Plastic tips - Graphic

[wytonpjs]

I use Nosler BT in .308 at 2850 fps from a 20" barrel, using H4895. Have never seen damage like that. Really interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards,
Carl

Same here (whilst 4895 lasts) without this effect.

 

[norma 308]

Stopped using sst's in 6.5x55 too much damage for my liking.
Gone back to heavy and slow for woodland stalking(.308/6.5)
I've come to the conclusion that a heavy, flat based, round nosed, conventional soft point driven at modest speed will do the job nicely with minimal meat loss. Far too much willy waving when it comes to reloads.....

I will probably do the same ref 6.5 x55 when my sst stash is shot out I’ll change and while meat damage is not great if your supplying a dealer it isn’t my first concern a dead deer is
I don’t supply a big dealer who knocks me a large % for damage rather I give him the odd deer FOC to make up that damage

 

[Fiadh]

Thanks, I think this is the reply I was looking for to make sense of things. What did you change to?

I now use Nosler accubond's, to be fair the SST's were extremely accurate in my rifle but just couldn't afford to be penalised for the chance they may have caused excessive carcass damage.

 

[Dunwaters]

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!....

For the life of me I can't see what the problem is, you selected the bullet for knock down.
I wonder where all those little tiny shards of lead went?

 

[Matt Roberts]

I’ve heard of this with SST, I had the same problem with Norma polymer tip factory loads (which cost the best part of £50 a box). Great at dropping animals when chest shot but ruined vast quantities of meat in the process. Not quite to that extent though - Jesus!

I know this isn’t the point of your post but if you want carcass quality try using a solid copper monolithic like Barnes TTSX or Hasler Ariate. I’ve been using these the last couple of years run at about 2800fps in my 6.5x55, I reckon out of 200 odd carcass they drop various uk species well enough and you can eat right up to the hole in the shoulder. Only had one fail to expand and pencil-hole which happened to be in a big sika stag.

 

[Freeforester]

Thanks for this Matt, out of interest what weight of scm bullets are you using in your 6.5, and any place they are available?

 

[CarlW]

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.

Am going to try them in both .308 and .300 WM at some point, when I get some time back home. It is good to hear that you are pleased with them.

 

[Freeforester]

I see Ed has these in stock, I'll pop in and see him.