibers. Not Nosler but ballistic tips in general in small calibers. What I have found is the exact opposite and thought that I would throw this observation out there. When I realized these bullets were doing I started using them on pigs.

onesonek · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2003, 03:09:14 PM »

We forgive you,! but Hornady might not. I like Partitions over Balisitic Tips on big game. But that's my PO. Tell you the truth, I have not shot a hornady bullet

matt d · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2003, 09:55:24 AM »

onesonek,
what kind of rifle is that a picture of below you name. It looks intemidating! Thanks for your forgiveness, nightmare post. I was just trying to get other opinions and ended up looking like a jack ass. :roll:

Oh well

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2003, 11:55:00 AM »

I had the same decision. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either one. I picked Nosler, but probably should have picked Hornady because they seem to deliver the same performance for a lot less money.

onesonek · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2003, 01:14:34 PM »

Matt D, I don't think you looked like an ass. It's easy to confuse things, I do it all the time. So don't feel :oops: With out asking, one does not learn, one whom doesn't make mistakes, ain't doing much or trying very hard. As for the rifle in question, it's an Encore. There's a bigger pic a couple weeks back on the TC or SS board. I'm not sure where I posted it.

Went back to look. It's on the TC board. Listed as Just Checking ( Iwas trying to figure out how to post this pic at the time. :roll:

High Brass · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2003, 08:07:45 AM »

I'm loading 139 gr. Hornady SSTs in my 280. If I get the chance, I'll let you know how they work next week when I get back from WV. I am curious myself.