04-19-2018, 03:49 AM
This is just my opion but as you get closer to the threshold for expansion the 25 FPS comes into play. Nosler has pictures of their hunting ballistic tip bullets at various velocties. At close to 1800 FPS a 123 grain SST has pretty small disruption of the tip of the bullet. At higher velocities you get more of a full mushroom but at very high velocity the bullet will shed weight and the actual diameter of the bullet will get smaller.
How much expansion is necessary for a clean kill is really dependent on shot placement. The Hornady 123 grain SST is well suited to the 6.5 Grendel velocities. Most 123 grain SST perforate a broadside deer unless the range is close, more velocity the bullet sheds mass which can inhibit penetration.
Me personally, I like to keep cup and core bullets like the SST above 1800 FPS at the target. Barnes recommends a minimum impact velocity of 2000 FPS with their monolithic bullets like TSX or TTSX.
How much expansion is necessary for a clean kill is really dependent on shot placement. The Hornady 123 grain SST is well suited to the 6.5 Grendel velocities. Most 123 grain SST perforate a broadside deer unless the range is close, more velocity the bullet sheds mass which can inhibit penetration.
Me personally, I like to keep cup and core bullets like the SST above 1800 FPS at the target. Barnes recommends a minimum impact velocity of 2000 FPS with their monolithic bullets like TSX or TTSX.