Hornady 6.8 SPC 120gr SST Custom Ammunition 20rds - 8347

Built a 6.8 carbine for my youngest son to use for whitetail. Got his second deer with it this year. The first was last year, with a soft point from Silver State. Bang, flop.

Tried out this SST because it is heavier for caliber than most, and is very accurate in my rifle (thus three stars).

My kid used the SST on a deer a few days ago. About 75 yards, broadside shot. The bullet hit right on the right lung, creating an entry wound about the size of a softball. Then it made a hard left turn, exited the body, and struck the right femur and adjacent artery. The deer ran another 50 yards, then collapsed, and had to be put down at close range. I recovered the bullet and jacket in the broken femur. The bullet had separated, the core fragmented, and the remains of the polymer tip were still visible.

I understand this is one result, from one shot, but I am concerned with this bullet's performance. The chest wound was very shallow, and the superficial tissue damage was extensive. The lung itself was damaged, but not to a degree one would expect with this bullet at short range.

If you read this, Hornady, please market a 120 grain load with a tougher bullet.

I was excited for this round but it didn't perform as I hoped. Shooting it through a 20 inch barrel and it grouped at 2.5 inches. Probably good enough for some but it was the worst grouping out of all factory ammo tried with this rifle. Fusion 115 grain grouped the best with sub-moa performance.

This ammo works like ballistic tip ammo. It is fine in open range when you can see what is laying in low cut grass or for self defense but I will never use this ammo again in the heavy brush in Mississippi. When hunting I shot a 10 point buck at 80 yards in the chest broadside. It buckled and then ran off after the shot. I waited only about 15 minutes as I knew it was a good shot. Walked over to the point of impact and looked for a blood trail. Couldn't find it. Searched for a solid 20 minutes but began doubting if i was a good shot when I couldn't find any blood. It was prime hunting time so I went back to my blind to continue hunting. After sitting there and being certain it was a good hit I got up again about an hour later and again found no blood. So I walked the woods down the most open access route using that to predict the deer's movement. Found the deer about 80 yards down the thick trail toppled over. His run probably was just a few seconds but in tall brush and trees we need a blood trail. Got lucky. Even when I found the deer there was no blood on the outside. When cleaning the deer it was soup on the inside. Bullet fragments and entrance was sealed. Got lucky. Retired this ammo for self defense use only and now I use the Nosler Accubond or Barnes for better performance when hunting.

I really like this load. I don't have a chronograph but I bet it's fairly hot. Classic SST terminal performance designed for expansion at 6.8 velocities. Carries well at longer distances.

Watched my father take a 140 B&C 8 pointer at 300yrds with this round last season. He was throwing it through a 16" stag uppper. The buck gave the death kick and went maybe 30yrds. Good blood trail entered the right shoulder and left an exit hole in the left side rib cage I could put my fist in. Convinced me! I bought my own 6.8 spc upper from PSA; mine is an 18" SS barrel by FN and it shoots 0.5"-0.75" groups using this ammo with ease.