Hornady SST Terminal Ballistic Performance

[PeteLongstreet]

I am loading 7.62x39 (308 bore) with the 125 gr SST. Getting 2200 fps and trying to find out the minimum velocity needed for reliable expansion to calculate effective range. Hornady tech support told me 2400 fps which sounds high. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[davis211]

They make a SST for the 300BO- what are they running? I would think they’d expand down to 1500 or so-now you have me curious.

 

[davis211]

Looks like 1600

 

[PeteLongstreet]

Looks like 1600

View attachment 1803504

That's what I thought but didn't see on their website. No idea why they told me 2400. Anyway, thanks for the info. Ballistics calculator says good out around 250 yd. If I can work up a lod for 2400 should be good to 300. More than enough.

 

[davis211]

Hornady has a 123 gr SST factory load going 2350 out of a 20” barrel—not bad. You shooting a bolt or auto?

 

[PeteLongstreet]

Hornady has a 123 gr SST factory load going 2350 out of a 20” barrel—not bad. You shooting a bolt or auto?

AR47 with a 16" barrel. 31.5 gr of H335.

 

[oconeedan]

I used a handgun in 7mmBR, a 154gr SST moving about 2000fps at muzzle, shot a doe at around 35 yds and bullet not recovered. The exit, you could stick your thumb in. The doe ran about 24 inches, straight down. So the 7mm 154gr SST worked below 2000fps. I would guess what you are loading will be fine on Ga deer.

 

[PeteLongstreet]

I used a handgun in 7mmBR, a 154gr SST moving about 2000fps at muzzle, shot a doe at around 35 yds and bullet not recovered. The exit, you could stick your thumb in. The doe ran about 24 inches, straight down. So the 7mm 154gr SST worked below 2000fps. I would guess what you are loading will be fine on Ga deer.

After three emails they allowed that the velocities provided were muzzle, not terminal. Confirmed the 1600 fps on the terminal.

 

[Tusker6N]

I stopped using SST ammo after repeated issues with performance on deer and hogs.

308, 30-06, and 270

Went to A-max and never looked back

 

[Allsmiles]

Wolf 123gr HP in my AR in 7.62x39 for many years hunting. For $4 a box now, hard not to use. Brutal on white tails as long as you aren't shooting over 150 yards. Expect 1.5 to 2 MOA for this ammo and at 50 yards it really doesn't matter much to the deer.