Hornady SST as surrogate for Interbond?

[Gtscotty]

Hey THR,

I'm planning on using the 150gr Hornady Interbonds in my .270 for elk and mule deer this year. The only problem is that supplies of all the Interbonds seems to be pretty few and far between, and a little expensive when they are available. Since the SSTs and Interbonds have similar exterior ballistics, I'd like to do the first part of my load development with SSTs, then just refine the load with Interbonds. As an additional benefit, I could do most of my practicing with the cheaper SST.

I have read some accounts online that indicate that the SSTs shoot very similarly, if not identically to the Interbonds, but was hoping some folks on THR might have first hand experience. Has anyone used both bullets in the same rifle? Did the appear to like the same charge levels? Did they shoot to the same POI.

I'll of course work up with the Interbonds as well, to make sure pressure levels are safe, no lecturing needed on that point.

 

[twofifty]

Will follow your thread; thanks for posting this question.

 

[blarby]

Ballistic performance is one bit, terminal performance another.

The interbond and sst perform radically different in the terminal performance regard.

If the reason you ( you, in this case being other future readers, NOT the OP)were using a bonded core bullet on your heavy game is because of its properties, substituting the SST is a grave mistake.

Sst are designed for rapid initial expansion, large wound cavities, and minimal overpenetration.

The interbond is the exact opposite, offering controlled yet limited expansion, with according penetrative power.


Ballistically, they are remarkably similar. I use the 180 grain interbond for hunting loads, and the 180 grain Sst I bought in serious bulk for sighting and range practice, as their POI is for all purpose identical, at least in 30 caliber.

BC is remarkably consistent in Hornady bullets of similar profile such as these.

It appears you intend to use them for the exact same purpose, and based on the exact reasons I do. Do it.

Make sure and keep the loads separated, as during your load development you may end up seating the sst lower than the cannelure, and they will be next to impossible to distinguish from one another in the field at that point.

 

[notaglockfanboy]

I have used both in my .270 but only out to 250yds. There was a slight difference in POI, but nothing drastic enough to rezero optic. Didn't notice any pressure signs in either round, but I am not loading max either. Also I am using 130, not 150, hope this helps a little.

 

[Gtscotty]

Good to hear, sounds like using SSTs for rudimentary load development and practice will work. I'm pretty familiar with the SSTs in both .277 and .308 and have had good luck with them on deer sized game. My main load for this rifle currently is the 130 SST, and if Elk weren't on the menu I'd just stick with those (they shoot phenomenally well). I had good terminal performance and penetration with the SSTs on a couple antelope this year even though I hit some bone. Thanks for the input!

 

[skeet028]

SSTS AND iNTERBOND

I use the .308 SST 165 in my Kimber 06. The most accurate bullet I've ever shot in an 06. I have also taken a couple of Elk with the same bullet with no problems at all. I do however use the Nosler Accubond in my 300 Win Mag..200 gr.. It is very accurate in the Mag and it goes a bit faster than the 165 SST in the 06. It is one of the flattest shooting bullets for long range shooting. Would use it on Elk at 600 yds if I needed to. A few may poo-poo 600 yds but that is a very very long shot...even here in Wyoming. the interbond just does not shoot well in my rifles for some reason..the SST will consistently shoot 1/2 inch groups or better for a friend in my Kimber..He is a better rifle shooter than I am. Too much shotgun shooting in the past and I seem to have a heavy heartbeat at my (somewhat) advanced age...LOL. Personally..I think you should just forget the cost and shoot the interbond. At least you will consistently know the performance in your rifle. That is pre supposing that the rifle is a hunting rifle rather than a paper rifle. I doubt very much you are going to shoot 1000s of rounds at paper. The cost in the long run will not be all that much higher and the satisfaction rate will be much better. I know, I know...I have played the cheaper is better game most of my life..but seriously It doesn't really work out that way in the end. That is why I have pretty rifles now..rather than ones with Tupperware and ugly finishes.. Suck it up and shoot the interbonds..LOL

 

[Ifishsum]

I've only loaded both in .30-06 and found them to shoot pretty much the same POA, although I would not suddenly switch before a big hunt without fine tuning the zero (and you probably would not either). I've found the SSTs to be more accurate most of the time than the Interbonds, enough that I usually use the SSTs for hunting both deer and elk. They are not as explosive as other tipped bullets out there; the only time I have seen evidence of significant fragmentation was a very close shot on a cow elk. Like 40-50 yards close.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Sst are designed for rapid initial expansion, large wound cavities, and minimal overpenetration.

Are you sure you are talking about the SST? Minimal overpenetration isn't part of the description of the bullet and in my experience with hogs and in the 6.5 Grendel, overpenetration is the norm, not the exception.

http://www.hornady.com/store/SST

In fact, they note here that it is designed for deep penetration...

http://www.hornady.com/bullets

SST® (Super Shock Tip)

Streamlined for ultra-flat trajectories our SST contains a polymer tip for rapid expansion and maximum energy transfer. The match-grade jacket delivers surgical accuracy while heavy construction with InterLock feature delivers deep penetration every time. Find out more...

Rapid, controlled expansion with deep penetration.
Recommended muzzle velocity range: 2000 to 3300 fps

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'm just curious how blarby "knows" that the SST's expand and don't penetrate.
It's not in my experience that this is true.

I've had more failure to expand with the SST's than any other bullet design and more problems with Hornady's than any other.

I do use and shoot them, but I don't "like" to, if other options are available.

I've had 6mm, 7mm, and 30cal SST's fail to expand.
I had FTX in .30cal and .35cal fail to expand.
So far, no problems with the .338cal FTX's however. But, they aren't Interloks, and engineered for a single purpose, the .338marlin express. Not mild to Magnum such as with 6mm, 7mm, and .30cal (ie: .300Savage vs. .300RUM with a 150gr SST; or 7mm08 vs 7mmRUM...hmmm?).

According to industry information, the Interbonds should expand more reliably than the harder, not bonded bullets. The bonding process supposedly also anneals the jacket to some degree making them expand more readily. The so called bonding or soldering, prevents core-jacket seperation which is overly "condemned" imo.

I've had generally good experience with the plain old Interloks and trust them as much or more than the Nosler partitions which in my experience often fail to penetrate as much as you'd think they should... again, my experience and "opinion".

My experience with "bonded" bullets is limited and not good...Results of several deer shot with 110gr Interbonds from .257Roberts and .257Wby weren't "happy".
(Poor accuracy, and excessive expansion and lack of penetration). This was with a single box of 100, but, that's my experience...ymmv.

edited to add; I've actually taken quite a liking to the A-max line. Good expansion and game performance from those that I've used on game.(yes, Hornady "recommends" some of them for light-medium game per the most recent manual). Performance is similar to Berger Hunting VLD's, and no, I haven't recovered either (A-max or VLD's) from deer I've shot with them (.22, 7mm, .30cal). But, I have recovered Nosler Partitions' from smallish deer that shouldn't have stopped a 150gr .30cal or 140gr 7mm bullet (100lb or less deer...)

 

[Gtscotty]

I think there is some variability in the performance of the SST line across the different calibers. My experience with the 165gr .308 SSTs was that they were fairly lightly constructed. I shot two deer with the SST's clocking 2850 fps out of my '06, the first of which was a slightly quartering buck at about 60 yds. The jacket separated from the core and was found in the hide. The other deer shot with that load was a large doe standing broadside at 30 yds. The doe dropped in it's shadow, but there was no exit. The shot was a solid lung shot, didn't hit any serious bone or anything.

Conversely, the 130 SSTs I used in my .270 this year punched right through the antelope I shot, with good expansion and large exit wounds. Granted, antelope aren't huge, but they are kind of stocky, at least the width of a the Georgia deer I shot with the 165s, and on one of the antelope, I inadvertently punched through both shoulders.