Thread: 95gn sst

General thoughts on red stags in the roar with 95 set?

Back story mates used his 75 hunter .243 for 20’odd years with great success it’s also a fussy thing 95gn sst are shooting well I have shot them with great success in other calibres and cartridges what say you

I tried 95 gn SST in my 243W but never got it to shoot well enough and gave up.
Have successfully used SST's in 270W and 30.06 but went to using other bullets I thought better. I think SST's come apart easily.
The 95 gn bullet I'm going to in my 243W will be Targex HP/BT which I do have shooting well. Think I have also read here of good kills on deer with Targex.

Create red mist if stoked along. Brutal pill.

My 243 loves them. Shoots more than well enough for bush shooting and out to 200.and that from a super short barrel. Dropped but a red stag in the raukumaras last roar and then a sika stag with the old boom flop. I'm a huge fan and have converted a mate over the last two roars with him seeing the carnage they cause in his stags.

I haven't use them in 243 but find them to soft in 30 06 and 7mm.
I don't like projectiles that fall to bits.

TLB on here put me onto the 95 ssts for my Win 70 featherweight. Shoot well. Half a dozen fallow at ranges out to 250, never a second shot required.
Probably better pills for 243 up close, federal blue 100gr, fed fusion 90 gr or 100gr interlocks.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I haven't use them in 243 but find them to soft in 30 06 and 7mm.
I don't like projectiles that fall to bits.

I should have added, probably OK for lighter softer animals like Sika, Fallow, Red meat animals.
But rutting stags/bucks are a whole different game with smaller calibers.

Work really well.
I have used hundreds now over the last couple of years. Culled plenty of big Red stags. A lot of animals over 400 yards.
Very capable projectile and one of my favorites in .243, especially for factory ammo.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

I tried 95 gn SST in my 243W but never got it to shoot well enough and gave up.
Have successfully used SST's in 270W and 30.06 but went to using other bullets I thought better. I think SST's come apart easily.
The 95 gn bullet I'm going to in my 243W will be Targex HP/BT which I do have shooting well. Think I have also read here of good kills on deer with Targex.

The 95gr targex are a bit more frangible than the SST. Explode but the damage they cause is phenomenal. Shot placement on a big Red stags would need to be directed with a little more care.

Only been using them for the last 4 months as I usually use the 105gr targex as the 95s were not available for quite some time. Shot maybe 40 to 50 deer with them. None have got away that I know of and to be honest a couple of the shots haven't been super flash and the deer still have not made it far at all.

Originally Posted by TLB

The 95gr targex are a bit more frangible than the SST. Explode but the damage they cause is phenomenal. Shot placement on a big Red stags would need to be directed with a little more care.

Only been using them for the last 4 months as I usually use the 105gr targex as the 95s were not available for quite some time. Shot maybe 40 to 50 deer with them. None have got away that I know of and to be honest a couple of the shots haven't been super flash and the deer still have not made it far at all.

Good to hear, I’m not hesitant about his shot placement having used the .243 and .243 only for the past 20 years his marksmanship is out standing his bullet placement always leave me impressed I must admit I have the bad habit of smashing shoulders to anchor animals he always slips them just behind and in the base of the neck, this is a direct result of me having to many magnums over the past 20 years and him plugging away with his tried and true .243 Im re training myself using smaller cartridges at the moment

Originally Posted by Kelton

Good to hear, I’m not hesitant about his shot placement having used the .243 and .243 only for the past 20 years his marksmanship is out standing his bullet placement always leave me impressed I must admit I have the bad habit of smashing shoulders to anchor animals he always slips them just behind and in the base of the neck, this is a direct result of me having to many magnums over the past 20 years and him plugging away with his tried and true .243 Im re training myself using smaller cartridges at the moment

Jim Warren of Philip Holden fame used to say the same... not undergunned by the 222 and not over gunned by the 270. He got big tallies in the Ruahines and apparently only bested by Les Loveridge which says a lot. Graeme Surgeon of Mangaohane fame used the 243 with 85gr Sierra. You may be moving to the dark side and using ... the 223. LOL.

What did Phillip Holden do with Jim Warren?

Are you indicating the dark side of Holden.

Both Holden and Orman used the 100grn soft points and Orman among others said to break shoulders to get the best from them.

Yeah man SSTs are great in the .243. For a 1-10 twist they are the only choice other than 95gr ballistic tip Noslers. Go forth without a worry.