123sst vs 120Gold Dots, terminal performance

[Bat Rastard]

Both of these are showing accuracy potential in my rifle.
I think the sst would be better at distance. (higher bc) I don't hunt at distance, so that factor doesn't weigh heavy with me.
The sst shows a slight accuracy advantage over the GD's, but not a meaningful difference in a hunting situation.
Velocities on both are similar.

My question is for those who have hunted both bullets. Which performed better on game?

Thanks for the help.

[1Shot]

I have not used the 123 SST on game because neither of my rifles will shoot them under about 2" at 100 but I did kill a deer with the 120 Speer Gold Dot last season and I would not want a better bullet. Shot the deer in the chest as it faced me at 111 yards. BANG FLOP! Chest looked like you set a weed eater loose in it and bullet penetrated about 20" and exited the belly with a thumb size hole, shot was from a shooting house shooting on a downward angle. No evidence of fragmentation of bullet but HUGE hydro effect. Muzzle velocity was 2550 fps from the 20" barrel driven by 28 grs IMR8208 which is fine in my rifle, Hornady case, CCI 450 primer.

[cwlongshot]

I used the GD last year.

Killed my buck. But I didnt get a exit. It was a REAL big deer. 263 # Dressed. Bugger was it was a tree stand shot to high entrance lo
Exit. (That didnt happen) so NO BLOOD TRAIL!

But damage was good and deer is in my belly.

I have more loaded for this season along with some Sierra 120?s that actually shot better Tuesday.. Same 26g AR-Comp loading. 2540 fps. My 22? Bbl.

CW

[wwy]

I'm pretty new to the gold dot but started looking at them for a deep penetrating bullet that still assured some level of expansion. I'd previously been shooting mostly the lapua 123. Took 3 whitetail a week ago with the gold dots. Ranges from 110-385 yards. I did not recover any bullets. I liked what I saw. The lungs showed definite expansion. Exit wounds were not big but again showed signs of expansion. Everything shot behind the shoulder. Not much of a test shooting whitetail, and certainly not a big sample size, but a good start. Took the new load out to 975 yards this morning with good results. Really hoping to take a cow elk with the gold dot here soon.

I've shot 4 deer with the sst, recovered 3 bullets. Tissue damage was extensive. To me they seem a good, quick killing deer bullet but I wouldn't count on reliable exit wounds if that's what you are after. Again, this is a very small sample size between the two bullets. At this point I would say the gold dot will give deeper penetration and more controlled expansion while the sst will upset quicker and penetrate less.

[imaguy3]

Took the new load out to 975 yards this morning with good results. Really hoping to take a cow elk with the gold dot here soon.

how did they group? How much drop did you have? What's your muzzle velocity?

[Trashy]

The 123 gr. SST in my Grendel accouNted for 2 - 8 points, 1 - doe and 2 - hogs so far this year. The doe ran the longest (approx 50 yards) with a through and through shot in the center of the lungs. One buck ran 10 yards and fell into a gulley, the rest was bang flop. Haven't used the GD yet but if the SST keeps performing as it has been you can't beat it for the price when reloading. The SST consistently shoots less than MOA out of my 20" BA as long as I do my part. Hope this helps.

[wwy]

Trashy- just shooting small stones so no real groups. Significantly better accuracy at 875 or so than 900+ I think they are losing stability at that range but still pretty good. I think at 875 I was about 11.5 mills. 2400 fps at the muzzle.