The 25 sst...up and running

[elkaholic]

Ive been hearing this a lot lately (easy to shoot) Sometimes the shooter helps too
How would you rate the effectiveness of the bullet so far? Other than obviously dead animals.

 

[couesaddict]

Wound channel wasn't very wide with about a quarter sized exit. I didn't actually recover any of the coyotes and I was a little nervous about that. The one at 820 I watched for quite a while and decided he'd probably done enough bad in his day that I didn't need to waste another bullet. He quit moving and looked dead. Went back to glassing for deer then about three hours later I went to go get a picture of him and there was a pile of blood but no dog. Shot placement wasn't ideal on any of them. I struggle with wind but can't help sending a bullet at a coyote.

 

[lancetkenyon]

That Coues looks even better than the pic you sent me. Tell her she is REALLY my hero now.

 

[couesaddict]

He was a super deceiving buck. I thought he was around an 80" deer but was the best we'd seen so we spent a day and a half trying to get him. Haven't pulled a tape but I'd bet my last dollar he's quite a bit better than that. Really nice first one. Beam is broke off on the right but its character.

 

[elkaholic]

He was a super deceiving buck. I thought he was around an 80" deer but was the best we'd seen so we spent a day and a half trying to get him. Haven't pulled a tape but I'd bet my last dollar he's quite a bit better than that. Really nice first one. Beam is broke off on the right but its character.

I dont know much about Coues but isn't that a lot of mass?

 

[couesaddict]

Definitely has really good bases. Way more than I gave him credit for through the glass.

 

[drgalan]

My 25SST is almost ready to work up loads. I'm definitely a Sherman Wildcat addict!.... and love it!
I'll upload final pictures of my build and load development.

 

[ruby76]

My 25SST is almost ready to work up loads. I'm definitely a Sherman Wildcat addict!.... and love it!

Sure are Doc!

 

[couesaddict]

Love the laser etch with Rich's logo!

 

[rockwallraider]

since there seems to be a dozen or so 25sst up and running are you guys drilling the tips of the 131 blackjack or just shooting them how they come AT ANIMALS

i will be hunting starting next week through february and wondering about real world terminal damage with the bullet

i have no doubt i can stick this bullet where I want just curious what it will do when getting there

 

[CA48]

since there seems to be a dozen or so 25sst up and running are you guys drilling the tips of the 131 blackjack or just shooting them how they come AT ANIMALS

i will be hunting starting next week through february and wondering about real world terminal damage with the bullet

i have no doubt i can stick this bullet where I want just curious what it will do when getting there

Il just continue our conversation here.
Il drilled a few of the tips out with a .036" bit chucked up in a cordless drill to open them up a little. I shot a boar this weekend at 250 yards. He ran about 100 yards through some thick and thorny brush before he went down, left a decent blood trail to follow. After gutting him I saw that the bullet went through both lungs but didn't really start expanding until it went through the second lung and broke two ribs on the way out leaving about a 1/2" exit hole. Not quite as good as the 6.5 140 Berger's, they open up a little more and leave a slightly larger exit. I think this is due to the pointed meplats that create smaller hollow points as in the past I've had good results with the Berger's and smks hunting deer and hogs. After opening up the tips on the 131gr ace's last night I didn't see any good bucks or does within range today and I go back to work tomorrow so it will be a while before I can test them out again but I think doing this should help Initiate expansion earlier and leave a slightly larger wound channel, but first results weren't bad at all and this is just a sample of one. Il put a few more in deer this year both as they are and some drilled out to see if really helps or not. Rockwallraider, I couldn't get it to focus to get a pic for ya so I took a short video that focus for a sec about 3/4 of the way through.

Tried to post it but it says there is an error with video.

Here's one of the boar at least

And the exit showing as I found him

 

[couesaddict]

I'm also going to give opening the hollow points up some myself. I do think the bullets open some but a little more would be nice. But unless I let someone else use it on something, I'm out of tags for the year so I won't get much data unless I can connect with another coyote or two.

 

[elkaholic]

Way to go Chase! I want the 131 to work, but my gut says it wont without trimming the meplat and thus lowering the b c a little. I think if you could get the meplat to . 050" and run a . 030" bit in it, it would work.
I doubt it would lower b c by more than 5 points which wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[CA48]

Thanks Rich, I may switch to the .030 bit it will makes things a little easier because some of the meplats are closed in more than others at the tip. I think trimming would help but I don't have the equipment to trim the meplats so il see how opening the tip does first.
The bucks are chasing hard down here, I'm ready to get back out as soon as I can. It's worth noting also that as the bullet entered the hog it went in between the ribs. If the bullet had struck a rib upon entering I may have had a different result.