Wow! Long time no see guys! I didn't know I was still registered here! I had trouble getting in here for a little while and just assumed I was no longer registered here.
Anyways. Some people probably remember me asking about A-bolts and stuff last time I was here. I ended up with a Remington Model 700 BDL-LH Custom Deluxe in 7mm Rem Mag. I put a 4.5-14x40AO Leupold on it. Funny, I don't feel underarmed, even though I was shootin for a .300 Win. Beautiful gun too.
I now have a load worked up with a 160 grain Partition over a max load of Hodgens H870. This powder has been discontinued so after hunting season, I will be working out a new load.
Problem with Partitions is that they are so damn expensive. I really intend to do alot of shooting this summer--need to get good with my new rifle. I don't know if I can afford the Partitions. So I am looking for a cheaper alternative and came up with the 162 gr Hornady SST. Would you use these for elk?
Have any other suggestions for elk bullets in a 7 Mag that don't cost $.43 a pop? OR is this another "get what you pay for situation?'

FarRight,

Where did you find the 162 gr. SST's? I haven't been able to find any. I personally haven't taken any game other than springbok with the 139 gr. SST (all I have tried), but I think it's a quality bullet. It seems to be tougher than the ballistic tips, and I think it would be even more so in the 162 gr. That being said, I have a hard time hunting with anything but the 175 gr. Nosler partition at 3000 fps. It works good every time.

Let me know what you find out with the SST's. I do love Hornady bullets, and I am very curious what you find.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

jrslate, I don't have any yet. I saw them listed in Hornady's website. I couldn't find em for sale initially either so I wrote to Hornady and asked a) if the .284 cal 162 gr SST really existed and b) if he would use em for elk in a 7mm Rem Mag. He replied "yes" on both accounts.

Midway lists them:
http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/414978

I just wanted an opinion from someone who maybe had experience with em and didn't stand to make a profit from me using them. As you can see, they are less than half the price of the Partitions. And a BC of .550 is very impressive.

Don't mean to sound like a smart a$$, but do you really want to jeopardize your time and money already invested in the elk hunt for forty-three cents? Buy the partitions or some such quality bullet. Just one less thing to worry about.

I've been shooting the 162 sst bullest since they've come out. i bought mine at natchez shooting supply a few months ago. I've been loading them on top of 72 gr. of H1000 and using a WLRM primer. I don't know what the velocity of them are since I don't own a chrony. I am not getting any type of pressure signs with this load and I am getting consistant .875 to 1" 3-shot groups at 100 yds. I am shooting them in a browning a-bolt with a 26" barrel. I've taken only one deer and one coyote with them since the hunting season has been open. I shot a cowhorn spike right at 50-60 yds, 142 lbs live weight, hitting him in the chest. The bullet exited between the last 2 ribs on the far side. The exit wound was approximately the size of a golf ball. Now the bullet made a complete mess of the insides, everything was like jelly. The coyote was about 75 yds from me whenever i spotted him. I took a chest shot on him because that is all i could get. The bullet travel the whole length of the animal and exited in the left side hind leg. There was just a little bit of hide holding the leg to the rest of the body. So far I like what I've seen with these bullets but that is only 2 animals shot with them. If i were you i would target practice with cheap bullets and shoot the partitions or x-bullets at elk just to be on the safe side. That is just my opinion and what I would do if I were going on an elk hunt.