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Post by 308XP on Jul 10, 2004 23:24:19 GMT -5
I'm wrestling with using 250 gr. SST for the speed and thus the longer range or the 300 grain SST for the extra weight and thus the greater penetration. How about some "real world" stories and experience. I'm looking for some details such as load and shot distance and if it was a complete pass through...how far the critter ran and what size critter it was. This is the kind of stuff we can really use to make some logical choices. How about it? Down here in Georgia if a deer runs more than 20 or so yards you probably can't see him anymore. It's thick and a good blood trail .....well.... "priceless".
308XP
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Post by SW on Jul 10, 2004 23:28:12 GMT -5
I never have had a blood trail with the 250SST - just a dead deer laying on the ground(4 times).
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Post by Loggy on Jul 10, 2004 23:48:48 GMT -5
I never have had a blood trail with the 250SST - just a dead deer laying on the ground(4 times). Now thats the talk I like to hear there SW! ;D Cant wait to launch my first 250 SST towards somethin other than paper. ;D |
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Post by RBinAR on Jul 11, 2004 0:51:47 GMT -5
 Hunting deer 2 have fallen to the 250 grain bullet. I found parts of bullet on both shots. The longest was 130 or so yards and looked somewhat like most say you want it to look (a flattened front end) but with a fairly scrubbed away nose and some shank left. The 300 grain bullet took a black bear and I'd say it could be too much bullet for little (about a 280 pounder) bear. I might stick with it on the chance I might meet his grand daddy next time. But bear hunting is pretty tough here lots of rules to check and tough getting in the right spot. So I'd like to make sure on my one chance a year.
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Post by rukidding on Jul 11, 2004 0:55:25 GMT -5
I took a bear this spring with the 250 sst. It was a complete pass through breaking one shoulder. It dropped him in his tracks at 56 yrds.
R
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Post by 308XP on Jul 11, 2004 7:43:36 GMT -5
SW...
How far were the shots? Chest Shots? How fast are you pushing the bullet?
Thanks,
308XP
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Post by 308XP on Jul 11, 2004 7:50:12 GMT -5
RBinAR...
How far did those deer run? Again...Chest shots? Velocity?
I know you guys think I'm crazy or something for all the questions, but like I said down here if you shoot a deer or a hog and he gets into the palmettos or swamp or just the plain ol' thickets...well you'd better have some blood and in our way of thinking that generally means 2 holes...In & Out. However if it drops them in their tracks it's not needed. I hope you see our stuation.
Thanks,
308XP
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Post by edge on Jul 11, 2004 8:09:49 GMT -5
SNIP well you'd better have some blood and in our way of thinking that generally means 2 holes...In & Out. However if it drops them in their tracks it's not needed. SNIP I am certainly glad that you added that second part, CUZ round here "thems fightin' words" :-) The 250 SST will generally drop any whitetail in his tracks with a good broadside shot. On close range shots it most likely will NOT hold together, and very often you will not get an exit wound. If you push this modified pistol bullet into the 2500 fps range, you can expect a 4" entrance wound and depending upon range you should get 8-20 inches of penetration with more penetration at the longer distances. Close range this bullet tends to come apart, but the schrapnel will take down almost anything if it is in the "boiler room" Some might use these on Elk, but for a "once-in-a-lifetime" hunt, Why Skimp? edge. |
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Post by SW on Jul 11, 2004 8:36:23 GMT -5
308XP,
16 to 96yds, 130# to 236# with 250SSTs, all dropped in their tracks. Only one pass thru, no bad hits. I think , though don't know, that the 250SST/300SST perform much like their XTP counterparts. The 300g XTPs have performed poorly for me on deer,but very accurate: just a 45 cal hole in and out with long tracking and poor blood trail. Two deer with the 300 was my limit. The 250 XTP put them down. To me, and the Hornady tech rep I talked to, feel the 300g bullets are designed for animals tougher than black bear or whitetails.
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Post by dave d. on Jul 11, 2004 9:27:31 GMT -5
:)308xp,i shot 3 deer last year useing 43grs of 4759 and a 250sst moving 2300fps two dropped in their tracks and one went 60yrds with a massive blood trail.ranges were 60yrds to 110yrds hope this helps.
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Post by Predator II on Jul 11, 2004 10:10:43 GMT -5
Check Toby Bridges' site. He has a good article on the 250 vrs 300 grain bullet for whitetails. He favors the 250 and cites real world data to back it up. I have found the Hornady 300 grain in .458 diameter to be very nonexpanding on white tails. Just drills through with 49 grains of 4198. Put a hole out both sides double lunged went over 100 yards. The Barnes 300 grain X bullet in 458 at 15 yards hit behind the last rib on near side and angled foreward and put a quarter sized hole thrugh the far shoulder, deer dropped in sight went about 15-20 yards. Load was 45 grains of 5744. 3rd deer with the 300 grain XTP .452 with 120 grains of 3-F at 20 yards went no where with both shoulders taken out. Left a fifty cent sized hole. 5X5 elk 45 grains of Lil-Gun and the Barnes EX MZ 300 grain hit behind the near shoulder at 50 yards angled back and found around the last rib just under the skin penetrated about 30 inches. Elk went 15 yards and dropped in sight. 300 grainers will work for deer or larger tougher game but I think the 250s are better for deer.
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Post by 308XP on Jul 11, 2004 14:07:59 GMT -5
Thanks Guys. That gives me something to work with other than, "You'll love it". Any one shot a deer at the magic 150 to 200 yard mark with an SST? If so what happened?
308XP
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Post by Loggy on Jul 11, 2004 14:19:07 GMT -5
Thanks Guys. That gives me something to work with other than, "You'll love it". Any one shot a deer at the magic 150 to 200 yard mark with an SST? If so what happened? 308XP Not yet 308XP.. I had to hunt for an area during Spring Turkey Season in my PA deer woods that I can get a clear shot past 100 YD. Have scouted 2 places out where I can get a clear shot in the 125-150 yds range. Those spots have been reserved for my 10 ML-II and 250 SST. Places as such are few and far between that is ones that possess deer habitat I'm satisfied with. The 2 I found are on edges of PGC clear-cuts where if I climb about 15' to 20' I will have some great longer range chances. Man, I'm gettin excited just thinkin about this stuff! ;D Most areas I hunt deer I finish the job well inside the 100 Yard Line. I look forward to some longer range shots this year.  |
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Post by edge on Jul 11, 2004 21:09:12 GMT -5
SNIP Any one shot a deer at the magic 150 to 200 yard mark with an SST? If so what happened? 308XP Last year I took a nice buck at approx. 200 yds, he showed up too fast for a range finder as I was crossing a field. He was facing me and the shot was slightly offcenter. The Load was 50 grains Lil'Gun with a sub base. The entrance wound was about 4 inches across and the bullet only took out ribs and was recovered in the same side ham for approx. 20+ inches of penetration. The bullet weighed 202 grains and fully intact. I think 150-200yds at this velocity is ideal! edge.   |
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Post by SW on Jul 11, 2004 22:44:49 GMT -5
308,
Sorry about the omission, 46g 110 on last 2 shots appx 2500'/sec - chest and 2 prior to that 46g Ltl Gun and appx 2600'/sec - chest shots. Edge - I used 3-4 1# containers of Ltl Gun but results were too inconsistent. I didn't watch vent liner wear then much nor did I keep the brech plug cleaned as I maybe should have. Knowing a little more as I do now I'd probably have more success with Ltl Gun.
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Post by RBinAR on Jul 12, 2004 0:34:30 GMT -5
RBinAR... How far did those deer run? Again...Chest shots? Velocity? 308XP
The deer didn't run one did rear back about 15 feet and fell backwards. Both were shoulder shots with fairly big wounds. My load goes 2500fps.
The bear was taken at 95 yards (as stepped) with a muzzle velocty of 2300fps. The hit was left ribs to right side front leg (a slight quarter away shot from the bear's left) with an exit and entrance hole of similar size.
He didn't make it far but managed about a 30 yard slow amble. He didn't run, may not have been able. |
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Post by 308XP on Jul 12, 2004 8:04:28 GMT -5
Great stuff here! It's very obvious to me that the 250 grain SST is most folks choice of the 2. What I'm hearing makes me think that the results with this bullet is similar to the results with a Nosler Ballistic Tip when used in centerfire rifles. Just for kicks let's start a new thread and let folks compare results with SST vs. XTP. Whatca Think? A no brainer?
308XP
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Post by edge on Jul 12, 2004 8:44:56 GMT -5
SNIP What I'm hearing makes me think that the results with this bullet is similar to the results with a Nosler Ballistic Tip when used in centerfire rifles. SNIP The comparison may be similar with the explosive tip expansion, but the thin jacket on the SST, and the ability for these bullets to hold together for deep penetration are not the same at all! The SST is a modified, albeit a GREATLY improved pistol bullet, while the Ballistic Tip with its thick jacket and extremely thick base was designed as a rifle bullet from the ground up! Don't get me wrong, I do think that the SST may be the absolute best choice in a high end BP/777/Pyrodex load, but MAY lack staying power at CLOSE RANGE Savage velocities.  edge. |
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Post by 308XP on Jul 12, 2004 9:17:28 GMT -5
Edge...I'm with ya. My point was the end result. With either bullet the critter is frequently down at impact and frequently the bullet does not exit. And life goes on...well, not for the critter, but for the shooter anyway.
308XP
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Hunting deer 2 have fallen to the 250 grain bullet. I found parts of bullet on both shots. The longest was 130 or so yards and looked somewhat like most say you want it to look (a flattened front end) but with a fairly scrubbed away nose and some shank left.
