300 SST reloads at 400 yards

[Stealthshooter]

I finally had a chance to shoot my reloads out to 400 yards today. I was pleasantly surprised at the results. I shot off of a make shift bench on the bed of my Toyota. I printed a five inch five shot group which is not as good as this gun will shoot. I'm pretty sure if I would of had a better bench I could of printed a much better group. Behind my target was a pocket of Quaken Aspens. I managed to recover 3 of my 300 grain SST's from one of the trees which wasn't all that easy since they penetrated a little over 4" I also shot my 280 Remington with some 120 grain Barnes. My 280 only penetrated 2" into the same tree which surprised me a bit. The recovered SST's measured .79",.72" and .71" I was also pleased to find that I'm able to use my last BDC mark for a 400 yard shot.

Here is a picture of all 4 bullets.

[Al in Mi]

very impressive and I know a ton of people who can't hold a 5" group @ 400yds, let alone be able to hit the 11 x 17" target!!

[Jeepejeep]

Very impressive, good shooting!

[randyf]

Just curious.........how high would those hit at 100 yds, if you had a 400 zero?

[Stealthshooter]

Just curious.........how high would those hit at 100 yds, if you had a 400 zero?

Looks like about 19"

[45r]

thats some good shooting loads.These rifles sure are accurate.I shot mine with factory 250's today and they went into a inch at 100 like my 225ftx handloads.shot to the same POI also.It's pretty thick where I hunt so don't think I'll be seeing what it'll do way out there but it's good to know it can be done.

[wildcatter]

So There ya go and when you get to 400yds, there's enough Ballistic Potential, to be able to decide any issue.

If one looks at the charts, you'd conclude.."No-Way"!!

I have something important to say about the charts and 400+yd shots.."Forget-the-Charts"!!

This ain't no 6.5 Grendel, trying to shoot Elk at 300+yds!! Until you really ring-out this cartridge at these ranges and more, you will just keep-on-ah-think'en, that this is only a 200yd rig, at best. We've (the shooting public in general) been polluted by the small caliber thinking and are just now starting to relearn what the boys of the Civil War knew, with their 69cal+ rifles. If you do your part and not worry about the Rain-bow effects, but become very accurate in your range estimates, using great optics, BDC's, etc., everything and I mean "Everything", is now within your grasps.

I've a prediction..

With Hunting season upon us now, I believe we will see Reliable/Responsible kills at these ranges and more and you are going to be astounded by the reports of incredible kills and they will sound just like last years, 100 to 200yd.. WOW-ZERS!!!..

Stealthshooter, I know you hunt Elk, how about you setting up a 400+yd shot and then give us a Sit-Rep, with all the details, pics and all. And you Ranchers out there, who cull cattle, do the same on say a 1000lb+- animal and catch it on tape for us & YouTube. It's about time we clear the air about the effectiveness of this caliber/weapons platform vs the 30cal bolt-gun magnums. Of course bullet construction and loads, are going to be important, but it's time guys..

..t

[Stealthshooter]

I'll do my best on the Elk and also a Mulie!! I just weighed the bullets and I got 276 grains 280 grains and 283 grains so they retained their weight pretty well! Just as soon as I can get some more bullets so I'm not shooting up the ones I have set aside for hunting I plan on getting some wet phone books and doing shots from 400 yards and increasing the range in 50 yard increments and see at what point they stop penetrating reliably.

PS. I'm having a BALL with this gun!! Every time I leave the shooting bench I leave with a smile! I have no doubt the smile will continue throughout hunting season!!

[wildcatter]

Telephone books absorb water at different rates, even if the same issues are used. So, duplicating shots with them is nearly impossible. Water shots are much better for relative comparisons. But then you've got to slow the bullet to 400yd speeds, when shooting at as 15yds. Hoot figured this out pretty good and has some recipes..

..t

[Stealthshooter]

I've thought about getting one of these. http://www.thebullettesttube.com/