Hornady SST's

[dogslayer]

Doe's anybody know the minimum velocity required for expantion on hornady's SST bullets? I've heard three different answers from hornady ranging from 1100 to 1800 fps. I would like to try them in my 30-30 14in. barreled contender for coyotes and wondering if there would be any expantion within 100 yards. I would expect to get about 2100 fps but I havn't tried them yet. Any experience using them on game, I'd love to hear about it.

[David D.]

I used 139Gr SST in my 24" barreled 7MM-08. Ever deer I shot 100yds and under I killed but had to go find them. Same gun and bullet would drop them in their tracks way out there. Up close shots seem to not expand.

I used 129Gr SST in my 15" 6.5X55S.M. and the results were entirely different. I killed several deer 40 to 126Yds. and all were D.O.A. where they stood.

[quickdtoo]

Recommended muzzle velocity for the SST is 2000-3300fps, they don't give an impact velocity.

Tim

http://www.hornady.com/hits/calculator

[sweetwyominghome]

Most of the SSTs require around 1850-1900 fps at impact to expand. Keep in mind that at that low of a velocity, expansion will be minimal unless bone is impacted.

An exception to the rule here is the 6.5mm/129 grain SST which opens very quickly and will still expand somewhat down to around 1650 fps. Hogs are a target of opportunity where I live, and for that reason, I use the standard Hornady 129 grain SP as the SST is too fragile, even at the modest speeds of my 6.5 Bullberry Improved rifle (a shade over 2600 fps from a 26" barrel).

But like Dave D noted, on deer, which typically don't overly tax the construction and integrity of a bullet, those same 129 grain SSTs are extremely lethal.

[shot1]

If you want to shoot those heavy bullets try the 155 Hornady A-Max. This bullet has a thinner jacket than the SST and should open up some. I would suggest that you go to the 125 Nosler ballistic tip. I have been using it in my 14" 30-30AI  with 33 grs IMR 4198 at 2670 fps and it is really accurate and it hammers deer. I have not shot it in my contender pistol but the 125 gr. Speer TNT is really accurate in a 30X47 HBR rifle at 2850 fps and it really comes apart on ground hogs so it should expand pretty well out of your 14" 30-30 Win. IMR 4198 seems to really work well in the pistols. I use it in my 30-30AI and the 4th edition Sierra gives 30 grs IMR-4198 with 125 gr bullets out of the 14" 30-30 Win as getting 2300 fps and this is the recommended hunting load .  It list 28.1 grs IMR 4198 with 150/55 gr bullets as the accuracy load at 2100 fps which is the same velocity as the suggested hunting load with RE-7 at 28.8 grs.

[Hopalong7]

     When I want a heavier bullet(150+/-), I switch to a 35, but when I first got my 14" 30-30AI I tried 150BT's and had very good bullet performance on two deer, both in the 120-140lb class.  I was already getting good to excellent results with the 125BT in a 30Herrett and 30-30Win and switched to it in the AI as well.  Memory thinks the 150 crono'ed right at 2400 but I don't remember thr exact load...probably somewhere in my notes.
Walt