Hornady markets the Superformance 139-grain SST for large game. The SST is a polymer-tipped hunting bullet with a lead core. Hornady rates it at a G1 BC of .486, and it leaves the muzzle at 3,240 fps. At 300 yards it still carries 2,166 ft-lbs of energy.

Compared with Hornady's American Whitetail 139-grain InterLock SP, a plain soft point at the same weight, the SST starts 90 fps faster and loses less speed on the way out. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the SST about 16 inches sideways and the American Whitetail about 21. That is how far from the aim point each bullet lands if you make no correction. Compared with Federal's Vital-Shok 140-grain Trophy Bonded Tip, a polymer-tipped bullet whose lead core is bonded to its jacket, the SST is again the faster and flatter of the two. Zeroed at 100 yards, the SST drops about 38 inches at 500 and the Trophy Bonded Tip about 42, and the two kick about the same in the same rifle.

Buy the SST if you hunt the large game Hornady markets it for and want a fast, flat-shooting polymer-tipped bullet. Pick the American Whitetail 139-grain InterLock SP if you want a plain soft point from the line Hornady sells for whitetail deer season and your shots stay inside 300 yards, where the two are about an inch apart in drop. Pick the Vital-Shok 140-grain Trophy Bonded Tip if you want a bonded bullet; Federal markets it for the "full spectrum of medium and big game at any practical range." For a heavier bullet, Winchester's Super-X 175-grain Power-Point is a soft point Winchester markets for "whitetail and big game," and it kicks about 37 percent harder in the same rifle.