A couple weeks ago I shot a buck at 80 yards with my M-1 Garand. I shot the Hornady 150 grain SST at about 2650 fps.

The buck was quartering towards me (a little more than I thought); the bullet entered in the middle of the first shoulder and exited behind the opposite shoulder. He ran about 50 yds, only bleeding a few drops the first 20 yds. The entrance wound was horrendous; the shoulder almost completely lost. The exit wound was about quarter sized.

Entrance Wound


Exit Wound


Though the buck died on impact, I doubt I'll use the SST again. Too much wastage.

Thought I'd share.

Yep, a lot of folks call the SST's "Deer Grenades", because they pretty much blow up on impact. Just stick with a good SP in the Garand.

Yep, looks like it dumped most of it's energy on impact. I want a bullet to expand but retain weight, that coupled with the hydrostatic shock, makes for dead animals.

i had the same experience with the sst in 7mm08 on a pig

Man, that is a ton of damage. Thanks for the pix. I'll stick with my Speer 150gn BTSP. Thats ugly my friend.

Hornady SST is just another hollow point bullet with a poly-carbonate tip stuck in it, like the Nosler ballistic tip is. Both will kill deer very well but if you shoot them in the meat with either expect to loose some meat.

If you want less damage to the meat go to one of the bonded core bullets Interbond, accubond, sirocco or one of the solids Etip, TSX, GMX... Another option is heavy for caliber cup and core bullets for the caliber, have never seen that kind of entrance damage from a 220gr bullet in a 30-06.

For the eat right up to the hole slower moving BIG bullets work well. 405gr soft point in a 45-70 or even cast bullets in pistol rounds like 44Mag, 45LC, 44 Special will work well.

I think I'm going to try the Accubond. I'm going to stay away from soft-points due to the Garand being rough on them. I already tried Speer HotCors and the points were eaten alive by the Garand.

I would try the Accubond. I shoot the 165 grain in my 06 and it is very consistent on everything I have used it on so far......... from whitetail and black bear to moose. Always expands nicely, but stays together and penetrates.

Was having the same problem and I switched to Barnes TTSX pricey but worth it in my opinion. I load the SST's to ding steel on the range and head shoot pigs.

I shoot the 165's in ny 06 as well and have been very pleased with their performance.

Any photos of the Garand? I am thinking of picking one up to sit in the safe.

Try the winchester powermax bonded hollow points, they should feed just like a FMJ in your Garand and I have seen them perform well on deer.

You make my point about Ballistic Tips exactly..we eat what we kill and I quit shooting Noslers' and Horndays both because of that. I did take a buck w/a Barnes TTSX yesterday..and no real
meat damage to the shoulders, but inside the chest cavity it looked like a bomb had hit....he still ran about 30 yds pushing his front end..I prefer neck, head, or spine shots Don

I have always shot deer in the shoulders and probably always will. Instant death and they only go within seeing distance, if that far.

Sure you didnt get entry and exit backwards?

100% of deer and hogs I have ever cleaned look oposite of that, little to no destruction on the entry and huge holes on the off side. Using all kinds of bullets soft point hollow point, and tipped bullets.

100% sure.

He was quartering to me and I held in front of the shoulder I could see (though I hit the shoulder dead center). The exit was behind the opposite shoulder.

That's what I use out of my .308 too. I like them, accurate, good blood trail, no excessive damage.

I use Sierra 150 grain ProHunters. Similar except it's a flat base, but very accurate and excellent blood trail.

I've used them too. They work great. I've never had a deer go more than a few steps before hitting the ground.

Barnes bullets

too much power

Wow, that's overkill.