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Posted By: JA270WBY 257 roberts - 05/14/10
I just picked up a Ruger Hawkeye in a 257 roberts and am wondering what bullet is best for whitetails. I was thinking about 100 gr tsx, or maybe 115 partitions. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Posted By: mathman Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
I'd come out of the gate with Hornady 100 grain flat base Interlocks on top of H4350.
Posted By: jimmyp Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
mine shoots the 100 tSX or TTSX into the same group over 46.5 grains of H4350 with federal 210M primers, winchester cases, at 2.815 OAL for both bullets. You may have to play with your OAL but it shoots fine in my Kimber. Its accurate with a routine 1 inch group and it kills deer just fine.

with the TSX I dont see any point in going to a heavier bullet for the roberts.
Posted By: 270guy Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
The 115 partition at 2800+ fps is devastating on a whitetail, but only if it hits him.
Posted By: DMB Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
Originally Posted by mathman
I'd come out of the gate with Hornady 100 grain flat base Interlocks on top of H4350.


Ditto, except I use 100 gn Partitions with the H4350.
Never tried the Hornady 100 gn Interlocks. May have to buy a box and try them.
Posted By: heavywalker Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
I run the 100 grain partition right at 3000fps in mine. It is good medicine on blacktails.
Posted By: JA270WBY Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
It looks like I can't go wrong with whatever what I choose. I'm glad to hear the tsx shoots well. I haven't tried those in anything yet, I think I'll start there.
Posted By: Mark R Dobrenski Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
The 100 TSX and 115 Noz are excellent for your Rbts if elks on the menu. If not and only deer/lopes then I'd do the 100 Horn slam dunko.

And if it was gonna just see the woods of Minne then I'd opt for the excellent and ugly 117 Horn RN..

Dober
Posted By: ingwe Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
100 gr. NPTs work in my wife's Bob for whitetails...

[Linked Image]

And mule deer too! laugh

[Linked Image]


Ingwe
Posted By: jimmyp Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
Originally Posted by JA270WBY
It looks like I can't go wrong with whatever what I choose. I'm glad to hear the tsx shoots well. I haven't tried those in anything yet, I think I'll start there.


easy to get a TSX to shoot.. smile
Posted By: Redleg172 Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
I use the 100gr Remington CL in my 257 and 250 Savages. It has done everything I need and the price is right, Hornady would be my second choice and I use the NPT in my 25-06. I think the others are more than necessary for the Bob velocities.
Posted By: Notropis Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
I have been shooting 100 grain Hornady Interlocks with about 45 grains of H414 with good results. They go just over 3,000 f/s.
Posted By: Planemech Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
No flies on the 100 Interlock spirepoint at all. I run them around 3140 over H4350 and they flat kill stuff. The 100 TSX/TTSX are just as good at the same speeds over H414. You don't need them for deer however. The Hornady is cheap, accurate, tough and wonderful from the Roberts.
Posted By: jimmyp Re: 257 roberts - 05/14/10
I know the 100 grain TSX "Way Over penetrates" on deer according to one of our local sage's. They sure do shoot good however, and at over 3000 FPS well again it just way over penetrates! Me I would rather over penetrate than blow up on the surface... whistle
Posted By: efw Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
Originally Posted by mathman
I'd come out of the gate with Hornady 100 grain flat base Interlocks on top of H4350.


+1, though IMR-4350 is good too smile !

These do well at 25'06 velocities, and there are a few here on the forum who run 'em in the 257 Roy without issue.

To imply that the choice is between popping on the surface or a Barnes would be an extreme oversimplification... or mischaracterization, really.

Deer don't wear armor plating; they're as easy or as hard to kill as they've ever been. If Barnes is the bullet you and your rifle like, go forth and kill stuff. But don't thinyou have to due to some perceieved lack of quality in other 25 cal bullets. Stay away from those marked "varmint" and, especially at Bob velocities, you'll get plenty of penetration.
Posted By: jimmyp Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
Dude, think you missed some other posts in other places grin also I like IMR4350 as well but JB said it was more temp sensitive than H435-
Posted By: efw Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
JP- I've missed a lot more than "some other posts in other places" I'm sure smile .

You're absolutely correct about the H- vs. IMR- temp issue; I simply started out with the latter and never have gotten around to switching to the former because I haven't noticed the issue impacting my loads enough to make it worth my while.

Temp sensativity issues notwithstanding, the IMR version is one well worth testing in the Bob.

As for the "over penetration" issue, I'm with you; don't know exactly what that means, except penciling through perhaps, and I understand that the Barnes aren't known for that.
Posted By: OldRooster Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
I'm loading both 100 and 117 Hornadys on top of 4350. Very pleased with the loads.
Posted By: JA270WBY Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
I've heard that the hornady interlock fragments pretty bad, so I have stayed away for that reason. Is there any truth to that? That is one reason for wanting to try the tsx.
Posted By: BobinNH Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
A deadly little bullet that I have used quite a bit in the Roberts is the garden-variety 100 gr Partition....this kills stuff.
Posted By: Odessa Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
Here's the load I am using in my Ruger M77-MKII;
Remington Brass
Federal GM210M large rifle primer
Barnes 100 grain TSX-BT
Ramshot Hunter - 46.5 grains
COL 2.800", Avg Velocity is 2900 fps
MOA average load

My Ruger is cantankerous; tried WIN 760, IMR4350, H4350 and Re22. Despite some promising groups I couldn't get it to shoot well consistently. I read about the combination above here on the fire and in a magazine article by John Barsness. Tried it and it works consistently in my M77. Hope your Ruger is more user friendly than mine (by the way, I only had trouble with 100 & 117 grain bullets - it shoots 75 grain bullets lights out!)
Posted By: vapodog Re: 257 roberts - 05/15/10
Don't overlook the 110 grain accubond.....another fine selection for the Roberts! H-4350 works well here too!
Posted By: Blowtorch53 Re: 257 roberts - 05/19/10
My Ruger 77 Mk. II shoots everything into 3" or more at 100 yards no matter what load I shoot, drunk or sober. It's real easy to load for. Dee
Posted By: jimmyp Re: 257 roberts - 05/19/10
3 inches??
Posted By: JA270WBY Re: 257 roberts - 05/20/10
Drunk??
Posted By: the_shootist Re: 257 roberts - 05/20/10
YIKES!
Posted By: SamOlson Re: 257 roberts - 05/20/10
Originally Posted by JA270WBY
I just picked up a Ruger Hawkeye in a 257 roberts and am wondering what bullet is best for whitetails. I was thinking about 100 gr tsx, or maybe 115 partitions. Any input would be greatly appreciated.




I've recently been shooting 117 Sierra GameKings(w/H4350) in my Bob and they shoot very well, right around MOA out to 400 yards. Don't think I've ever shot a deer with a SGK but imagine it will work just fine.
Posted By: roundoak Re: 257 roberts - 05/20/10
The OP mentioned 115gr Partitions. I used to dink around with various grain bullets of different brands. Hunting Whitetails in Iowa, Upper-Michigan and Wisconsin presents close and long range shots. The Partitions have performed great in all cases.

Loaned one of my tang safety M77 Bob's with 115gr Part. reloads to my "no good brother-in-law from Illinois" because his rifles were lost in a house fire two years ago. Be damned if he didn't shoot a pile of deer and hogs with it...Texas and Saskatchewan and most states in between.
Posted By: Ole_270 Re: 257 roberts - 05/20/10
Never noticed much fragmentation in the 100 Hornady in mine and it's my main load. 46-H4350 gets 3050 fps in two different rifles. Same amount of Ramshot Hunter does just as well. I really like the 115 Partition but in my rifle it's not as accurate, 1 1/4" is as good as it gets for this load in this rifle while the 100 Hornady goes 3/4".
I like the round well enough that when the 243 barrel burns up in my M70 Fwt. it will be replaced with a Bob barrel.
Posted By: n007 Re: 257 roberts - 05/23/10
Anybody use Hodgdon Hybrid 100v with the .257 Roberts? I just bought some of that powder and looking for a load for 100 grain TTSX.
Posted By: scottfromdallas Re: 257 roberts - 05/25/10
Originally Posted by vapodog
Don't overlook the 110 grain accubond.....another fine selection for the Roberts! H-4350 works well here too!


+1....I did some bullet testing and the accubond was a terrific performer. Now I just need to try it on game. The 115 NBT also performed very well. Sierras fragmented and lost their core rather easily. Haven't tested Interlocks yet.
Posted By: CKW Re: 257 roberts - 05/26/10
n007
I've tried Hodgdon Hybrid 100V in a 257 R. Used Remington brass and primers with Hornady 100 g. flat base bullets in 0.5 g. increments from 44 to 48 grains. COL=2.94. Fired a single round through the chronograph with the following results.

44 g = 2889 fps
44.5 g = 3016
45 g = 3044
45.5 g = 3093
46. g = 3115
47 g = 3174
47.5 g = 3205
48 g = 3220
Shot in a custom Mauser with a 22" barrel (don't know make). This rifle averages about 100 fps faster than my other 257 and the Mauser will have a stiff bolt with some factory loads or other commonly suggested reloads with H4350 and H414. I experienced no stiffness to bolt opening in the above sequence. Later I used the 47.5 g. load to take two doe antelope so I have shot the rifle a number of times with that load to sight in, etc.

I also ran a series with heavier bullets trying both Hornady 117 g. BTSP, 115 g. Nosler partition and 115 g. Nosler combined technology. These were loaded from 42 to 46 g. of powder. I used CCI BR2 primers, Rem brass. With these there was a slight stiffness to the bolt at the 46 g. load. Velocity was 3003 fps with both the Hornady and Nosler Partition, the CT Nosler was shot on a much colder day and it recorded 2923 fps (these were for 45.5 g of powder). I haven't shot the heavier bullets for accuracy yet.

My results basically mirror the information on Hodgdon's web site for Hybrid 100 V in this particular rifle. The 45.5 g load is as high as I will go with the 115 g Noslers (both kinds) as the Noslers seem to develop more pressure than the Hornady 117 g. which has a shorter bearing surface from what I can tell.

Sorry for the long epistle but you asked! Clint
Posted By: n007 Re: 257 roberts - 05/29/10
Clint thanks for taking the time and effort to reply to my question, very helpful information. Did you find one load significantly more accurate?
Posted By: CKW Re: 257 roberts - 05/30/10
I haven't really shot them for accuracy, I shot one 3 shot group with two into < 1/2" and the third was called out to the left about an inch at the end of the chronograph session last fall with the 48 g. load. Then went hunting and haven't done the accuracy testing yet but hope to do it this summer.

That rifle has shot most other loads into 1.25" to 1.5" pretty consistently even with my lousy bench technique so I thought I was good to go.

I was -- except for the wind! That is why I started looking at heavier bullets.
Posted By: Papershredder Re: 257 roberts - 05/30/10
I had great results with Hybrid 100V pushing 165 g Accubonds on my .300 WSM. I got well under 1" groups with 67.5g's and was seeing an average of 3170 fps thru the chrono.
Posted By: Bruzer Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Another vote for the 100gr TSX.....2970 with RL19 kills whitetails and shoots .75 out of my Ruger RSI with the short barrel.

Bruz
Posted By: BobinNH Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Clint that is a good post. Thanks for that info.

This 110V powder has my attention and I am going to try it in my Roberts.
Posted By: jimone Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
110V shoots well in my 257 Roberts, was advised by Hodgedon that it is quite temperature sensitive like all ball powders, so I will stick with single base extruded powders (H4831, H4350) for hunting loads here in Maine where I've seen temperature change 80 degrees (80 on opening day, 0 F and 2 feet of snow on closing) during deer season, or in Afrika where temperatures might top 100F.
100V goes threw measures great, I like it for practice, good for hunting if you work up your load at ambient temperature.
Posted By: BobinNH Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Jim, I would have thought it was part of their Extreme line.Good point...thanks!
Posted By: jimone Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
In my Mark X 42gr with 117 gr Sierra SBT, CCI 200, R-P brass, 2.775" OAL they shoot 1.25" group at 200 yds, gonna try the last 15 I have loaded at 300 yds this afternoon. Haven't chronoed them. will try to today.
Gonna try IMR 8208XBR next, and in 30-30, 308, 30-06.
Posted By: scottfromdallas Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Originally Posted by jimmyp
I know the 100 grain TSX "Way Over penetrates" on deer according to one of our local sage's. They sure do shoot good however, and at over 3000 FPS well again it just way over penetrates! Me I would rather over penetrate than blow up on the surface... whistle


I heard about those over penetration problems...that's why I scammed you with the trade for Accubonds. laugh I finally worked up some loads with them using H4350 at 2.8". They shot 1"-1.2" consistently. I'm done with load development. I'm just going to stick with 100 NBTs for predators and 110 Accubonds for whitetails. The NBTs will shoot .5 MOA with IMR-4350 although I am switching to H4350 for everything.
Posted By: efw Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Dang you guys are killing me here! I think I'm going to have to pick up an 84M chambered to the "regular Bob". It just seems right wink !
Posted By: Kimber7man Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
EFW,
It is right... cool
Posted By: Kimber7man Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Originally Posted by BobinNH
Jim, I would have thought it was part of their Extreme line.Good point...thanks!


Checked the Hodgdon web site and it is not included with their Extreme line.
Posted By: jimone Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
I wish you all would stop calling the Roberts "Bob", Mr or perhaps Sir would be more appropriate.
I try to buy American, but the Australian Hodgedon powders are my favorite. Too bad they let the government saw up and dump a lot of nice guns in the ocean.
Posted By: Kimber7man Re: 257 roberts - 05/31/10
Originally Posted by jimone
I wish you all would stop calling the Roberts "Bob"


You can thank Mr. Barsness for that one. I read "The Bob Revisited" and just had to have one (or 3 or 4). wink
Posted By: efw Re: 257 roberts - 06/02/10
Originally Posted by jimone
I wish you all would stop calling the Roberts "Bob", Mr or perhaps Sir would be more appropriate.


I agree. Mr. Bob, sir seems to denote appropriate reverance, don't you think?

Of course for those of us who know and love him, Bob just seems right wink !
Posted By: pick Re: 257 roberts - 06/07/10
Originally Posted by SamOlson
Originally Posted by JA270WBY
I just picked up a Ruger Hawkeye in a 257 roberts and am wondering what bullet is best for whitetails. I was thinking about 100 gr tsx, or maybe 115 partitions. Any input would be greatly appreciated.




I've recently been shooting 117 Sierra GameKings(w/H4350) in my Bob and they shoot very well, right around MOA out to 400 yards. Don't think I've ever shot a deer with a SGK but imagine it will work just fine.


Have a 257 Rbts and have used 117g SPBT from both Sierra and Hornady for over 20 years and taken whitetails with both. Both work well.

Both bullet shoot best for me with H4831 and the 117g SPBT, but I have 24 inches of barrel on my Roberts.
Posted By: jimmyp Re: 257 roberts - 06/09/10
Originally Posted by Kimber7man
Originally Posted by jimone
I wish you all would stop calling the Roberts "Bob"


You can thank Mr. Barsness for that one. I read "The Bob Revisited" and just had to have one (or 3 or 4). wink


Perhaps Mr. Barness could write a new article entitled "What about Bob"
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