I thought I would try a horandy sst 165 grn. through my 30-06 this year for deer. Has any used them? How explosive are they? I just bought everything I need to load them. I'm going with IMR4350 and a CCI 200 primer. Lets see how they paper before I bring them to the woods.

I used the 150 SSTs one year about 9 or 10 years ago in Wyoming for mulies and threw the rest away! They expand way too fast on deer and make a mess. I went back to their 150 grain BTSP with 59.7 grains of IMR 4350 with a CCI primer and haven't looked back! I use the same powder (50 grains) with their 117 grain BTSPs in my Ruger 25-06 for antelope and not one has moved after the shot. I go to their Interbonds in my 30-06 for elk and they shoot to the same POI as the BTSPs.

I have a 30-06 load that groups 1" to 1.125" with 180g SSTs pushed with 53gr IMR4350.

Have fun. I hope you find a good load.

I've heard of good results and bad about Hornady SST. Every weapon is different, as is the shooter behind it. Your best bet is to shoot a couple of rounds on paper, as you've said,and see what the results are. Adjust your load as needed. You owe it to yourself and to the game you are trying to harvest. Good luck on your hunt; Be safe.

www.GreatBowHunting.com

Ok. the sst shot very bad through my rifle. the gun is still new to me so I got to thinking. It a U.S. Remington mouser action A custom barrel and stock. I was told the custom barrel might have a higher twist rate, causing the lighter bullet to yaw and way. think i'll slow my load down a bit, if that dont work. I'll try a 180 gr bullet. Do any of you experts have any input that might help me? I dont want to get rid of the gun. I kinda like it. Just wish it would shoot the way it should.

RR,

How do you like the SST bullets from Hornady ?

I'm not at all a SST fan. As said they blow up easy and don't leave a good enough exit hole for me. I won't use them again. I liked the interlock BTSP way better. I have interbond to load but haven't tried them. My go to bullet now is a Nosler Accubond.

I haven't used the SST as much as I have the 165 Interbond, but my current load for the .30-06 is built around IMR4350 and CCI 200s.

When I first started reloading, I tried to wring the most velocity that I could out of a load. Over the years though, having grown tired of picking fragments of lead and jackets out of venison, and not being all that satisfied in the accuracy of my reloads, I started over.

Interestingly, most of my rifles performed best accuracy-wise with less than the maximum loads I'd thought were the holy grail before. Once I started using them on game, I started finding that the bullets were performing far better than they had when I'd been driving them at max velocity.

Comparing ranges at which I'd shot game against tables for each load, I started to discover a trend: My jacketed lead bullets tended to perform best when they'd strike an animal traveling at 2500-2700 fps. Most of my encounters with deer occur at about 100 yards. My current load for .30-06 is traveling at just under 2600 fps at 100 yards - and consistenly groups at 3/4 MOA or better out to 300 yards - which I consider the maximum range I'll encounter game at (lots of trees, lots of terrain).

So, my advice is pretty simple. Find a load that shoots well from your rifle first. Chronograph it. Apply it to an exterior ballistics program. If it's traveling at 2500-2700 fps at ranges you expect to encounter game at, you shouldn't have any concerns.

Like some others, I've never found very much accuracy out of the SST's. Tried them in 4 or 5 different calibers. Have been very satisfied both for accuracy and performance using both Sierra PH's and Accubonds. Hope you have good luck with your SST's.

I too have given up on the SST's...only use 2 Hornady bullets anymore (a round-nose 170g for my 30-30 and a 80g FMJ in a 243...which I think they stopped making recently).

I have found much better accuracy and performance on game with Nosler bullets...especially Accubonds in my mags (ballistic tips and partitions in others).

There is also a lot of truth to what homers brother states...velocity is key to bullet performance...and faster isn't always better (I know...Mr. Weatherby is scowling at me right now)...every rifle is different, most mine perform best accuracy wise well below maximum load potential...with a few exceptions. Spend the time trying different powder and bullet weight and brand...it makes a difference. I don't own an '06...so can't help ya there on specifics. My brothers '06's both love 180g bullets...both the Nosler Partition and the Barnes X bullets, not sure which powder he is using, but I believe he is using IMR-4895 or H4831sc.