Hornady SST on elk

[Takeem406]

Well I'm blessed with a chance to go elk hunting this week, yes, January!!!

So I was caught unprepared for this and had to buy some factory ammo for my 308. Scheels had two boxes of Nosler 165 Accubonds because I've shot these before and smoked a mulie at 400 with one. But they also had Hornady Superperform 165 SST.
I was wondering if anyone has had luck with the non bonded sst on elk.

Thanks!

 

[RCA Dog]

I have shot them, not factory rounds, but reloads out of a 30-06. I personally would not shoot the sst's at an elk when you have accubonds as well. I shoot lots of sst's, but not at animals any more. To me, they are more of a plinking\range bullet. In a pinch, if I can get nothing else to shoot, then yes, I will hunt with them. I have lost quite a bit of meat, but no animals, over the years with the sst.

 

[Jon Boy]

I would have no problem using them on an elk. Use what your gun shoots best

 

[handwerk]

I'd go with the accubonds.

 

[twall13]

I've used 180 grain SST'S out of my 30-06 in them with no problem. As mentioned above, you sometimes hit bone and get some pretty good meat damage. My dad hit a Mule Deer on the exit wound side and blew most of the shoulder off. No joke the exit wound was at least the size of a grapefruit. I've never seen an animal go far after a good hit with an SST round and I've seen around 20 animals taken with this round.

 

[Jimbob]

Used 180 SST in my 30-06. Deer at 15 yds had meat loss. Brought a young man moose hunting and he used my gun, bull was 50 yds away. He shot a little far back and got back of one lung then through guts. We found the bullet against the hide on the off side. Both factory ammo.

Reloaded this year with 165 grin accubonds and I like them much better. Another young man shot a moose at 30 yds with my gun this year. Right through the spine and into the chest cavity when the bull was walking right at us with his head down, needless to say the bull hit the dirt.

I just bought a box of SST to reload for practice and they can always be used for hunting if I had to (I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with them) but I will choose the accubonds when I can.

 

[Ross]

I second what Jon said. Find the round that shoots best. That being said the 154 gr sst is all I shoot out my tikka for elk. I have no complaints about this round on elk.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Those will be fine out of a 308. Different story with more velocity. I shoot them a lot out of my 338 and they work great if they dont hit bone.

 

[GKPrice]

Accubonds are an entirely different class of hunting bullet than an SST, a lot of hunters swear by the SST but after seeing the aftermath of both many times I'll take the Accubond always, even on deer - looking to the future the new Hornady ELD X could very well be a very good game bullet indeed

 

[Crayfin]

I have shot 4 deer with SST's out of a .270...all Coues Bucks and only once did the bullet exit...damage/trauma was extensive on all of them...there are tougher bullets for elk for sure...I would use them in a pinch for sure as they shoot well out of my gun...but given the choice, I would shoot AB if I could.

 

[bhylton]

wish i could get in on an elk over there. if i were going it would be accubonds every time

 

[mtnwrunner]

I second what Jon said. Find the round that shoots best. That being said the 154 gr sst is all I shoot out my tikka for elk. I have no complaints about this round on elk.

I've shot the sst's along with my brother and no issues whatsoever. As Ross and Jon said, shoot what shoots best----both will work.

Randy

 

[elkguide]

I shoot a .300 Win Mag and use 180 SST's for deer. Great bullet. Probably have shot 30 deer with them.
Would not use them as my go to bullet for elk.
Lots of damage on deer but every elk I line up on seems to be leading with their shoulder and the SST's just don't seem to break things down.

 

[brushape]

Accubonds are an entirely different class of hunting bullet than an SST, a lot of hunters swear by the SST but after seeing the aftermath of both many times I'll take the Accubond always, even on deer - looking to the future the new Hornady ELD X could very well be a very good game bullet indeed

The eldx is going to be softer than the sst, it is made to open up a lower velocities

 

[GKPrice]

The eldx is going to be softer than the sst, it is made to open up a lower velocities

the SST is not a bonded core bullet but it appears that the ELD X is a bonded core - totally different animals

 

[brushape]

the SST is not a bonded core bullet but it appears that the ELD X is a bonded core - totally different animals

Not bonded either, if it is the have done a poor job of advertising it

 

[GKPrice]

Not bonded either, if it is the have done a poor job of advertising it

You may be right about that, I just put some on back order but haven't studied or looked for deeper info on them BUT I'll be aghast if that is the case as Hornady "knows" better than that and I don't think they are making the Interbond in the same choices as the ELD X will be offered, my suspicion is the ELD X will replace the Interbond which IS a bonded core bullet and advertised to NEVER SEPARATE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

 

[Thinkingman]

OP-I'd shoot the Accubond.
Here is the description of the ELD-X:
Devastating conventional range performance
With high velocity, 0-400 yard impact, the bullet continually expands throughout its penetration path. The thick shank of the jacket and high Interlock® ring keep the core and jacket together providing 50-60% weight retention.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

I have killed 4 elk with the 180 SST's out of a 300 win mag. and only 1 took more than 1 shot its very likely I didn't need to put 2 in that one. All died within 50 yards of impact. Farthest shot was 450.

 

[GKPrice]

I have killed 4 elk with the 180 SST's out of a 300 win mag. and only 1 took more than 1 shot its very likely I didn't need to put 2 in that one. All died within 50 yards of impact. Farthest shot was 450.

I don't think anyone is challenging that SST's don't or won't kill an elk, it is just "how" they do it - I have a good rancher friend who has killed more elk than I ever will and he swears by 162 SST's from his 7mm RM but he also eats BEEF, not elk - a dead elk is meat in the freezer but with that said I personally will gladly take a single wad of "bullet" found inside or a bigger hole on the off side than the one going in over fragments scattered all over the insides but as stated, these examples are all from dead animals and the devil is in the details .... 4 elk, 10 elk, doesn't matter that much but sooner or later there will be a bad hit or a bad shot or who knows what other "mishap" and THAT is when a bonded core or monolithic bullet earns it's keep (besides the potential extra meat they provide on each occasion, even if it's only another burger)