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Hornady Superformance 30-06 Springfield 165 Grain SST

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Ammo Reports Team 0 30-06 Springfield

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Official Specs

Note: G7 BC is not published by Hornady for this load. The G1 value of 0.447 is the manufacturer-stated figure and is used in the ballistics table below. UPC has not been confirmed from a primary source and is omitted to prevent data error.

Note: Muzzle velocity is listed as measured from a 24″ test barrel. Performance from shorter barrels (18″–22″) will differ meaningfully — expect a reduction of approximately 25–50 fps per inch of barrel lost, though exact figures for this load have not been independently published.

Hornady Superformance 30-06 Springfield 165 Grain SST (Box)

$44.99

in stock

Ballistics Table

Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.

Zero: 100 yards | Sight height: 1.5″ above bore | BC G1: 0.447 | MV: 2,960 fps

Key takeaway: With a 100-yard zero, the Hornady Superformance 165 gr SST stays within roughly ±3.6 inches out to 200 yards, making it a practical flat-shooting load for most whitetail and mule deer hunting scenarios. By 300 yards the bullet has dropped over 13 inches, which demands a holdover correction for ethical shots on game. The retained energy of approximately 2,034 ft-lbs at 300 yards comfortably exceeds the widely cited 1,000 ft-lb threshold for deer-sized animals, and remains above 1,400 ft-lbs at 500 yards — adequate for elk-class game at moderate distances in the hands of a skilled shooter. Hunters working in open terrain beyond 300 yards should confirm their specific rifle’s point of impact before the season.

The Hornady SST Bullet and Superformance Propellant Technology

The Super Shock Tip bullet deserves explanation beyond its marketing name. The red polymer tip serves two distinct mechanical purposes: it initiates reliable, consistent expansion at a wide range of impact velocities — including the lower velocities encountered at longer ranges — and it improves the bullet’s ballistic coefficient compared to a conventional soft-point design of the same weight. The tip drives rearward into the lead core on impact, triggering the expansion of the jacket, while the InterLock ring — a physical cannelure pressed into the jacket — mechanically locks the core and jacket together. This is not a fully bonded bullet in the chemical sense, but the InterLock system is designed to resist core-jacket separation at high-velocity impact, particularly relevant in the Superformance line where striking velocities are elevated.

The Superformance propellant technology is the other half of the equation. Hornady developed this line using specialized propellant blends that produce higher chamber velocities than conventional powders at equivalent pressure levels. The claimed gain is up to 200 fps over standard factory loads — in this case, a standard 30-06 Springfield 165 gr load typically exits at roughly 2,700–2,800 fps, making the 2,960 fps figure a meaningful real-world improvement. Critically, Hornady states this is achieved without an increase in chamber pressure, recoil, muzzle blast, or temperature sensitivity. That last point matters for hunters in cold-weather conditions where some propellants exhibit velocity loss.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Whitetail and mule deer hunting at ranges from close timber shots out to approximately 300 yards
• Elk and black bear hunting where the heavier 165 gr weight provides additional retained energy over lighter 150 gr options
• Hunters using rifles with 22″–24″ barrels where the Superformance velocity advantage is fully realized
• Shooters who want a high-BC polymer-tipped bullet without moving to a premium bonded or monolithic design at a higher price point
• All-season use where temperature-stable propellant performance is a practical concern

Not the right tool for:

• Hunters in jurisdictions with lead-free bullet requirements — the SST uses a traditional lead core and does not qualify as non-toxic
• Close-range shots on heavy-boned dangerous game where a fully bonded or solid bullet would be a more appropriate choice
• Rifles with barrels shorter than 20″, where the Superformance velocity advantage diminishes and may not justify the premium over standard loads
• Target shooting or precision long-range competition, where the SST’s hunting-optimized construction is unnecessary and more consistent match bullets exist
• Shooters on a tight per-round budget — at $2.25/round, cheaper 30-06 options are readily available for practice or casual use

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product information, the following observations are relevant:

• Hornady states that Superformance loads are tested for consistent velocity across a range of temperatures, addressing a known weakness of some fast-burning propellant blends used in high-velocity factory ammunition.
• The SST bullet’s polymer tip is designed to resist deformation during magazine feeding — a practical consideration in bolt-action rifles where cartridges are cycled under field conditions.
• Multiple open-source field reports note that the SST initiates expansion reliably at the reduced impact velocities typical of shots beyond 250 yards, which is a meaningful distinction from some older soft-point designs.
• Hornady publishes this load as optimized for 24″ barrels. Shooters using rifles with shorter barrels should verify actual chronographed velocity before making range assumptions based on published figures.

All notes above come from manufacturer claims or open sources, not structured submission data.

Competitors

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $42–$50 per 20-round box; case pricing (typically 10 boxes / 200 rounds) runs approximately $420–$490 when available
• Per-round cost: $2.10–$2.50 depending on retailer and market conditions
• The Hornady American Whitetail 165 gr from the same manufacturer runs $28–$34/box — roughly $0.80–$1.00 less per round for a non-Superformance load
• Federal Vital-Shok Trophy Bonded Tip and Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond carry similar or higher prices with fully bonded construction — buyers choosing the SST are trading some terminal bonding integrity for a velocity advantage
• Winchester Deer Season XP and Remington Core-Lokt represent the budget tier at $28–$36/box — the Superformance premium is approximately $0.50–$0.80/round over these options
• Fair price benchmark: $44–$48/box is reasonable for current market conditions. Prices above $52/box for this specific load should prompt comparison shopping. Prices below $40 may reflect older stock or promotional pricing and are worth acting on.

Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.

Where to Buy

Hornady Superformance 30-06 Springfield 165 Grain SST (Box)

Experience superior rifle performance with Hornady Superformance 30-06 Springfield 165 Grain SST ammunition, designed to deliver increased speed without sacrificing accuracy or causing additional recoil. Perfect for hunters and shooters seeking reliable power and consistency in their shooting.

$44.99 at Ammunitiondepot.com

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

FAQ

Does the Superformance line actually deliver the claimed 200 fps velocity increase over standard 30-06 loads?
The 200 fps figure is Hornady’s maximum stated improvement, not a guaranteed average across all comparisons. A standard 165 gr 30-06 Springfield load from most manufacturers runs between 2,700 and 2,800 fps from a 24″ barrel. Hornady’s published 2,960 fps for this Superformance load represents a real gain of 160–260 fps depending on which standard load is used as the baseline. Independent chronograph data from multiple sources generally confirms velocities in the 2,900–2,970 fps range from 24″ barrels, which validates the claim as accurate within normal lot-to-lot variation. From shorter barrels, the absolute velocity is lower, but the relative gain over standard loads is proportionally similar.

How does the SST bullet compare to a fully bonded bullet like the AccuBond or Trophy Bonded Tip for elk hunting?
The SST is not a bonded bullet in the chemical or mechanical fusion sense — its InterLock ring physically resists core-jacket separation but does not guarantee the weight retention of a bonded design at high impact velocities. For elk hunting at typical hunting ranges (under 250 yards), the SST’s higher impact velocity from the Superformance load increases the risk of rapid expansion and reduced penetration depth compared to a bonded bullet like the Nosler AccuBond or Federal Trophy Bonded Tip. At longer ranges where impact velocity has dropped, the SST generally performs with better structural integrity. Hunters targeting large bull elk at close range through heavy shoulder bone may prefer a bonded or monolithic option; for broadside shots at moderate distances, the SST is considered adequate by many experienced hunters.

Is this load legal for hunting in states or areas with lead-free bullet requirements?
No. The Hornady SST uses a traditional lead core and does not qualify as a non-toxic or lead-free projectile under any current regulatory framework. Hunters in California, where the Ridley’s Game Sanctuary regulations and the statewide Condor Zone rules (and now broader regulations) require non-lead ammunition for all hunting, must use a different load. The Barnes Vor-TX 168 gr TTSX in 30-06 is a direct lead-free alternative using a monolithic copper bullet. Always verify current local regulations before selecting ammunition for a specific hunt.

What barrel length is this load optimized for, and does it matter?
Hornady publishes velocity data from a 24-inch test barrel, which is longer than the 22″ barrels found on many hunting rifles and significantly longer than compact or scout-style rifles. Velocity loss from a 22″ barrel is typically 30–60 fps for this type of load; from a 20″ barrel, the loss is roughly 60–100 fps. This does not eliminate the Superformance advantage, but it does mean that a shooter using a 20″ rifle will see approximately 2,860–2,900 fps rather than 2,960 fps. The ballistic trajectory and energy figures shift accordingly, and the practical effective range for ethical hunting shots is marginally reduced. Chronographing your specific rifle is the only way to confirm actual performance.

How does this load compare to the standard Hornady 165 gr SST in the American Whitetail or Custom line?
The bullet is the same 165 gr SST projectile in both cases — the difference is entirely in the propellant charge and resulting velocity. The Superformance load launches the bullet at approximately 2,960 fps versus roughly 2,800 fps for standard Hornady loads using the same bullet. That 160 fps difference translates to a flatter trajectory (approximately 1–2 inches less drop at 300 yards), higher retained energy at all distances, and a slightly higher impact velocity at the target. The tradeoff is cost — the Superformance line typically runs $10–$15 more per box than the American Whitetail equivalent. For hunters shooting at ranges under 200 yards, the practical difference is minimal; for those regularly shooting 250–350 yards, the velocity advantage becomes more meaningful.

Hornady Superformance 30-06 Springfield 165 Grain SST (Box)

$44.99

in stock