Unleashing Precision and Power: The Hornady SST 6.5 Creedmoor 140 Grain Super Shock Tip Bullet

For serious hunters and precision reloaders seeking unparalleled performance in the field, the Hornady 26302 SST 6.5 Creedmoor .264 140 grain Super Shock Tip bullet stands as a testament to advanced ballistic engineering. This meticulously crafted bullet, designed by Hornady, a leader in ammunition innovation, provides the ideal balance of accuracy, flat trajectory, and devastating terminal performance. Whether you're pursuing a trophy whitetail, preparing for an antelope hunt across vast plains, or aiming for larger game like moose and formidable African plains species, the 140-grain SST bullet in 6.5 Creedmoor delivers consistent, ethical results.

What Makes the Hornady SST Bullet a Top Choice for Hunters?

When considering the best ammunition components for your hunting needs, questions often arise: "What bullet offers reliable expansion?" "How can I achieve maximum downrange energy?" or "Which bullet design ensures consistent accuracy, especially at longer distances?" The Hornady SST answers these critical questions with its innovative design and proven track record.

The acronym "SST" stands for "Super Shock Tip," a name that perfectly encapsulates its core mission: to deliver tremendous shock on impact, followed by rapid and reliable expansion. This performance is particularly evident at higher velocities, ensuring the bullet performs as designed even when impacting game at close to moderate ranges. But its capabilities extend far beyond just initial impact.

Key features that elevate the Hornady SST above conventional hunting bullets include:

• Sleek Polymer Tip: More than just an aesthetic element, the distinctive red polymer tip serves multiple critical functions. It initiates rapid expansion upon impact, ensuring that the bullet transfers maximum energy to the target. Furthermore, this aerodynamically optimized tip significantly increases the ballistic coefficient (BC), allowing the bullet to cut through the air with minimal drag. A higher BC translates directly into a flatter trajectory and better energy retention downrange, making long-range shots more manageable and precise.
• Secant Ogive Boat-Tail Profile: This sophisticated bullet shape is crucial for external ballistics. The secant ogive, a tangent curve that extends from the tip to the bearing surface, reduces drag and increases aerodynamic efficiency, much like the nose cone of a supersonic jet. Coupled with the boat-tail design, which tapers the bullet's base, it minimizes base drag and enhances stability in flight. This combination contributes to the SST's exceptional accuracy and its ability to maintain velocity over extended distances, ensuring that hunters can confidently take shots with minimal bullet drop.
• InterLock® Ring Technology: A cornerstone of Hornady's bullet design philosophy, the InterLock® ring is an integral part of the SST. This mechanical lock ensures that the bullet's core and jacket remain locked solid during expansion. What does this mean for the hunter? It guarantees controlled, consistent expansion while promoting high weight retention. This translates into deeper penetration and a more substantial, reliable wound channel, leading to quick, humane kills. Unlike some bullets that might shed their jacket or fragment excessively, the SST with its InterLock® ring maintains its integrity to deliver maximum energy transfer and effective tissue damage.

Understanding the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 140 Grain SST Pairing

The 6.5 Creedmoor has rapidly become one of the most popular rifle cartridges for both hunting and long-range shooting, celebrated for its mild recoil, excellent ballistic efficiency, and inherent accuracy. Pairing this versatile cartridge with the Hornady 140-grain SST bullet creates a formidable combination for a wide array of hunting scenarios.

Why is the 140-grain weight ideal for the 6.5 Creedmoor?

• Optimal Stability: The 140-grain weight generally stabilizes exceptionally well in the common twist rates found in 6.5 Creedmoor rifles, ensuring pinpoint accuracy.
• Versatile Performance: This weight strikes an excellent balance between speed and retained energy, making it suitable for a broad spectrum of game animals. It's heavy enough to deliver significant kinetic energy and penetration for larger animals, yet light enough to maintain a relatively flat trajectory and high velocity for medium-sized game.
• Ballistic Efficiency: The .264-inch diameter, combined with the 140-grain weight and the SST's advanced aerodynamic profile, results in a remarkable ballistic coefficient of .520 (G1). This high BC means the bullet resists wind drift and drops less over distance, providing a significant advantage in varying field conditions.

Real-World Applications: Who Benefits from the Hornady SST?

The Hornady 26302 SST is engineered for hunters who demand precision, reliability, and devastating terminal performance. Let's explore specific use cases:

• Whitetail Deer Hunting: For many hunters, whitetail deer are the primary quarry. The 140-grain SST is an ideal choice, delivering ample energy and rapid expansion to ensure quick, ethical harvests. Its flat trajectory minimizes guesswork on shots across open fields or through timber.
• Antelope and Mule Deer: When hunting these nimble animals in open terrain, often at extended ranges, the SST's high ballistic coefficient and accuracy become invaluable. It helps counteract the effects of wind and range, increasing the likelihood of a clean shot.
• Larger North American Game (e.g., Elk, Moose, Black Bear): While the 6.5 Creedmoor might not be the traditional "magnum" for these animals, the 140-grain SST, with its controlled expansion and reliable penetration thanks to the InterLock® ring, is proven effective. For responsible hunters who understand their rifle's and bullet's capabilities, the SST can certainly be a viable choice, particularly with well-placed shots. Its ability to retain weight ensures it drives deep enough to reach vital organs.
• Similar-Sized African Plains Game: For those venturing to Africa, the 140-grain SST is well-suited for a variety of plains game species, offering the necessary punch and terminal performance for animals like Gemsbok, Kudu, or Wildebeest. Always confirm local regulations and ethical hunting practices for your specific hunt.

The Hornady SST is not just for the hunter; it's also a preferred component for reloaders who meticulously craft their own ammunition. Reloading with SST bullets allows for custom load development tailored to a specific rifle's characteristics, potentially unlocking even greater accuracy and consistency. For those who enjoy the precision and customization of handloading, these bullets offer a premium component that forms the foundation of truly exceptional hunting rounds.

The Science Behind Super Shock Tip Performance

Understanding the "why" behind the SST's effectiveness further solidifies its position as a superior hunting bullet. The polymer tip acts as a wedge, forcing the lead core and copper jacket to expand rapidly upon entry. This instantaneous expansion creates a large initial wound cavity, maximizing hydrostatic shock and disrupting vital systems almost immediately.

As the bullet penetrates deeper, the InterLock® ring prevents the core and jacket from separating, ensuring the bullet maintains its integrity. This controlled expansion means the bullet doesn't over-expand and lose energy too quickly. Instead, it creates a wide, devastating wound channel that continues through the animal, leading to quick and humane incapacitation. The retained weight of the bullet ensures sufficient momentum to penetrate through muscle and bone, reaching vitals for a clean pass-through or maximizing energy transfer within the animal.

The G1 Ballistic Coefficient (BC) of .520 for the 140-grain .264 SST is a critical data point for long-range shooters. This high BC directly translates to:

• Reduced Bullet Drop: Less vertical adjustment needed for distance.
• Minimized Wind Drift: The bullet is less affected by crosswinds, which is crucial in open hunting environments.
• Greater Retained Energy: More kinetic energy delivered to the target downrange, increasing knockdown power and ensuring ethical kills at extended distances.

Combining these advanced features, the Hornady 26302 SST bullet offers a complete package for the discerning hunter and reloader. It addresses the fundamental needs for accuracy, a flat trajectory, and reliable, devastating terminal performance, making every shot count.

Key Specifications for Reloaders and Enthusiasts

For those who delve into the specifics of ammunition components, the Hornady 26302 SST offers precise characteristics that aid in load development and performance prediction. These details ensure compatibility with reloading data and help optimize your custom hunting loads. The dedication to quality materials, from the copper jacket to the lead core, exemplifies Hornady's commitment to producing reliable and effective hunting bullets. Every aspect, from the bullet diameter of .264 to the 140-grain weight, is engineered for peak performance in the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.

Hornady is a brand trusted worldwide for its commitment to innovation and quality in ammunition and components. The 26302 SST bullets are a prime example of this dedication, offering hunters and shooters a product that consistently performs in the most demanding conditions. For hunters seeking to optimize their 6.5 Creedmoor rifle for medium to large game, or reloaders looking for a premium bullet component, the Hornady 140 grain SST is an indispensable choice. These components are readily available for your reloading bench, providing you the foundation to craft high-performance hunting cartridges.

Invest in the proven performance of Hornady SST bullets and experience the difference that superior engineering makes in the field.

Hornady SST 140 gr 6.5 Creedmoor Bullet Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	SST
Caliber	6.5mm
Bullet Weight	140 gr
Bullet Diameter	.264
Bullet Type	Super Shock Tip
Tip Material	Polymer
Core Material	Lead
Jacket Material	Copper
Ballistic Coefficient (G1)	.520
Sectional Density	.287
Application	Medium-Large Game
Rounds Per Box	100
Boxes Per Case	15
SKU	26302
UPC	090255263022