270 Hornday SST vs Deer
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
270 Hornday SST vs Deer
Does anybody have any first hand experience with the Hornady SST in 270? My Weatherby Ultralight shoots MOA or better with them and I was thinking about using them on my annual West Virginia whitetail hunt. I think they would be fine, but I am a little concerned over a close range shoulder shot.
#2
One of my Rem 700s in .270 love the ammunition right out of the box. I'm loving it. 1" moa. Hitting a 1 1/4" dot multiple times @ 100yds with ammo right out of the box is about what a guy could hope for in a deer weapon. A great confidence builder as well.
And Yes, have experience giving deer dirt naps with it. It's good ammunition. I've taken straight on shots just above the heart, broadside through the lungs and high shoulder to drop them, all with good success.(of course, it's a .270) Good penetration, bullet expansion and internal damage.
As long as I get the accuracy I'm looking for, I'm sticking with them.
iSnipe
And Yes, have experience giving deer dirt naps with it. It's good ammunition. I've taken straight on shots just above the heart, broadside through the lungs and high shoulder to drop them, all with good success.(of course, it's a .270) Good penetration, bullet expansion and internal damage.
As long as I get the accuracy I'm looking for, I'm sticking with them.
iSnipe
#3
With wby velocity at close range with the SST, the shoulder wouldn't be my first choice. Reason being I used 130gr SST out of my 270 win on mature whitetails buck where I hit flush shoulder at around 100 yards, it busted the onside wheel but penetration was limited. In fact I only disturbed one lung, which resulted in a longer track then I'd like...I bumped him and came back later to retrieve him. I'd suggest trying the Hornady IB instead, it will hold together better while still making a nice wound channel on a rib shots. I can shoot them dang near interchangeable in a couple of guns with same weight bullets.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Last edited by skeeter 7MM; 11-03-2009 at 11:47 PM.
#5
Yeah I agree that the SST is a great shooting bullet, especially at longer ranges, but I would not trust it on a up close shoulder shot. You would be better off with more of a hunting bullet for that type of shot.
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
I havn't been able to find a single box of BTSP Hornady's around here for over almost 2 years, luckily I have a few boxes bought up. I'm thinking about trying the SST's just in case, could always shoot a few does with them.
#7
If you can find Federal premium Nosler partition then forget about the Hornady, I being using Federal premium since 1981, have not lost 1 deer or gone more than 7 yrds to find it.
I heard about the core lock being about the same, but why change ?
I heard about the core lock being about the same, but why change ?
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: tampa fl USA
Posts: 184
i have first hand experience with the .270win and .308win SST's. they shoot well, but they are definitely destructive at close range. the longest shot i've taken with this bullet was only 65 yards. with most shots being within half of that distance. it's been my experience that they really fragment at close range. especially when they hit the shoulders. also, i've had experiences where the jacket and core seperated completely. but, i've only had one deer go more than a few feet. so the bullet did its job, it killed deer. you have to remember that balistic tip bullets were designed to expand at long range when the velocity of the bullet has dropped. the copper jacket at the nose of the bullet is thinner than a standard jacketed soft point bullet. which helps them expand reliably at long range lower velocities. in turn, they expand easily and violently at close range high velocities.
this year i've switched to the new Winchester power max bonded ammo for one of my .270's. becuase most of my shots have been at close range i wanted a bullet that has a better chance of staying together. so far i've only had one experience with the bullet. so far so good. hopefully i'll have more good news after this weekend.
if you can, try to avoid shoulder hits at close range if you don't like a lot of blood shot meat. which i'm sure you don't.
good luck.
this year i've switched to the new Winchester power max bonded ammo for one of my .270's. becuase most of my shots have been at close range i wanted a bullet that has a better chance of staying together. so far i've only had one experience with the bullet. so far so good. hopefully i'll have more good news after this weekend.
if you can, try to avoid shoulder hits at close range if you don't like a lot of blood shot meat. which i'm sure you don't.
good luck.
#10
A pic of the buck that rattled me.