12 ga Hornady SST Penetration

[bdg146]

Hey everyone. I posted this elsewhere but got limited responses, so I figured I'd try here as well. Here's my original post:

I just got a phone call from a friend of mine that I have some questions about. He was sighting in a new 12 gauge slug gun, and had been recommended hornady SST slugs at the gun shop. I'm a big hornady fan, and probably would've told him the same. I shoot them out of my 20 gauge slug gun, but have never taken a deer with it.

So they were using 1/2" (at the most) plywood as the backdrop for their target, which was at 50 yards. He fired three slugs out of three boxes and all three failed to fully penetrate the plywood. Others were shooting other brand slugs and had no issues. I realize deer are not made out of plywood, but it seems a little strange that they did not penetrate. Are the SST slugs known for poor penetration, and has anyone seen anything similar? Anyone ever take a deer with an SST slug and how did it perform?

Thanks!

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

They didn't penetrate a half inch of plywood?

Something is very wrong there. I once put a cheap winchester foster slug through 3 inches of hard pine, and through a 2.5inch thick brick behind it. No penetration problems there at all.

 

[bdg146]

anyone else used the SSTs? I know ballistically they're great rounds, but this makes me a little weary...

bumping to the top

 

[one shot hunter]

I have taken several deer in Iowa with the 20 gauge Hornady SST. The slugs were one shot kills and exited the deer's body. I'm using an Ithaca Deerslayer with a rifled barrel and a Thompson Center Encore with a rifled barrel. It is the only slug I'll use if I have a choose.

 

[hub]

What was he shooting them out of? Sounds like a slingshot to me. They are saying a 12ga Hornady SST couldn't penetrate 1/2 inch plywood? BS, a .22 short can penetrate 1/2 of plywood and your saying all three of the 12ga Hornady SST do not fully penetrate the wood? I know they expand rapidly but come on, 1/2in plywood?

.22 short and cb cap vs 1/2 in plywood
http://members.tripod.com/bigqueue_qlewis/html/22lr_cbcap.html

I don't use the SST's but my step dad does and out of the last five deer he has shot, ever single one had an entrance and exit wound.

Just for an example, the cci mini mag hv, one of the higher velocity .22lr (which is more than capable of penatrating 1/2in plywood) velocity and energy vs the Hornady 12ga SST.

CCI .22lr mini mag hv
Bullet weight in grains
40gr
Muzzle Velocity ft/sec
1235
Energy ft-lbs at muzzle
135ft-lbs

Hornady 2 3/4 SST sabot slug
Bullet weight in grains
300gr
Muzzle Velocity ft/sec
2000 ft/sec
Energy in ft-lbs at muzzle
2664ft-lbs

Ballistics from CCI and Hornady.
http://www.hornady.com/store/12-ga-Slug-300-gr-FTX/
http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/detail.aspx?use=1&loadNo=0030

 

[ImARugerFan]

Very strange. My buddy just killed a doe. About 100 yards out, complete pass through, she was quartering away so he clipped the guts, liver, and a lung. 12ga SST.

Maybe he got a bad batch? I'd call hornady about it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Obviously he's talking about the sabot, NOT the SLUG.

The sabot is designed to drop away and release the slug. It indeed won't penetrate even 1/4" plywood beyond 2-3feet beyond the muzzle. It's not designed or intended to.

Evidently some misinformed neophytes.
If indeed the slug is not penetrating the 1/2" plywood, then Hornady let a batch of defective ammo get by them. Perhaps no powder in the hull, in which case they certainly won't cycle an automatic shotgun.