120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Post by Billo » 07 Sep 2023, 7:26 pm

Keen to hear a few thoughts on the 2 pills from the Creedmoor, the 120gr Nosler BT was my go to bullet for a decade of pig hunting with a Swede (2900fps) and it always been an accurate bullet however the price of the Hornady 123gr SST has made me consider changing, are they accurate and do they hold together.

Pigs, fallow, goats, foxes the likely victims :thumbsup:

20 inch barrel so throw out your max load for 2209 which this rifle seems to like :drinks:
22lr, 17 WSM, 20 Hornady Hornet, 6mm ARC, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win, 7mm-08, 308 Win, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 44 Magnum, 500 S&W
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Re: 120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Post by Jorlcrin » 07 Sep 2023, 8:26 pm

I dont have any 6.5 gear, but I use 125gn SST pills in my .308 to great effect.
I think they might be slightly harder than the BT equivalent, but I've found them to be very predictable, and frequently nailed pigs out past 250 metres.
Also nailed a few roos and cats with them; somewhat more violent.

The 125 SST's have ended up being my go-to 'light' loading for my .308; they depart a 20" barrel at around 3060fps, and I moved over to them from the BT projectiles, because think they have been better value for money than the 125 BT.

Never had any of my SST rounds misbehave or do anything other than fly predictably, and hit hard.
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Re: 120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Post by Billo » 07 Sep 2023, 8:37 pm

Hey thanks Jorlcrin i've used the 125BT in a 308 recently and they blow up too easily, sounds like the SST's are the way to go :thumbsup:
22lr, 17 WSM, 20 Hornady Hornet, 6mm ARC, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win, 7mm-08, 308 Win, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 44 Magnum, 500 S&W
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Re: 120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Post by JimTom » 07 Sep 2023, 8:42 pm

The 123 SST goes well out of a Grendel mate. Good on pigs. Haven’t used them in Creedmoor though.
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Re: 120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Post by Billo » 08 Sep 2023, 7:23 am

JimTom wrote:The 123 SST goes well out of a Grendel mate. Good on pigs. Haven’t used them in Creedmoor though.


I was using the Hornady Black Grendel ammo when the round was first released and 123gr ELD M went OK not the hardest, these SST should do he job as I wont be driving them that fast :thumbsup:
22lr, 17 WSM, 20 Hornady Hornet, 6mm ARC, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win, 7mm-08, 308 Win, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 44 Magnum, 500 S&W
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Re: 120gr BT v 123gr SST 6.5 Creedmoor

Post by Jorlcrin » 10 Sep 2023, 6:06 am

Billo; No probs.

It'd be interesting to see how you go with the 123SST's; a mate has a .260, and uses the 95gn Vmax pills a lot on lighter game.
I dont think he's ever tried the SST pills for heavier stuff, but it'd be worth knowing.

I'd especially be interested to find out how you go with goats; especially big BIllys.
Of the animals you've listed as possible targets, I find goats to be tougher than expected.
[Though I've never had a Fallow in my sights..]
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