Hornady SST on elk

[GKPrice]

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.

It would appear that they are not bonded core by the description, or lack of a complete one

 

[Jon Boy]

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.

Weird ross, I just finished putting together my new elk gun, tikka superlight in 7mm.. It shoots the 154 ssts better than any other round by far. .5 moa at all ranges I've shot so far! I think it'll work just fine on elk.

 

[elkguide]

SST's are extremely accurate in most rifles. But that one tough shot on what to me is the toughest animal we have here in the lower 48, I want something that is going to stay together and not come apart.

 

[alecvg]

I shoot 180 gr SST's out of my .30/06, and they shoot great - never shot an elk with them, but they have killed a pile of bears, blacktails and mule deer. I love SST's, and have always had pass through shots, and never have noticed them breaking up. That being said I have really been looking at switching to Accubonds since they seem to be so much easier to find in 180 gr.

 

[GKPrice]

I shoot 180 gr SST's out of my .30/06, and they shoot great - never shot an elk with them, but they have killed a pile of bears, blacktails and mule deer. I love SST's, and have always had pass through shots, and never have noticed them breaking up. That being said I have really been looking at switching to Accubonds since they seem to be so much easier to find in 180 gr.

black bears, blacktails and mule deer are not elk, FYI ....

I don't want to start preaching or sounding philosophical but we do owe it to the game we hunt to at least "try" to make clean ethical kills - THAT said, though I'm not an apostle for Berger I have seen, on film mind you, quite dramatic kills at long range and LOOOOONG range and the SST sort of appears to emulate that terminal performance - Ya'll kill your meat the way you want to and I'll do the same, no harm no foul as long as the game animal does not suffer ....... (I can see some zealous game warden attempting to make a "case" of a hunter shooting an animal with a "fragmenting bullet", and citing "wanton waste", can anyone else ? ?) Not saying "guilty, just sayin' a "case" .....

 

[GKPrice]

SST's are extremely accurate in most rifles. But that one tough shot on what to me is the toughest animal we have here in the lower 48, I want something that is going to stay together and not come apart.

so are the competition bullets from most makers .....

 

[hodgeman]

I don't believe I'd pick an SST over an Accubond for just about anything with fur on it.

I've shot a lot of Hornady over the years- my opinion is that they're deer bullets...soft and violently expanding. Sure you can kill an elk with one but I like ABs performance better for bigger stuff.

 

[GKPrice]

I don't believe I'd pick an SST over an Accubond for just about anything with fur on it.

I've shot a lot of Hornady over the years- my opinion is that they're deer bullets...soft and violently expanding. Sure you can kill an elk with one but I like ABs performance better for bigger stuff.

my thoughts too

 

[belly-deep]

I can see some zealous game warden attempting to make a "case" of a hunter shooting an animal with a "fragmenting bullet", and citing "wanton waste", can anyone else ? ?

No. But then again, I don't own a tin foil hat either.

 

[GKPrice]

No. But then again, I don't own a tin foil hat either.[/QUOT

UGH ......

 

[elkguide]

Shot three whitetails with 180 grain SST's out of my .300 Win Mag this fall. Yes I do like them for deer but in all three of the deer, I only got one lung. Yes all three died almost instantly but they are nowhere near as tough as any elk that I have shot. It's great that all of the energy stops inside but you have to get there to do the damage.

 

[huntMT]

I've used the 165 grain SSTs out of my .308 for a few years now and used the SSTs out of my .270 for even longer. Every elk I've killed with the SST has died within 40 yards. However with that said, I plan on going away from the SSTs for the reason several have already mentioned, one slightly miss placed shot and you will destroy allot of meat.

In the pinch your in with a hunt coming up quick and not having the time to prepare, you will be fine with either round in my opinion.

 

[Ross]

Jon hit them where they breath and you will be fine with this bullet chosen. I wont pretend to know all the details about bullets and such, but what I do know is this round shoots very well out of my tikka 7mm and for many years it has knocked down a bull or two for me at very close distance 10 yds and out to 512 yds...this is the remaining bullet from 512 yds that took out a stout nwest Montana bull.

 

[Treeline hunter]

Any results? OP should have already been out for his elk hunt by now?

SST's have been working exceptionally well for me since they came out with them in 7mm and .300 WM. Love the performance on elk with the 154's in the 7 and 180's in the .300.