Plastic tips - Graphic

[TomT3]

Bloody hell! Looks like it’s been shot with a cannon ball! I personally wouldn’t use ballistic tips but I do not shoot a 308 so my comment isn’t valid!. I will be untested to see how this thread progresses though. That is some entry hole!

Further to my post above I do however use SSTs as a fox round (75g 243) they do serious damage to foxes and I have shot a roe with one which wasn’t to bad and did enter and exit cleanly, but as stated i do not like this round for deer.

Just to be provocactive I know the sst is a polymer tip but I don’t think it s true ballistic tip is it like the v max? Someone correct me if I’m talking guff. I think PKL has hit the nail on the head with the diagnosis personally.

 

[75]

I thought SSTs were widely acknowledged to be “explosive”? Have a search on here for old threads.

 

[TomT3]

I thought SSTs were widely acknowledged to be “explosive”? Have a search on here for old threads.

Hornady super shock tip (SST) quote:
Upon impact, the hard polymer tip drives into the lead core like a wedge, initiating lightning-fast, yet controlled expansion -No mention of explosive

Hornady v max quote:

Hornady® V-MAX® represents the pinnacle of what a specialized varmint bullet can achieve, offering straight-line trajectories, enhanced accuracy, dramatic expansion and explosive fragmentation at a wide range of distances and velocities.

I appreciate that it appears to be explosive but as I suggested I don’t think it’s design is meant to be as explosive as the v max

 

[75]

As I said, have a search. I’ve never used them so no dog in this race but have read lots of similar experiences of excessive meat damage and huge entry / exits wounds (which is one of the reasons I’ve avoided them).

 

[Woodsmoke]

I think PKL has hit the nail on the head

So do I. The combination of fast expansion and a lateral bullet path along an area of soft and shallow tissue would explain it, I reckon.

 

[TomT3]

As I said, have a search. I’ve never used them so no dog in this race but have read lots of similar experiences of excessive meat damage and huge entry / exits wounds (which is one of the reasons I’ve avoided them).

I’m not disputing that-no need to waste my time searching for something I’m already aware of I’m merely stating that hornady (the manufacturer ) don’t class them as a true explosive round that’s all. I’ve seen the damage they do to foxes(on exit ) so as I’ve said I wouldn’t use them on deer again.

 

[James0586]

I use SST 140 grain in my 6.5x55 and I have had this same damage at extended ranges. I have started to neck shoot mainly for this reason if the shot is safe and presents itself. Their knock down performance is tremendous but the meat damage is an issue on times.

 

[Freeforester]

I wonder what the game dealer thinks about this...

 

[Woodsmoke]

I wonder what the game dealer thinks about this...

I'm fairly sure he wasn't presented with the opportunity to state the bloody obvious . . . .

'sake

 

[Border]

Further to my post above I do however use SSTs as a fox round (75g 243) they do serious damage to foxes and I have shot a roe with one which wasn’t to bad and did enter and exit cleanly, but as stated i do not like this round for deer.

Just to be provocactive I know the sst is a polymer tip but I don’t think it s true ballistic tip is it like the v max? Someone correct me if I’m talking guff. I think PKL has hit the nail on the head with the diagnosis personally.

Technically only Nosler make Ballistic Tips (in both varmint and hunting flavours) the other manafacturers offer polymer tipped bullets.

 

[Dave881]

Hi, I have had some experience with the 150gr SSTs and would never use them again, I also had some massive entry and exit wounds with unacceptable levels of meat damage. I also had a couple of times where the bullets deflected 45° when impacting (had a broadside shot hit behind the shoulder come out just behind the diaphragm) I know this can happen with any bullet but I spoke with the guys at my local gun shop and they had a number of people complain about similar things and the guy I spoke to had used them and had one time where shooting a broadside animal in the chest it came out under its chin, he said that was the last one he fired. I switched then to 165gr nosler BTs and slowed them down to 2550fps, these were absolutely fantastic for knock down power without blowing animals to bits. My current 308 likes the 125gr nosler BTs at 2780fps and these have been great for both chest and head/neck shots (there is a bit of damage with chest shots but not an unreasonable amount). I have used the 125s between 25 and 228 yards and have no complaints. My dad is using the 150gr nosler BTs in his 308 with a 16inch barrel and finds them perfect for both neck and chest shots on both roe and fallow.
Hope this helps out and you are cirtainly not the only one to experience strange thins with the SSTs.
Regards
Dave

 

[Klenchblaize]

A far better title would have been "Exploding Heads"

K

 

[pinkfoot1]

I find that a 150gn.Sierra Gameking in 308 @ 2650ft/sec never fails and avoids such mess.

 

[camodog]

I wasn't sure about posting this, but I have decided to out of interest if others have seen this happen, or if it it specific to my rifle/bullet combo, or possibly a faulty batch....

20" .308 shooting hornady SST 150g @ 2898fps for 2797ft-lbs.

Now I have shot circa 50 deer with this combo and the majority have been absolutely fine, showing clean entry holes and a reasonable but acceptable exit, even if a non perfect shot and hitting some hard bone. However, I would say about 1 in every 10 deer shot, the bullet has seemed to absolutely and (in my mind) inexplicably exploded on entry. Photo below from yesterday, a yearling buck @ 182 meters, hit well behind the shoulder bone hitting only muscle and soft rib, and the bullet has gone off like a grenade on entry. No picture of the exit....because there wasn't any!

Now, what I don't want this post to turn into is a slagging match on the suitability of ballistic tips. I have found them to be fantastic in general with very acceptable damage and particularly useful for putting deer straight down in difficult terrain, where even a dog might struggle. What I am asking, is if other people have seen this with different setups or different brands of ammunition? Obviously the thing to do would be to buy different brands and go shoot a load of deer to see how they go, but obviously this is a long winded process - hence the question here.

Remember, this is an entry hole!....

Good Evening 'HDShark'.
I used that same round thru' my 20" barrel Sako 85. On two occasions when shooting roe over clear-fell/re-stock at those kind of ranges I have seen similar impact damage. I put this down to the bullet coming into contact with debris, not visible thru' the scope, immediatly in front of the deer and causing the bullet to fragmented. I think VSS touched on this scenario (bullet tumbling). Otherwise, I cannot recall any other incidences re excess carcass damage to my roe using this ammo.
Through my .243 I use Superperformance SST's. Earlier this year, I shot a roebuck at 30 yds . It was standing broadside maybe 6" the other side of a sheep-netting fence. I was confident of putting the bullet between the strands. However, my confidence was mis-placed, I hit a strand ! The damage to the shoulder of the buck was extensive, similar to your photo.
Just thinking my experience may 'cast some light' on your concerns.
Regards,
'Camodog'.

 

[Woodsmoke]

A far better title would have been "Exploding Heads"

K

You. Are dead to me

 

[NigelM]

SST's are like Amax's and Nosler BT's. They have got "ballistic tipped" bullets a terrible reputation for carcass damage over the years. However, it's all velocity dependant.

Talk to the Kiwi's or the Americans who are into LR shooting and the Amax, ELDM and Berger hunting bullets are amongst the best available. Terminal damage is exceptional but TV's are usually sub 2000 fps. Use a more stoutly constructed bullet at those ranges and they fail to expand properly and terminal damage results in a long runner.

Launch them at more than 2600 fps and shoot beasties at 100 yds and they cause a lot of damage.

Monolithics are the opposite. A TV of much less than 2200 results in a long runner but a TV of more than 2800 fps gives superb results as they expand as they were designed to do. Again they have gained a poor reputation amongst the people who have not used them as they were intended to be used.

I have tried most bullets over the years and have settled on heavy for calibre Accubond LR bullets launched around the 2800 fps mark. They don't explode and do too much damage at 50 yds but they still expand reliably and give a clean kill if I have to shoot something at 400 yds. They retain their energy well as they have a high BC which is a benefit on a windy day as they buck it very well too.

 

[reloader54]

Good Evening 'HDShark'.
I used that same round thru' my 20" barrel Sako 85. On two occasions when shooting roe over clear-fell/re-stock at those kind of ranges I have seen similar impact damage. I put this down to the bullet coming into contact with debris, not visible thru' the scope, immediatly in front of the deer and causing the bullet to fragmented. I think VSS touched on this scenario (bullet tumbling). Otherwise, I cannot recall any other incidences re excess carcass damage to my roe using this ammo.
Through my .243 I use Superperformance SST's. Earlier this year, I shot a roebuck at 30 yds . It was standing broadside maybe 6" the other side of a sheep-netting fence. I was confident of putting the bullet between the strands. However, my confidence was mis-placed, I hit a strand ! The damage to the shoulder of the buck was extensive, similar to your photo.
Just thinking my experience may 'cast some light' on your concerns.
Regards,
'Camodog'.

not refuting your incident and not even in the same calibre, but my experience of occasional damage similar to op,s picture are all on a "bait and wait" type situation on an open mown grass area. as it is exclusively foxes and the idea is to get them "down and dead" as quickly and humanely as possibly it matters not one bit, It does prevent me from using the same [albeit it a larger and appropriate calibre for deer]. as previously stated. I'm inclined to agree with PKL in post #3 as this does have some relevance in my cases of extensive damage.

 

[CarlW]

I

SST's are like Amax's and Nosler BT's. They have got "ballistic tipped" bullets a terrible reputation for carcass damage over the years. However, it's all velocity dependant.

Talk to the Kiwi's or the Americans who are into LR shooting and the Amax, ELDM and Berger hunting bullets are amongst the best available. Terminal damage is exceptional but TV's are usually sub 2000 fps. Use a more stoutly constructed bullet at those ranges and they fail to expand properly and terminal damage results in a long runner.

Launch them at more than 2600 fps and shoot beasties at 100 yds and they cause a lot of damage.

Monolithics are the opposite. A TV of much less than 2200 results in a long runner but a TV of more than 2800 fps gives superb results as they expand as they were designed to do. Again they have gained a poor reputation amongst the people who have not used them as they were intended to be used.

I have tried most bullets over the years and have settled on heavy for calibre Accubond LR bullets launched around the 2800 fps mark. They don't explode and do too much damage at 50 yds but they still expand reliably and give a clean kill if I have to shoot something at 400 yds. They retain their energy well as they have a high BC which is a benefit on a windy day as they buck it very well too.

I've just bought some ABLRs which I haven't yet loaded. However, I can't stop marvelling at what I can only describe as their 'impossibly pointy' shape. Truly a thing of beauty.

 

[NigelM]

I

I've just bought some ABLRs which I haven't yet loaded. However, I can't stop marvelling at what I can only describe as their 'impossibly pointy' shape. Truly a thing of beauty.

What are you loading them in Carl? I run 129 ABLR's in 6.5 at 2780fps and 150 ABLR's in 7mm at 2740 fps. They carry energy exceptionally well.

 

[Freeforester]

I'm fairly sure he wasn't presented with the opportunity to state the bloody obvious . . . .

'sake

Agreed, in this particular case - but more generally, there must be quite a few delivered to them with 'less than ideal' wound pathways and varying levels of damage, as a result of inappropriate bullet selection and possibly less than broad side shots having been taken.