Discover Unrivaled Performance: The Hornady SST .308 125 Grain Bullet (UPC 090255230192)

Every serious hunter and precision reloader understands that the bullet is the heart of a successful shot. It's the critical component that dictates accuracy, trajectory, and, most importantly, terminal performance on game. If you're searching for a bullet that consistently delivers devastating knockdown power, exceptional accuracy, and reliable expansion across a wide range of hunting scenarios, the Hornady SST (Super Shock Tip) 30 Caliber .308 125 Grain bullet stands out as an elite choice. Specifically engineered to meet the demands of ethical, efficient hunting, this bullet (Hornady part number 3019) is a testament to Hornady's legacy of innovative ballistic design.

What makes the Hornady SST 125 gr .308 bullet so highly regarded by hunters and reloaders alike? It's a masterful combination of advanced design features, each meticulously crafted to ensure superior performance from the moment it leaves the barrel until it achieves its objective. Let's explore how this bullet solves common hunting challenges and elevates your capabilities in the field.

Unpacking the Advanced Technology Behind the Hornady SST

The "Super Shock Tip" isn't just a name; it's a promise of terminal performance that lives up to its designation. This bullet is designed to deliver a tremendous hydrostatic shock on impact, ensuring rapid energy transfer and quick, humane kills. But how does it achieve this while maintaining accuracy and penetration?

• The Signature Polymer Tip: Speed, Accuracy, and Immediate Expansion

  The distinctive red polymer tip of the Hornady SST is far more than an aesthetic flourish. It serves as a cornerstone of the bullet's exceptional performance. Firstly, this sleek tip dramatically increases the bullet's ballistic coefficient (BC). For the hunter, a higher BC means less air resistance, resulting in a flatter trajectory over extended ranges and significantly reduced wind drift. This translates directly into more predictable shot placement and greater confidence, especially when shooting at distances where every fraction of an inch counts. What does this mean for your hunting success? Fewer missed opportunities, less holdover calculation, and cleaner shots.

  Secondly, the polymer tip acts as a crucial initiator for expansion. Upon striking game, the tip is driven back into the bullet's core, forcing a rapid and immediate expansion that begins almost instantaneously. This controlled, yet explosive, expansion ensures maximum energy is deposited within the target, creating a devastating wound channel that stops game quickly and ethically.

• Secant Ogive Boat-Tail Profile: The Aerodynamic Edge

  Beyond the polymer tip, the SST's secant ogive boat-tail profile is key to its aerodynamic efficiency. This sophisticated design minimizes drag, allowing the bullet to retain velocity and energy more effectively downrange.

  • Flat Trajectory: Hunters consistently ask, "Which bullet shoots the flattest?" The secant ogive, combined with the polymer tip, gives the Hornady SST an incredibly flat trajectory, making it easier to estimate drop and place shots accurately at varying distances.
  • Increased Downrange Energy: By reducing drag, the bullet conserves more kinetic energy as it travels. This means that even at longer ranges, the 125-grain SST retains enough power to ensure reliable expansion and ethical performance on medium-sized game. For hunters venturing into open plains or mountainous terrain, this energy retention is invaluable.
• The InterLock® Ring: Core-Jacket Integrity for Deep Penetration

  One of the most critical features of the Hornady SST, often overlooked but vital for terminal performance, is the patented InterLock® ring. This innovative design physically locks the bullet's core and jacket together. Why is this important?

  • Prevents Core-Jacket Separation: In many conventional bullets, the core can separate from the jacket upon impact, leading to reduced weight retention and shallower penetration. The InterLock® ring ensures that the core and jacket remain locked solid during expansion, even through tough hide and bone.
  • Controlled Expansion and Weight Retention: By maintaining structural integrity, the SST expands reliably while retaining a significant portion of its original weight. This weight retention translates directly into deeper penetration, ensuring that the bullet reaches vital organs for a quick, humane kill. Hunters seeking a bullet that penetrates consistently, even after rapid expansion, will find the InterLock® ring feature indispensable.

Who is the Hornady SST 125 Grain .308 Bullet For? Real-World Applications

This particular 125-grain .308 diameter bullet is an incredibly versatile component for reloaders, catering to a wide array of hunting scenarios across various .30 caliber cartridges.

• Ideal for Deer Hunters: If your primary pursuit is whitetail, mule deer, or similar-sized game, the Hornady SST 125 gr is an outstanding choice. Its rapid expansion and high energy transfer ensure swift, ethical takedowns, minimizing tracking. Many hunters ask, "What's the best bullet for deer hunting?" The SST consistently ranks among the top recommendations due to its proven track record.
• Versatility for North American Game: Beyond deer, this bullet is perfectly suited for most North American medium-sized game animals. From pronghorn antelope to black bear, and even lighter-boned elk or moose where velocity can be maximized in suitable cartridges, its balanced design offers a potent blend of speed and terminal ballistics.
• African Plains Game: The Hornady SST's performance characteristics make it a viable option for similar-sized African plains game such as impala, wildebeest, kudu, and gemsbok. Its ability to deliver profound shock and controlled expansion is highly valued in these challenging environments.
• The Reloading Enthusiast: As a component bullet sold in 100-count boxes (UPC 090255230192), the Hornady SST is a dream for reloaders. It allows you to custom-tailor loads for your specific rifle, optimizing velocity, accuracy, and overall performance. With a 125-grain weight, reloaders can achieve higher velocities with certain .30 caliber cartridges (like .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, or even .300 AAC Blackout supersonic loads), often resulting in flatter trajectories and less recoil compared to heavier projectiles. This bulk packaging also offers significant cost savings for those who shoot frequently or are developing multiple load recipes.
• Those Seeking Ethical, One-Shot Performance: The primary goal of any ethical hunter is a quick, humane kill. The Hornady SST is engineered precisely for this. Its "Super Shock Tip" design ensures that energy is expended rapidly and efficiently within the animal, leading to immediate incapacitation and minimizing suffering.

Technical Deep Dive: Understanding the Specifications

Beyond the innovative features, the raw data behind the Hornady SST .308 125 gr (MPN 3019) speaks volumes about its capabilities:

• Weight (125 gr): This lighter-for-caliber weight in the .308 diameter range allows for higher muzzle velocities in compatible cartridges, contributing to a flatter trajectory and potentially reduced recoil impulse for the shooter.
• Bullet Diameter (.308): This standard diameter ensures compatibility with a vast array of popular .30 caliber rifles, from the venerable .30-06 Springfield to the highly popular .308 Winchester, and even various .300 Magnum cartridges or the .300 Blackout.
• Ballistic Coefficient (BC): .305: As discussed, this number indicates the bullet's aerodynamic efficiency. A BC of .305 is excellent for a 125-grain hunting bullet, ensuring superb flight characteristics and energy retention downrange.
• Sectional Density (SD): .185: Sectional density is a measure of a bullet's mass relative to its cross-sectional area, offering an indication of its penetrating ability. A SD of .185, combined with the InterLock® ring, means this bullet will penetrate effectively for its weight, reaching vital organs after controlled expansion.
• Core Material: Lead, Jacket Material: Copper: This classic combination, enhanced by Hornady's proprietary bonding techniques and the InterLock® ring, provides an ideal balance of malleability for expansion and structural integrity for penetration.

Why Choose Hornady? A Legacy of Precision and Trust

Hornady has built an unparalleled reputation in the shooting sports industry for over 75 years. Their commitment to innovation, relentless quality control, and dedication to "Accurate. Deadly. Dependable." performance is evident in every product they produce, and the SST series is no exception. When you choose Hornady SST bullets (UPC 090255230192) for your reloading needs, you're not just buying a component; you're investing in decades of ballistic research and a trusted legacy of excellence.

Hunters and shooters worldwide rely on Hornady for consistent, reliable results in the most critical moments. The 30 Caliber .308 125 Grain SST Super Shock Tip bullet embodies this commitment, offering a premium solution for anyone seeking to maximize the performance of their .30 caliber rifle for hunting medium to large game.

These high-performance bullets, identified by UPC 090255230192 and MPN 3019, are readily available at DEGuns.com, ensuring you receive genuine Hornady quality and service for your reloading and hunting endeavors.

Hornady SST 30 Caliber .308 125 GR Specifications (UPC 090255230192)

Feature	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	SST
Caliber	30 Cal
Bullet Diameter	.308
Weight	125 gr
Bullet Type	Super Shock Tip
Bullet Tip Material	Polymer
Core Material	Lead
Jacket Material	Copper
Application	Medium Game
Ballistic Coefficient	.305
Sectional Density	.185
Rounds Per Box	100
Boxes Per Case	25
SKU	84977
MPN	3019
UPC	090255230192