200 grain sst on deer at 200 yrds??
11-30-2004, 08:58 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: butler in. USA
Posts: 26
200 grain sst on deer at 200 yrds??
I have pretty much settled on 250 grain SST's with 100 grain of 777 as my load this year they are grouping great out to 150 yards with good trajectory. I have shot some of the 200 grain SST's with 110 grains 777 and was very impressed with the flat shooting of this bullet and have been considering this as my load for next season. My question is do you guys think this bullet would have enough soup left out to 200 yards on whittail I am wondering how much energy they carry at 200 yds. anybody know??
12-01-2004, 07:26 AM
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,052
RE: 200 grain sst on deer at 200 yrds??
lurch the desire to fire lighter bullets for most guys stems from their knowledge of centerfire guns and ballistics. To get a 30/06 to step out there you can stoke up a 150 and "leter eat". But that doesnt work for smokepoles. The low velocities and poor Ballistic Coeffiecients and Sectional Densities make lighter bullets a losing proposition. The key is weight for velocity retention which yeilds more down range energy and better penetration. There is typically is only about 100fps loss per 25grains of bullet weight increased (that being a 250grn will most likely be about 200fps slower than a 200grn all other things being equal.) But the decrease in velocity isnt the same. The heavier bullets will shed less velocity at longer ranges than do the lighter stuff. Its all about momentum. Plus there is less wind drift with heavier bullets.
Now I agree if you are gonna stick with 120grn and lighter loads then yeah a 200 is a good idea. My old 22" Wolverine is a deadly combination with 200grn Xbullets ahead of 2 pellets. But the thing drops like an anvil past 150yds, nevermind 200. For 200yds and farther shooting I would strongly recommend at least 250grain bullets like the SST. If your gun is properly burning a 150grain load with such bullets you have a rig that is closer too a 300yrd gun than simply a 200yd outfit. A good 120grn charge should power 250s easily too 200yds. The key is finding out if your gun is truly burning all that charge and properly accelerating the bullet consistently.
Good luck,
RA
Now I agree if you are gonna stick with 120grn and lighter loads then yeah a 200 is a good idea. My old 22" Wolverine is a deadly combination with 200grn Xbullets ahead of 2 pellets. But the thing drops like an anvil past 150yds, nevermind 200. For 200yds and farther shooting I would strongly recommend at least 250grain bullets like the SST. If your gun is properly burning a 150grain load with such bullets you have a rig that is closer too a 300yrd gun than simply a 200yd outfit. A good 120grn charge should power 250s easily too 200yds. The key is finding out if your gun is truly burning all that charge and properly accelerating the bullet consistently.
Good luck,
RA
