SW and the 200 gr SST

[deadon]

In the thread 200 sst performance, SW mentioned------"this is not the 250 sst, it is a much tougher bullet".----- My new pacnor with 58 grs of 4198 and the blue CR shoots perfect clover leafs but I went to the barnes due to reported term performance of the 250 sst. What is the difference in 200 and 250, what makes it tougher? Does the 200 gr sst come lose? Lots of question, Thanks Rusty

[sw]

I got a Sav10-ML on day-1 and shot 250 and 300 XTPs until the SSTs came out. Used VV110/46gs(2450'/sec) until going to VV-110/120 10/60(2730) and then 14/61(2630) with 250SST. All DRT for years until Zachs 1st shoulder shot which knocked the deer to the ground, got up took off and not recovered. This was repeated next year. Changed to 300SST and 250 Barnes Expanders. Prefered the 300SST due to trajectory and similar terminal performance. I started shooting 200SSTs and 195 Barnes out of my 40 and 45. I preferred the higher BC of the 200SST and the Terminal effect seemed good to me. The Barnes were not as accurate for me, had noticeably less BC . RB also liked the 200SST over the Barnes 195 which influenced me. If the Barnes were as accurate as the 200SST and the BC were as hi, I'd use only the Barnes. If your gun will shoot the 195 accurately, the trajectory is acceptable, and you're not trying to shoot over 250 yds, reluctantly, I think the Barnes 195 is likely the better choice. Next year, likely we'll have 2 45s set up for 195 Barnes and the 40 for 200SST. The 45 Knight will still have 90g Shockey 3F/200SST.
I'll likely return to hunting thicker/better hunting areas where only less than 200 yd shots are possible and will likely have a195B in the barrel.
Back to your question: the 200 and 300SSTs "seem" to be tougher than the very frangible 250SST. If the 250TMZ didn't exist, I'd think the 300SST would be the ideal 50 cal bullet. We've shot a # of deer with the 200SST with much more classical performance than the over grown varmint bullet the 250SST.

[edge]

IMO, the 200SST something that I have not used yet, appears tougher because of the smaller frontal area of the bullet allowing it to retain more mass. Generally the longer the bullet in relation to its diameter the better it will retain mass....all else being equal.

edge.

[dave d.]

:)Rusty the faster you push this bullet the more it is going to fragment. I shot a deer @40yrds right between the neck and shoulder on a steep downward angle. The bullet never exited and even though there was snow on the ground I had no blood trail to follow. She was with a bunch of deer so there was tracks everywhere. I found the deer and the bullet did its job but a exit hole would have helped which would have happened if I was using the Barnes. The 200 might be stronger then the 250 but how much? BTW my load was 56grs of 4198 so it was moving around 2350fps.

[spaniel]

Nov 15, 2010 8:20:22 GMT -5 edge said:

IMO, the 200SST something that I have not used yet, appears tougher because of the smaller frontal area of the bullet allowing it to retain more mass. Generally the longer the bullet in relation to its diameter the better it will retain mass....all else being equal.

edge.

This is consistent with my explanation.

Like daved, my first experience with this bullet at smokeless velocities was at 40 yds (last weekend) and the result was explosive fragmentation and a dead deer. However those shots are not the norm where I hunt, the very next deer I took was 150-200 yds somewhere and the bullet did excellent. My advice would be that if most of your shots are under 100 yds, find another bullet. If most are over 100 yds or you are pretty certain you will be taking long ones that take advantage of the high BC, use it with confidence. It just does not like 2500 fps IMPACT velocities

[sw]

Dave and Spaniel,
You make excellent points. All of my kills with the 200SST(2700+ m vel) except 1 and Zach's recent kill have been over 100 yds. Possibly, the entry points of these 2 hits were between ribs. This week-end is our second 2-day "gun" season. I'll be hunting out of Zach's stand in his brushy, grown up area. I'll have a 195B in the 40PN. Max range shot might be 120 yds at most. I'd like a flat based 200 or 225 40 cal TMZ.

[Chris Champion]

Nov 16, 2010 7:25:11 GMT -5 sw said:

I'd like a flat based 200 or 225 40 cal TMZ.

I second that request. Are you listening Barnes? ;D

[edge]

Nov 16, 2010 8:06:09 GMT -5 Chris Champion said:

SNIP.

Are you listening Barnes? ;D