Hornady has been arguably the most innovative bullet and cartridge manufacturer over the last two decades. From their LeverEvolution flex-tip projectiles, new cartridge introductions, and high-BC bullets like the ELD-X, the have been pushing boundaries. While these cutting-edge technologies offer a lot to those pushing boundaries, that is not their only offering. Essentially a modernized version of the 1977 Interlock, the Hornady SST is a traditional bullet that with some tweaks for the 21st century rifleman.
Specifications
First off, let’s break down the specifications of the Hornady Super Shock Tip (SST) line. The SST is a boat tail bullet with a polymer tip. The tip is Hornady’s Heatshield technology, which prevents warping of the bullet as the tip heats up at long range. With traditional polymer tips, the tip can distort, which causes unpredictable changes to the BC of the projectile as it travels down range.
As far as construction, the SST uses Hornady’s Interlock ring. This is a ring of copper jacket on the inside of the bullet that locks into the lead core. Ostensibly, this is done to help the bullet hold together on impact. Hornady says the Interlock ring retains mass and penetrates more deeply than a traditional cup and core, like the Sierra Gameking. The SST line features high BC’s but not to the degree that the super slippery ELD-X and ELD-M line-ups do. For this review testing was conducted with the 0.264 caliber 123gr variation, featuring a G1 BC of 0.510.
Accuracy
Next, the SST was loaded with a variety of powder charges and tested in a Bergara B-14 rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. One of the benefits of a cup and core bullet design is easy accuracy. While bonded and partition style bullets can have great terminal performance, accuracy is often more finicky. Simply put, the more complex the construction of the bullet the harder it is to achieve consistent accuracy.
In testing, I found the SST to be forgivingly accurate. Almost all the loads tested shot under 1 MOA using a factory rifle and a 3-9 Vortex Viper scope. Typically, accuracy was around 3/4 MOA, which is more than adequate for virtually any big game hunting.
Satisfied, I decided to take the SST out for some longer range work. Hiking out into the mountains, I shot a group at 810 yards before moving back to 1030 yards to see how the SST held up. At 810 yards the SST averaged about 8-9 inch groups. At 1000 yards, switching winds proved difficult but I was able to go 3/10 on a 15×15 inch target.
Terminal Performance
Finally, we look at the most important attribute: terminal performance. Accurate, high technology bullets that don’t kill effectively are of no use to a hunter. Fortunately, the SST did not disappoint. I took the SST on a Sitka blacktail hunt and was presented with a steeply quartering to shot a 44 yards on a big bodied Sitka buck. This presented an opportunity to test the bullet with punching through bone to get to the vitals.
In short, the SST performed perfectly. It entered through the neck and expanded rapidly, blowing a large chunk out of the spine. The Interlock ring did its job holding the core and the jacket together. Accordingly, the shank of the bullet continued on its path through the heart. During an informal autopsy, I found the bullet in the hide on the offside of the deer.
Penetration was adequate despite encountering a lot of bone, and expansion was exceptional. The recovered bullet had expanded to 0.534 inches and had retained 42.2 grains of mass. This is an optimal 102 percent expansion, but only 34 percent weight retention. Importantly, these results occurred at an impact velocity of approximately 2750 fps. Therefore, expect similar results with this bullet from a 6.5 PRC or a 270 Winchester around 350 yards, bullet weight kept equal.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, the Hornady SST performs as advertised and expands violently without blowing apart. However, the SST is a bullet best used in specific cases, not as a do everything bullet. First off, penetration was acceptable, but not in the same class as bonded or monolithic bullets. For hunting big critters like elk, moose, and the larger bears, I would opt for a tougher bullet.
Additionally, expansion was incredibly rapid which is both a blessing and a drawback. Rapid expansion helps to quickly drop an animal, but can also damage excessive meat. As such, take care to match the cartridge to the animal you tend to pursue. Careful shot placement is in order to avoid losing a quarter if you decide to use the SST in a large magnum on deer.
Finally, with these two caveats acknowledged the use case for the Hornady SST is clear. The SST is an excellent deer bullet when used in modest cartridges or at longer ranges. I suspect driving impact velocities too high could cause excessive fragmentation, poor penetration, and meat damage. However, at traditional cartridge velocities the SST is an absolute hammer on deer and an excellent choice for your annual hunting camp.