308 Hornady 150gr SST out to 600 yards for sheep?

[dapesche]

so my elk rifle is a 308 with trophy copper 150gr rounds.

I'd like to not have to buy a new rifle and ammo for sheep as I really like this tikka 308. Light and short action makes it really easy to lug around.


I don't want to use a copper bullet out to 600 yds on a sheep at lower velocity.

What does everyone think about the 150gr SST out to 600yds for sheep?

thanks!

[Husky7mm]

My wife has a model 7 in a 7-08. It shoots 139 gr sst really well. Never shot it out to 600 but it did account for 2 bull elk, a 5x5 whitetail, 4x4 mulie at half or less that distance. Without fail. It was actually the only bullet that that gun likes. Iirc the sst is referred to as a “deer” bullet. I found the terminal performance on game to be excellent, like the sierra boattail but hold up better. When shot the game just locks up and tips over. I would shoot this sst in my 270wsm if someone loaded it. I bet it will do the job for you, you just need good ballistic data and a quality scope.

[dapesche]

thanks husky.

I have the vx5hd. friend has a chrono. I was hitting steel out to 500 with those 150gr trophy coppers before this year's sheep hunt so I know the scope is not the limiting factor.

in the hornday promo vid for the sst, they have a picture of a sheep. My concern is effective distance more than anything.

It'll definitely put a hole in something at closer distances :)

[high horse Hal]

Using data from Hornady Custom 150 gr SST , 300 yd zero, mv 2820, bc .422, @600yds = ~960 fpe and ~ 65" of drop

Sir, It will keell

the difference in drop between 590 and 610 is ~ 8" = within the kill zone for a sheep

[dapesche]

thank you for running those numbers. 960 fpe doesn't sound a good as 1800 but it's gotta pack a punch still right?!?

[Drillbit]

I run 130 sst’s in a 270 and have for years.

I’ve had good results with them both near and far shots.

Have only shot coyotes 500+ yards with them, and they still put big holes in them, so they still must still be expanding ok

[REMINGTON JIM]

so my elk rifle is a 308 with trophy copper 150gr rounds.

I'd like to not have to buy a new rifle and ammo for sheep as I really like this tikka 308. Light and short action makes it really easy to lug around.


I don't want to use a copper bullet out to 600 yds on a sheep at lower velocity.

What does everyone think about the 150gr SST out to 600yds for sheep?

thanks!

THEY are certainly not gonna Bounce off and will Open -Expand up for sure ! 600 yards is a long shot on a Sheep . JMO RJ

[180grainer]

I'd use a 168 grain TTSX if it flies right in your gun. Shoot everything with it. I'm with RJ. 600 yards is a long shot.

[high horse Hal]

thank you for running those numbers. 960 fpe doesn't sound a good as 1800 but it's gotta pack a punch still right?!?sheep die pretty easy
lightest i've seen used was 100 gr sp's from a 6 mm out to 420, the shot pattern was a little too large so it took a couple extras

wind is a big factor beyond 400, from any direction

[kevingm1987]

so my elk rifle is a 308 with trophy copper 150gr rounds.

I'd like to not have to buy a new rifle and ammo for sheep as I really like this tikka 308. Light and short action makes it really easy to lug around.


I don't want to use a copper bullet out to 600 yds on a sheep at lower velocity.

What does everyone think about the 150gr SST out to 600yds for sheep?

thanks!

Not a short action...a long action with a stop to make it a short action.

[dapesche]

Not a short action...a long action with a stop to make it a short action.

interesting. Shows you how much I know! thanks for clarifying. I did notice on the tikka mags that they were the same length but the 308 had a small reducer added.

[dapesche]

I mention 600 yards as the stone we got this year was moving away from us at about 460ish. We moved locations to get closer in the hopes they'd hold up to feed. Instead they winded us and bounced further away.

At that point, they looked a long ways away so I deferred to my friend who has a 300 prc. He ended up getting the ram down at 580yds.

I had spotted the ram. It was my first sheep hunt. MY friend had gotten a nice stone a couple years ago, so I was supposed to be the shooter. I really wanted the ram as he was broomed, had age, and the scenario and the adventure that we had to get into that position was pretty epic. I also was not going to tell my friend not to shoot so then we leave empty handed or possibly spend another 3 days trying to find the ram and still not get a shot. Team work makes the dream work, but damn do I wish I had packed it out.

I DO NOT want to have to take the 600yd shot. I've prefer a much shorter distance; however, I need to bump up my effective range with a bullet that will expand at 600 yds to avoid the above situation in the future.



so thanks for all the thoughts.

[MRP]

Professor google says 1600 fps as the minimum for expansion with SSTs. 600yds, the drop is pushing an inch per yard of travel. Testing of your rangefinder and your ability to adjust to it is the critical thing.

[high horse Hal]

"At that point, they looked a long ways away so I deferred to my friend who has a 300 prc. "

What were you carrying? good call on your part if you were not comfortable
You have plenty of time to get some practice in with the 308 so you can take it in with confidence
Slow bullets at distance don't act 'normal' but with momentum they can get the job done

"He ended up getting the ram down at 580yds." I bet there is more to that story too ;)

[dapesche]

I've committed to the 150gr SST. I'll toss in the 165gr trophy coppers into my 3 rd mag just in case for bear issues.

I prefer to get close. At longer distances the 150gr will put a hole in an animal, but I always prefer to get as close as possible.

[dapesche]

"At that point, they looked a long ways away so I deferred to my friend who has a 300 prc. "

What were you carrying? good call on your part if you were not comfortable
You have plenty of time to get some practice in with the 308 so you can take it in with confidence
Slow bullets at distance don't act 'normal' but with momentum they can get the job done

"He ended up getting the ram down at 580yds." I bet there is more to that story too ;)

I do owe this group another story. Winter project...

[todbartell]

The thinner atmosphere of higher elevation helps prolong how far out a bullet will retain velocity. At 5000' elevation, a 150SST @ 2800 fps lands at 600y with 1785 fps / 1061 ft lbs energy. I'd probably look at a 168gr ELDm for long shots on medium sized game from a 308. You can get it in the Superformance Match load from Hornady, 2750 fps MV should be realistic in a 22.5" 308. This retains 1933 fps / 1393 ft lbs energy at 600 and has less wind deflection which is probably the most important factor in longer shots