The Hornady SST 130 gr .277 Bullet: Precision, Power, and Performance for the Discerning Hunter

For hunters who demand uncompromising performance, precision accuracy, and devastating terminal ballistics from their rifle ammunition, the Hornady SST 130 grain .277 Super Shock Tip bullet (MPN: 27302) stands as a premier choice. This meticulously engineered component is designed not just to hit the target, but to deliver overwhelming energy and reliable expansion, ensuring clean, ethical harvests across a broad spectrum of game animals. Whether you're tracking a trophy whitetail through dense timber, engaging an antelope on a wide-open plain, or pursuing a formidable moose in rugged terrain, the Hornady SST provides the confidence and capability to succeed.

This bullet, often sought by reloaders optimizing their .270 Winchester cartridges, represents the pinnacle of modern bullet design, combining aerodynamic efficiency with controlled yet rapid expansion. It’s a solution for hunters who prioritize downrange energy, flat trajectories, and a decisive impact that minimizes tracking and maximizes the integrity of their game.

What Makes the Hornady SST 130 gr .277 Bullet an Elite Choice for Hunting?

The secret to the Hornady SST's exceptional performance lies in a synergy of innovative design elements, each contributing to its superior flight characteristics and terminal ballistics. These aren't just buzzwords; they are integrated technologies that address common challenges faced by hunters.

• The Super Shock Tip (SST) – Rapid Expansion and Energy Transfer

  At the heart of the SST bullet's name is its signature polymer tip. This sharp, resilient tip serves multiple critical functions:

  • Enhanced Ballistic Coefficient: The sleek, aerodynamic shape of the polymer tip dramatically reduces air drag, allowing the bullet to maintain higher velocities and flatter trajectories over extended ranges. For the hunter, this translates to less bullet drop and wind drift, simplifying aiming solutions, especially at varying distances.
  • Initiation of Expansion: Upon impact, the polymer tip acts as a wedge, driving rearward into the bullet's core. This action initiates rapid, yet controlled, expansion even at lower velocities, ensuring devastating energy transfer precisely when it's needed. This rapid expansion creates a wide wound channel, maximizing hydrostatic shock and leading to quicker, more humane kills.
  • Protection of the Meplat: The polymer tip also protects the delicate lead tip from deformation during recoil in the magazine or rough handling, preserving the bullet's ballistic integrity and ensuring consistent accuracy shot after shot.

• Secant Ogive Boat-Tail – Unmatched Aerodynamics and Stability

  The Hornady SST features a secant ogive profile combined with a boat-tail base. This design is crucial for optimal external ballistics:

  • Reduced Drag: The secant ogive, a geometrically optimized curve, minimizes air resistance along the bullet's body, further contributing to a higher ballistic coefficient and less velocity decay.
  • Improved Stability: The boat-tail design, where the base of the bullet tapers inward, significantly reduces drag at the rear of the bullet. This aerodynamic tail stabilizes the bullet in flight, reducing yaw and improving accuracy, particularly at longer ranges. It helps the bullet maintain its trajectory more efficiently, fighting against the forces that cause it to slow down and drop. For hunters engaging distant targets, this means more predictable flight paths and increased hit probability.

• InterLock Ring – Superior Core-Jacket Integrity

  A hallmark of Hornady's advanced bullet construction, the InterLock Ring is a mechanical locking feature that ensures the bullet's lead core and copper jacket remain fused during expansion. This is a critical design element that distinguishes the SST:

  • Controlled Expansion: While the polymer tip initiates rapid expansion, the InterLock Ring prevents the jacket and core from separating prematurely. This controlled expansion allows for predictable mushrooming, ensuring the bullet retains significant weight.
  • Deep Penetration: Weight retention is paramount for achieving adequate penetration to reach vital organs, especially on larger game. The InterLock Ring ensures that the bullet maintains its integrity, driving deeper into the animal before expending all its energy, leading to quick and clean kills even on animals with tougher hides and bone structures.
  • Consistent Performance: This mechanical lock contributes to the SST's reputation for consistent, reliable performance across a wide range of impact velocities, from close-quarters encounters to extended shots.

Ideal Applications for the Hornady SST 130 gr .277 Bullet

The versatility of the Hornady SST 130 gr .277 bullet makes it a go-to choice for a diverse array of hunting scenarios and game species. Its design balances rapid expansion for quick takedowns with robust construction for penetration, making it suitable for medium to large game.

• Whitetail Deer Hunting: Often considered the ultimate deer bullet, the SST's rapid energy transfer and reliable expansion are perfect for whitetails. The 130-grain weight in .270 caliber offers a superb balance of velocity, kinetic energy, and trajectory for common deer hunting ranges. It minimizes run distances, reducing tracking time and ensuring a clean harvest.
• North American Big Game: Beyond whitetails, this bullet excels for a variety of North American species:
  • Antelope: Its flat-shooting characteristics and high ballistic coefficient make it exceptional for the open plains where antelope often roam, allowing for precise shots at longer distances.
  • Mule Deer: Similar to whitetails, the SST provides the necessary terminal performance for mule deer, especially in varied western terrains.
  • Elk and Moose: While traditionally heavier bullets are sometimes favored for these larger animals, the 130-grain SST in .270 caliber, thanks to its deep penetration aided by the InterLock Ring and substantial energy transfer, is highly effective for careful shot placement on elk and even moose. It offers a balance of manageable recoil and potent terminal performance.
• African Plains Game: The Hornady SST is also a proven performer for similar-sized African plains game such as Kudu, Gemsbok, Wildebeest, and Springbok. Its ability to expand reliably while maintaining weight for penetration is crucial when facing animals known for their toughness and resilience.

Technical Specifications and Ballistic Insights

Understanding the numbers behind the Hornady SST 130 gr .277 bullet further illuminates its capabilities:

• Bullet Weight: 130 grains (gr) – A widely popular and effective weight for the .270 Winchester, offering a great balance of velocity and downrange energy.
• Bullet Diameter: .277 inches – The standard diameter for .270 caliber firearms.
• Ballistic Coefficient (BC): .460 (G1) – This high BC is a testament to the bullet's aerodynamic design, indicating its ability to overcome air resistance. A higher BC means less drop, less wind drift, and more retained velocity and energy downrange. For a hunter, this translates directly to increased effective range and greater accuracy at distance.
• Sectional Density (SD): .242 – Sectional density is an indicator of a bullet's penetrating capability. A higher SD typically means a bullet will penetrate deeper. The .242 SD of the 130 gr SST, combined with its robust InterLock construction, ensures sufficient penetration for vital organ disruption on medium to large game, even through tough hide and bone.
• Core Material: Lead – The traditional and effective choice for bullet cores, providing the necessary mass and malleability for expansion.
• Jacket Material: Copper – A durable and reliable material that forms the outer layer of the bullet, encasing the lead core and contributing to controlled expansion and structural integrity.
• Packaging: Available in boxes of 100 bullets, with 25 boxes per case. This bulk packaging is ideal for serious reloaders, allowing for consistent practice and hunting load development without frequent resupply.

Optimizing Your Reloads with Hornady SST 130 gr .277 Bullets

For the avid reloader, the Hornady SST 130 gr .277 bullet offers exceptional consistency and a broad range of load development possibilities. When handloading, you gain the ability to tailor ammunition precisely to your rifle's preferences, potentially unlocking even greater accuracy and optimizing velocity for specific hunting scenarios.

• Precision and Consistency: Hornady is renowned for its stringent manufacturing tolerances, ensuring that each SST bullet is virtually identical in weight, diameter, and concentricity. This consistency is crucial for achieving sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) accuracy from a properly tuned rifle.
• Powder Selection: The 130-grain weight is highly versatile in the .270 Winchester, allowing for a wide range of suitable powders to achieve desired velocities and pressures. Consult reliable reloading manuals (such as those published by Hornady itself) for recommended starting and maximum loads to ensure safety and optimal performance.
• Primer Choice: Pairing the right primer with your chosen powder and case can further enhance ignition consistency and accuracy.
• Crimp and Seating Depth: Experimenting with seating depth and crimp can fine-tune the bullet's performance for your specific rifle, often improving accuracy by minimizing bullet jump to the rifling.

Reloading with Hornady SST bullets empowers the hunter to achieve custom-tuned ammunition that performs flawlessly in their firearm, providing an edge in the field.

Why Trust Hornady for Your Hunting Needs?

Hornady has been at the forefront of ammunition and bullet innovation for decades, earning a reputation for quality, consistency, and a deep understanding of what hunters need. The SST line is a testament to their commitment to delivering advanced ballistic solutions that perform in real-world hunting conditions. When you choose Hornady SST, you're not just buying a bullet; you're investing in decades of engineering expertise, rigorous testing, and a legacy of helping hunters succeed.

The Hornady SST 130 gr .277 Super Shock Tip bullet embodies this legacy, offering a potent combination of accuracy, reliable expansion, and deep penetration that translates into ethical and effective hunting. For serious hunters seeking to maximize their performance in the field, this bullet is an indispensable component.

Where to Purchase Your Hornady SST Bullets

Ready to experience the performance of the Hornady SST 130 gr .277 bullets? These premium components, designed for the ultimate hunting experience, are readily available. You can find the Hornady 27302 SST 270 Cal .277 130 gr Super Shock Tip in convenient 100-count boxes, or in bulk 25-case quantities, at trusted retailers like DEGuns. Equip your reloading bench with these exceptional bullets and elevate your hunting game.

Summary of Key Features and Benefits

Choosing the right bullet is crucial for hunting success. The Hornady SST 130 gr .277 bullet provides:

• Devastating Terminal Performance: Rapid, reliable expansion upon impact ensures quick, humane kills.
• Exceptional Accuracy: High ballistic coefficient and secant ogive boat-tail design provide flat trajectories and minimal wind drift.
• Deep, Controlled Penetration: InterLock ring prevents core-jacket separation, retaining weight for vital organ access.
• Versatile Application: Ideal for medium to large game, including whitetail, mule deer, antelope, elk, moose, and African plains game.
• Consistent Quality: Manufactured to Hornady's exacting standards for reliable performance shot after shot.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hornady SST Bullets

• What is the "Super Shock Tip" and how does it work? The Super Shock Tip is a polymer tip that improves the bullet's aerodynamics, leading to a higher ballistic coefficient and flatter trajectories. Upon impact, this tip initiates rapid and controlled expansion, delivering tremendous shock and energy transfer to the target.
• Is the Hornady SST suitable for hunting large game like elk or moose? Yes, the 130-grain Hornady SST in .270 caliber is highly effective for elk and moose, particularly with good shot placement. Its InterLock ring ensures sufficient weight retention and penetration to reach vital organs on these larger animals, while the rapid expansion provides significant energy dump.
• What does "Ballistic Coefficient" (BC) mean for a hunter? The Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is a measure of a bullet's aerodynamic efficiency. A higher BC, like the .460 of the 130 gr SST, means the bullet experiences less air resistance, retains velocity better, has a flatter trajectory, and is less affected by wind drift. For a hunter, this translates to more precise shots at longer ranges and greater downrange energy.
• How does the InterLock Ring benefit bullet performance? The InterLock Ring is a mechanical ring that physically locks the bullet's lead core to its copper jacket. This prevents the core and jacket from separating during expansion, ensuring that the bullet retains most of its weight. This weight retention is crucial for deep penetration into game animals, allowing the bullet to reach vital organs and ensure a clean kill.
• Can these bullets be used for reloading different .270 caliber cartridges? Yes, these .277 diameter bullets (UPC: 090255200317) are specifically designed as components for reloading .270 caliber cartridges, most commonly the .270 Winchester. They can be used with various .270 caliber firearms for handloading custom ammunition.
• Where can I buy Hornady SST 130 gr .277 bullets (MPN: 27302)? These bullets are available for purchase at reputable firearms and reloading suppliers. You can find the Hornady 27302 SST 270 Cal .277 130 gr Super Shock Tip bullets at DEGuns.

Hornady SST 130 gr .277 Bullet Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	SST (Super Shock Tip)
Caliber	.270 Cal
Bullet Weight	130 gr
Bullet Diameter	.277 in
Bullet Type	Super Shock Tip
Bullet Tip	Polymer
Core Material	Lead
Jacket Material	Copper
Ballistic Coeff.	.460 (G1)
Sectional Density	.242
Application	Medium-Large Game
Count Per Box	100
Boxes Per Case	25
UPC	090255200317
MPN	27302
SKU	87406