Hornady Superformance SST Ammo - for Big Game?

[JG26Irish_2]

I have found this forum to be fill with very knowledgeable hunters and want to tap into some of that for a project I am working on. I recently traded for a rifle that is chambered in a nearly dead cartridge. Don't worry, I was not cheated (I think, lol). It is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye compact magnum. These were first introduced about 15yrs ago more or less. This one is chambered in 338 RCM. This is a short action rifle with a 20" bbl and gets nearly the same velocity as a typical 338WM with a much longer bbl. It is a nice rifle and appears to be unfired (no wonder).

Best I can tell, the only ammo currently available for this rifle is the Hornady Superformance loaded with their SST bullet. From what I can tell, the SST is most like the Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet? Not bonded and noted for rapid expansion and not deep penetration? They used to make an Interbond version that was bonded but it is no longer available anywhere I can find.

I really did not need a 338 Mag varmint rifle, lol. They claim it is for deer but I have read mixed reviews. I figured I could shoot some of it for the brass and load better bullets later. I do not like reloading for low volume rifles but would make an exception for this fine, handy little rifle.

Do any of you lads have experience hunting with the Hornady SST bullet? And is it too frangible to be suited for larger game, such as elk, moose, or African PG? Asking for a friend.

 

[Hooked Now]

I've used the SST in a .308 on antelope. It worked phenomenally well but that thing does expand in a hurry. I opened one up and it looked like a tiny grenade went off in the heart. Nothing left in there. Others who have hunted more might be able to tell you what it does on larger game, but deer sized is all I've done with it.

 

[pilar]

I personally don’t like SST , but lots of people like ELDX and SST and other similar explosive stuff,

 

[RedTag]

SST sheds a lot of weight, so be careful to match the bullet weight to the game weight appropriately. Basic example: the .270 Winchester with a 150 grain Partition is adequate for up to 800 pound game, but the same cartridge with a 130 grain SST is more suitable for game under 200 pounds. The SST is known to excel at long distance when appropriately matched to game weight. I have personally experienced unsatisfactory temperature sensitivity with superFormance ammo.

 

[BJH65]

I happen to like both the 300 RCM and 338 RCM. You didn’t mention bullet weight but factory 338 RCM 225 grain SST shows a muzzle velocity of 2750 FPS with a 24 inch barrel. Perhaps 80-100 FPS less with a 20 inch barrel. That is fairly moderate velocity. I would personally use that load for any African plains game although I’m sure most would recommend a premium bullet like the GMX, TSX, SAF, etc. with moderate velocity I don’t think that necessary.

I have a Ruger Guide Gun 300 RCM that I use 150 grain GMX at 3075 FPS. The 150 grain SST Superformance are 3310 FPS chrono’d 3150 FPS from my 20 inch barrel. Have only used the 150 grain GMX (lead free) on elk and deer, works great. I’m guessing the 150 grain SST would be good for deer size game but due to the velocity I’ll stick with the GMX for larger animals.

 

[62flint]

I stopped useing the SST years ago, Comes apart to quick for me.
I shot a large whitetail doe, Broad side at 45 yards with a 270win 130gr SST, first shot exploded on the shoulder didnt penertrate, second shot in the ribs did the job, Blew up like a grenade. Both shots.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I like the SST and have loads of one shot kills on African PG, up to and including Kudu and Zebra, North American game (antelope and deer) and even a NZ Red Stag w/ a 270.

Nathan Foster (Terminal Ballistics Research) wrote this about the SST for the 300 WM

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.300+Winchester+Magnum.html

Heavy bullets from Hornady include the 180 grain flat base soft point double cannelure Interlock, the 180 grain BTSP Interlock, the 180 grain round nose Interlock, the 180 grain SST, the 180 grain InterBond, the 190 grain BTSP and the 220 grain round nose Interlock.

The 180 grain Hornady Interlock is a soft projectile working well on game weighing up to 150kg (330lb) and up to 180kg as velocities approach 2800fps, tackling larger body weights with further reductions in velocity. The 180 grain SST is spectacular in performance, a very effective hunting bullet. Like the soft point, at close ranges, penetration can be shallow, but adequate for game weighing up to 150kg. As velocity falls away, larger body weights can be tackled and as a long range load driven at 3070fps, the SST produces traumatic wounding on medium game out to 600 yards.

 

[Cheesehead]

I had one of those rifles for a while. I really like the idea of the 338 RCM and that rifle was so handy. I used the 225 SST on a few deer but nothing bigger. Like was mentioned, at 225 grains it's relatively tame so you'd think it would work ok on larger game. There are definitely better bullets in .338 diameter. I ended up selling mine because I don't handload and couldn't find much for loaded ammo

 

[Trogon]

No experience with the Hornady Superformance ammunition but have used the SST bullet in handloaded ammunition while using a camp rifle recently, 165 grain SST in .30-06 (velocity unknown). Single shot kills out to 250 yards on big blue wildebeest, tsessebe, nyala (50 yards) and common blesbuck. All of these were broadside shots, exit wounds on all but the wildebeest. I realize not a large sample size but was pleased with the end results. First blue wildebeest for me, have read plenty of advice on how tough they can be, so I was very happy to see a 50-yard run, then down.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I like the SST and have loads of one shot kills on African PG, up to and including Kudu and Zebra, North American game (antelope and deer) and even a NZ Red Stag w/ a 270.

The 180 grain SST is spectacular in performance, a very effective hunting bullet. Like the soft point, at close ranges, penetration can be shallow, but adequate for game weighing up to 150kg. As velocity falls away, larger body weights can be tackled and as a long range load driven at 3070fps, the SST produces traumatic wounding on medium game out to 600 yards.

I am rather impressed with this SST report on African Game. Kudu and Zebra are pretty tough and most PH's consider the 270 to be about the minimum caliber for larger PG hunting. Thank you for the feedback.

Clearly, we have both pros and cons here on the SST's. And, I had not considered that at longer ranges the SST might work better. My 338 RCM uses the 225g SST. They used to load a 200g Interbond also and I really wish I could locate some of them. For many years the only big game I hunted was whitetail deer and wild hogs and I used Nosler Ballistic tips on all of them with 308's and my 270 and "Never" lost an animal. Most dropped very quickly if not in their tracks. Since graduating to other tougher species, I have become more of a fan of the bonded lead core and Barnes TSX types. They seem to maybe not kill quite as suddenly but still just as dead and with more room for error.

I plan to mount a nice scope and zero this on and possibly use it for deer this fall with the SST's and try to get the components to load up some 210g Swift Sciroccos, Barnes TSX or similar bonded fodder. I hate going to all that expense but the rifle is nice and deserves better.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

No experience with the Hornady Superformance ammunition but have used the SST bullet in handloaded ammunition while using a camp rifle recently, 165 grain SST in .30-06 (velocity unknown). Single shot kills out to 250 yards on big blue wildebeest, tsessebe, nyala (50 yards) and common blesbuck. All of these were broadside shots, exit wounds on all but the wildebeest. I realize not a large sample size but was pleased with the end results. First blue wildebeest for me, have read plenty of advice on how tough they can be, so I was very happy to see a 50-yard run, then down.

Congrats on the successful Safari experience. Africa is a magical place. Sounds like you got great results with the SST's. I bought some last year for my 30-06 but did not get the chance to hunt with them and honestly, would not have bought them had I known up front how frangible they were. I am still learning about this stuff despite hunting for more than 50yrs, lol. I the old days, all we had was cup and core and we were too ignorant to know the difference. Yet, we were still able to kill deer every season, lol

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I spoke to my PH yesterday in Africa. He took a stud of a common Springbok in the Free State while hunting on his new concession in that province. He took the animal with his 300WM loaded with the Hornady 220g SST ammo. At first, I was surprised but thinking on this, the Springbok is not that different in size to the Western Pronghorn antelope in the USA. It would be like shooting it will a large ballistic tip.

The heavy for caliber 220g is clocking 3130 at the muzzle but is down to the mid 2000's once out to 200-300y where it is deployed there on the mostly open terrain.

 

[VINOYASADO]

I use 200 and 225 gr in 338 win mag, great accuracy on my rifle, and has killed everithing it touch on its spot,, but a bit soft from my little understanding

 

[Hunt anything]

Used them on multiple North American game and plains game up to waterbuck and kudu. Worked just fine in 154gr 7 mm rem mag. My only gripe is in early runs at less than 80 yds or so they may blow up and not penetrate if they strike a heavy bone. I’m going to guess it’s because of the excess velocity.
I have some for my .338 win mag but haven’t had a chance to use them on game yet.

 

[CBH Australia]

I used a hire rifle in SA, I believe the reloads were assembled using Hornady SST projectiles
10/10 one shot kills including Kudu and Wildebeest with a 7mmRm.

 

[BJH65]

I spoke to my PH yesterday in Africa. He took a stud of a common Springbok in the Free State while hunting on his new concession in that province. He took the animal with his 300WM loaded with the Hornady 220g SST ammo. At first, I was surprised but thinking on this, the Springbok is not that different in size to the Western Pronghorn antelope in the USA. It would be like shooting it will a large ballistic tip.

The heavy for caliber 220g is clocking 3130 at the muzzle but is down to the mid 2000's once out to 200-300y where it is deployed there on the mostly open terrain.

Holy moly, 300WM 220 grain bullet at 3130 FPS? That’s over 300 FPS faster than every top end 300 WM 220 grain load data? Factory 300 RUM 220 grain ELD-X is 2910 FPS. Factory 30-378 Weatherby Mag 220 grain Hornady ELD-X muzzle velocity is only 3025 FPS. Is he using a rail gun?

 

[Redfishga1]

I shot the sst for a while out of a 6.5 x55. Mule Deer, Antelope, and whitetail. i would resonate the same that you have heard, it blows up fairly quickly. Small Ga whitetail and and wyoming antelope it left devastating wounds. On the mule deer it required two shots .... I have since switched to accubonds if Im using that caliber. Its probably great for impala and springbok.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Holy moly, 300WM 220 grain bullet at 3130 FPS? That’s over 300 FPS faster than every top end 300 WM 220 grain load data? Factory 300 RUM 220 grain ELD-X is 2910 FPS. Factory 30-378 Weatherby Mag 220 grain Hornady ELD-X muzzle velocity is only 3025 FPS. Is he using a rail gun?

My apologies. I think I was quoted some bad data. Supposedly the 300mag was loaded with 220g SST's but that velocity data was from the 180g ammo. Not sure what the 220g clocks at but it would be much slower. Garbage in garbage out and I was too ignorant to catch it. Thought it sounded fast but... Goud catch Sir.

 

[BJH65]

My apologies. I think I was quoted some bad data. Supposedly the 300mag was loaded with 220g SST's but that velocity data was from the 180g ammo. Not sure what the 220g clocks at but it would be much slower. Garbage in garbage out and I was too ignorant to catch it. Thought it sounded fast but... Goud catch Sir.

No worries sir, easy for bullet weights to get mixed up.