Thread: BT's or SST's...... performance on game?

I currently shoot Nosler Ballistic Tips (BT's) and can't fault their performance at all. They are an extremely effective killer for me and are very accurate in my rifle.

However, now that I am doing a lot more shooting having caught the LR steel shooting bug, I am looking at cheaper alternatives. My T3 7/08 pushes the 140gr BT @ 2740fps and has served me well out past 500 yards on game and I'm now unsure whether to try the 139gr or 154gr SST's.

.284 140gr Nosler Ballistic Tips: $43 per 50.
.284 139gr/154gr Hornady SST: $57-$60 per 100.

I've ran the numbers through shooter on my smart phone and at 600 yards, we are only talking a couple of inches difference in favour of the heavier projectile and perhaps another 60-70 yards of range before the magical 1000 ft/lb figure is reached.

Is it worth the hassle of working up a new load....? 139gr or 154gr....? SST performance on game?

Cheers,
Pop Shot

The first line says it all for hunting deer. If you can afford it buy a cheap 7 mill magnum for long range steel, I've seen good ones going for under $500 and you can go a lot further than 600 yards.

I'm running the 154 SST's thru my T3 7-08. I've seated them longer than mag length to get speed and accuracy. 47g of 2209 gives me 2720 fps.

Originally Posted by sniper80

I'm running the 154 SST's thru my T3 7-08. I've seated them longer than mag length to get speed and accuracy. 47g of 2209 gives me 2720 fps.

I should mention that my barrel is only 20" as well.

I can't fault the BT's at all - but am interested in trying the SST's at near half the price and from what I've read... near same performance? I might try the 139gr version though - not sure what speeds I get running the heavier 154gr on second thoughts.

Ive got some 139gr and 162gr SSTs if you want a few to try.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

I used 140gn SST in by 270WSM for aq long time. Never had in animal get away between 40 to 600m.

They generally punched straight through animals less than 300m away and mushroom up very well once they started to slow. My MV of these was around the 3250-3300fps

I've since changed to the 150gn Berger VLD, for a slightly better BC and increase in weight, MV 3170fps. These still go straight through animals.

139ssts were my favorite in the .280s I had. No worries at all on deer and pigs

Using 95gn SST's in my 243.Been great sika medicine out to 300m.

I'd just stick with the BT, by the time you muck around working up a new load, buying new projectiles, trips to the range (petrol, etc) you won't be saving any money