SSP Bullets vs. Standard Bullets

[Ranger413]

I'm probably going to use Hornady bullets to reload with for my .308 Encore w/ the 15" tube.  I've settled on the 130gr. bullet weight because I have used it with much success in the past on whitetails.  

Here's the question . . . what is the deal with the SSP bullets.  We used the 130gr. Spire Point bullets for our rifles.  The SSP bullets look identical in the pics I've seen.

Also, do any of you have any accuracy or on-game performance results for the Hornady 130gr. SSP bullets?

Thanks,

Ranger413

[RonF]

The SSP bullets are a bit thinner jacketed than the rifle bullets.  I've used the 30 cal 130 gr in a 14" Contender in .30-40 Krag on deer with excellent results.  You won't get a lot more out of the .308 than I get out of the Krag, so I highly recommend these bullets.  The 135 gr Sierra pistol bullet is also very good.

RonF

[KYODE]

i used the 130gr hornady ssp this past deer season in my 14" 30-30ackley improved. the load chronographed 2588fps average. i killed 2 whitetail does at 50 and 75 yards. at these velocities the bullet had great expansion. there was very little exit, with bullet fragments. the bullet worked great, but is a little soft maybe for these velocities. accuracy is super with both types.
i contacted hornady, and questioned them comparing the 130gr sp, and 130gr ssp. i was told that the two are very similar, but havn't shot game with the standard sp yet to see.
i had also heard the 130gr ssp was discontinued. hornady said that it was true also, but have since heard conflicting statements, so i'm not 100% sure.
i was also told by sierra techs that sierra discontinued the 135gr sspb. so i'd stock up if you intend on using either for long.

[RonF]

Sad about the discontinuance, or possible discontinuance, of these great bullets.  I would think the 125 gr. Nosler BT would be good on deer at these velocities, but haven't tried it, though they shoot great.  Anyone have experience with them?

RonF

[flatlander]

I can't speak for the 125 gn 30 cal, but I took a deer this year with a 120 grn out of a 7x30. It was a mule deer at just over a hundred yards and the bullet performance was terrific. Normal entry wound good expansion and full penetration. This was at muzzle velocities between 2300 and 2400 fps. I would switch if I had a reason, but the ballistic tips are working so well for me, I'm not even considering it. And I'll be putting them in my 30-30 when I start handloading for it, too.

[smoky]

I contacted Sierra about this very issue a couple of months ago.  Before I state what they told me let me say that Sierra is one of the best customer oriented companies of any kind that I have ever dealt with.

My question to the technician was about proper expansion of standard rifle bullets shot from an encore once velocities dropped below 1800 fps.  I have this concern because I am hunting with an 11" 7mm BR encore barrel that is pushing 140 grain bullet at about 2100 fps at the muzzle.

The Sierra technican told me that their standard rifle bullets would not cosistently expand properly at some pistol velocities which is why they developed the SSP line.  He went on to say that many shooters were using the Poly tipped bullets as an alternative because of their thin jackets.  This has in fact happened so much that sales of the SSP bullets have dropped to the point that Sierra is discontinuing them.

The Sierra 140 grain spitzer is the best grouping bullet in my encore so far.  I am hopeful that the 130 will duplicate that and at that point I guess I'll just have to stockpile some SSP's for hunting purposes.

Smoky

[Ranger413]

I was also looking at Hornady's new Interbond bullets.  I think they're poly tipped and sound as if they are "the stuff".  If the theory that the rifle bullets fired at pistol velocities need a thinner jacket or need to be poly tipped maybe this new bullet is the answer.

I've heard some bad stuff about poly tipped bullets doing too much damage and expanding too rapidly before entering the vitals.  Wondering if the Interbond will solve this dilema?

Ranger413

[KYODE]

i thought the very same thing. may be worth a try in the bigger encore handgun rounds.

[Ranger413]

After reading a bit on the net during the past hour I've kinda figured that the Interbond is designed for heavier game - black bear, larger deer species, etc.  Since I hunt primarily whitetails I think a poly tipped or spire point bullet in the 125gr to 150gr range would probably suit my needs.  Maybe the poly tipped bullets are the way to go if shooting a bit slower than standard rifle velicities given the shorter tube on the pistols.

How much velocity loss can be expected?  I know the .308 in rifle form typically runs around 2800fps with bullets including and under 150gr.  Would 2500fps be about average?

Ranger413