Elevate Your Hunt: Hornady Superformance .308 Winchester 165 gr SST Ammunition – Precision Engineered for Peak Performance

For the discerning hunter and precision shooter, selecting the right ammunition is paramount to success. It's about more than just a projectile; it's about confidence, ethical performance, and maximizing every shot opportunity. The Hornady Superformance .308 Winchester 165 grain Super Shock Tip (SST) ammunition, identified by SKU 80983 and UPC 090255809831, is meticulously engineered to deliver a transformative shooting experience, addressing the critical needs of accuracy, terminal effectiveness, and broad firearm compatibility.

Are you frequently asking, "What's the best .308 ammunition for deer hunting that offers both speed and knockdown power?" or "How can I achieve flatter trajectories and reduce wind drift for more precise shots?" This Superformance load is Hornady's definitive answer. It’s designed for those who demand superior ballistic performance without compromise, ensuring that every round fired translates into exceptional results in the field or on the range.

Unlocking Superior Ballistics: The Science Behind Hornady Superformance Technology

At the heart of the Hornady Superformance advantage lies a revolutionary propellant technology that redefines what’s possible in factory ammunition. Unlike traditional loads that might achieve higher velocities through increased chamber pressure, Superformance employs highly efficient, progressive-burning propellants. This innovative approach allows the bullet to accelerate longer down the barrel, resulting in a significant increase in muzzle velocity—up to 200 feet per second (fps) higher than conventional ammunition, without generating additional peak pressure. This is a game-changer for several reasons:

• Enhanced Muzzle Velocity: With a blistering muzzle velocity of 2840 fps, the 165 grain SST bullet arrives at its target faster. This increased speed directly translates to reduced time of flight, which is crucial for dynamic hunting scenarios and long-range precision.
• Flatter Trajectories: Higher velocity means the bullet spends less time in the air, resulting in a significantly flatter trajectory. This minimizes bullet drop, simplifying holdover calculations and making ethical shots at varying distances more achievable, even when shot placement windows are tight.
• Reduced Wind Drift: One of the most challenging variables in shooting is wind. By increasing bullet speed, Superformance ammunition effectively minimizes the time the bullet is exposed to crosswinds. This reduction in wind drift leads to tighter groups and improved accuracy, particularly in adverse conditions.
• Optimized Recoil Management: While delivering a substantial boost in velocity, Superformance achieves this without increasing felt recoil beyond what's typical for the cartridge. This allows shooters to maintain better control, achieve faster follow-up shots, and enjoy extended shooting sessions without fatigue.

This proprietary blend of propellants is a testament to Hornady's commitment to innovation, providing shooters with a tangible performance edge that translates directly to improved hit probability and confidence in the field.

The Heart of the Round: Hornady's 165 gr Super Shock Tip (SST) Bullet

The choice of bullet is as critical as the propellant, and the 165 grain Super Shock Tip (SST) is a masterclass in terminal ballistics. Designed for devastating energy transfer and reliable expansion, the SST bullet combines several advanced features:

• Polymer Tip: The aerodynamic polymer tip not only initiates expansion upon impact, ensuring rapid energy release, but also improves the bullet's ballistic coefficient, allowing it to cut through the air with minimal drag. This sleek design maintains velocity and energy at extended ranges.
• Secant Ogive Profile: This geometrically optimized design, common in match-grade bullets, further enhances the ballistic coefficient, reducing drag and improving external ballistics for a flatter trajectory and less wind drift. It's a key factor in the SST's superior flight characteristics.
• InterLock® Ring: A unique feature of Hornady bullets, the InterLock ring is cast into the lead core and mechanically locks the core to the jacket. This innovative design ensures that the bullet retains a significant amount of its mass upon impact, even during high-velocity expansion, promoting deep penetration necessary for taking down robust game animals.
• Cannelure: A crimping groove ensures positive bullet seating and provides a consistent crimp, contributing to reliable feeding and consistent accuracy in various firearm actions.
• Streamlined Base: The boat tail design further reduces drag, contributing to the bullet's excellent ballistic coefficient and stability in flight, especially at longer distances.

When these features combine, the 165 grain SST delivers an impressive 2955 ft lbs of muzzle energy. This powerful kinetic energy is efficiently transferred to the target, creating a massive wound channel and ensuring rapid, humane ethical harvests. For hunters pursuing medium-sized game, such as whitetail deer, mule deer, wild boar, black bear, or antelope, the SST bullet provides the ideal balance of expansion and penetration.

Common Questions Answered: Why Choose Hornady Superformance .308 Win 165 gr SST?

When considering ammunition, many questions arise regarding its suitability and performance. Here's how Hornady Superformance .308 Win 165 gr SST addresses them:

What makes this ammunition stand out for hunting?

Hornady Superformance stands out due to its unique combination of speed, precision, and devastating terminal performance. The flatter trajectory minimizes guesswork in range estimation, while the SST bullet's controlled expansion and deep penetration ensure maximum energy transfer and a quick, ethical take-down. It's ammunition engineered to make your shot count when it matters most, reducing the chances of wounded game and increasing your success rate.

How does it perform on game like deer, elk, or hogs?

This ammunition is categorized as ideal for "Medium" game type, which encompasses the vast majority of popular hunting species in North America and beyond. For whitetail and mule deer, the 165 gr SST provides ample energy and expansion for clean pass-throughs and rapid incapacitation. For tougher game like wild hogs or even smaller elk, the InterLock ring ensures sufficient weight retention and penetration to reach vital organs, making it a highly versatile choice for diverse hunting scenarios. Its controlled expansion ensures that the bullet delivers its energy efficiently without fragmenting prematurely.

Can I use this ammunition in my semi-automatic .308 rifle?

Absolutely. A key design philosophy behind Superformance ammunition is its universal compatibility. It is explicitly engineered to be safe and highly effective in all types of firearms chambered in .308 Winchester, including bolt-action rifles, lever-action rifles, pump-action rifles, and crucially, semi-automatic platforms like the AR-10. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for hunters who might use different firearms for different applications or who simply seek reliable performance across their entire rifle collection without concerns about pressure or cycling issues.

What kind of accuracy can I expect?

Accuracy is a cornerstone of Hornady's reputation, and Superformance lives up to that standard. The combination of precisely manufactured components, optimized propellants, and the aerodynamically superior SST bullet results in exceptional inherent accuracy. Shooters can expect consistent, tight groups that instill confidence whether at the firing range or in challenging field conditions. The reduced wind drift and flatter trajectory further enhance practical accuracy by minimizing external variables.

Is it suitable for long-range shooting?

While primarily optimized for hunting, the ballistic characteristics of the 165 gr SST in Superformance loads make it highly capable for extended-range shooting for its class. The high muzzle velocity and excellent ballistic coefficient of the SST bullet ensure that it retains energy and flies true over considerable distances. For hunters engaging targets at typical hunting ranges (out to several hundred yards), the flatter trajectory and reduced wind drift are significant advantages, simplifying trajectory compensation and increasing first-shot hit probability.

Key Advantages for Discerning Shooters and Hunters

Choosing Hornady Superformance .308 Win 165 gr SST means investing in a distinct competitive edge. Here are the paramount benefits this ammunition delivers:

1. Unprecedented Muzzle Velocity: Achieve up to 2840 fps, significantly faster than conventional loads, translating to shorter flight times and less lead required on moving targets.
2. Superior Accuracy and Flatter Trajectory: Minimize bullet drop and wind drift, enabling more precise shots and extending your effective range with confidence.
3. Devastating Terminal Performance: The 165 gr SST bullet delivers an impressive 2955 ft lbs of muzzle energy, ensuring rapid, reliable expansion and deep penetration for humane, ethical harvests on medium game.
4. Optimized Recoil Sensation: Experience higher velocities without an uncomfortable increase in felt recoil, allowing for better control and faster follow-up shots.
5. Universal Firearm Compatibility: Engineered for safe and optimal performance across all .308 Winchester firearm types, from traditional bolt-actions to modern semi-autos.
6. Hornady Quality and Consistency: Benefit from Hornady's legacy of precision manufacturing, ensuring every round performs identically, shot after shot, box after box.

This ammunition is not merely a collection of features; it's a complete system designed to elevate your shooting performance, whether you're zeroing in at the range or making a critical shot in the field. The brass casing material further ensures reliable feeding and extraction, a hallmark of premium ammunition.

Ballistic Data and Specifications

For those who rely on precise data to inform their choices, the Hornady Superformance .308 Winchester 165 gr SST delivers consistent and impressive ballistic figures. The ammunition achieves a muzzle velocity of 2840 feet per second, generating a formidable muzzle energy of 2955 foot-pounds. This kinetic energy rapidly diminishes as the bullet travels downrange, but its high ballistic coefficient ensures effective energy retention for ethical hunting. Each box contains 20 rounds, with 10 boxes per case, making it convenient for both individual use and stocking up for serious hunting seasons or extended range sessions. The 165-grain Super Shock Tip bullet weight is an ideal balance for versatility within the .308 Winchester cartridge, offering both speed and sufficient mass for effective terminal performance.

Specification	Value
Brand	Hornady
Model	Superformance
Caliber	.308 Winchester
Bullet Type	Super Shock Tip (SST)
Bullet Weight	165 grain
Muzzle Velocity	2840 fps
Muzzle Energy	2955 ft lbs
Rounds Per Box	20
Boxes Per Case	10
Casing Material	Brass
Application	Hunting
Game Type	Medium Game
SKU	80983
UPC	090255809831