Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 257 bob deer bullets

Playing with my Kimber 257 a bit more. I have a load with 115 Partitions but its not great 1-1.25". Looking at more bullets for use on deer. What are you guys using?

My favorite .257 deer bullet is the Hornady 100 gr SP. They will be until the 600 I have left run out.

In your case, try the 115 Ballistic Tip. You shouldnt have to work up with existing powders, and I bet your groups tighten up.

Used to use 100 gr ballistic tips, very accurate, very dead deer.

Mine as well ........ Going to find a 100gr NP load for when I run out of the Hornadys.

The Hornady's have been my preference as well. Got almost 500 left. If not, I'd probably be switching to Accubonds or BT's.

my vote, 100g Speer BTSP, very, very deadly deer and hog bullet

Not in the bob, but in the 250, the 100 Hornady sp is my favorite. The 100bt is a very close second.

When I had my Montana in 257R I used the 100 gr TTSX's at iirc 3250 fps with Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, extremely accurate and a hell of a Buzzsaw load on deer and pigs.

I believe Dirtfarmer is still shooting that load in his Roberts.

110 Accubonds

+3....

100 grain Sierra Game Kings. They shoot great in all our rifles and kill deer dead! All I want in a bullet.

The Hornady 100 Interlock has been my goto bullet in my Ruger and Cheesy's Kimber 257 Roberts as well as my Ruger 250 Savage. Only have 500 of them left. I spent some time trying the Accubond, but didn't find what I wanted. The 100 Ballistic Tip has shown promise in the Ruger 257, but until the Hornadys run out I doubt it will get too much more trial. I've been meaning to try the 100 Partition and the 100 Speer Hot Core but haven't done it yet.

Thanks guys. Anyone want to part with their stash of Horn 100 gr <G>

Anyone try the 117?

+1 on the 100gr Hornady’s. Thank you Hornady😡.

And I fully understand your loony’s need for better than 1to1.25. But in the real world, that works great. And terminal performance is more important than an extra 1/2 inch in group size.

I used the Nosler 100 grain Partition on a couple of deer.

I like the 100 grain Partition and 110 grain AB in these .257" bore rifles; 25 Souper, 257 Roberts, 257 AI, 25 WSSM, 25-284, and 25-06.

Lots of good suggestions..Ingwewife has used 100 grain Barnes TSX, 100 Grain NPTs, and 100 grain Hornady SP...all with equal success...

I use 100 Sierra fb in my .25-06.. I also like 100 gr. Nosler BTBT!!

What's wrong with 1"-1.25" ? Your deer must be a really small to require such fine accuracy.

100gr Nosler BT or a 100 GR TTSX if you must go no lead.

I reloaded the 120 gr Remington in my Remington 700 257 and it worked great on deer. In my current Ruger 77 I have been using the hornady 117 gr btsp at about 2800 fps. The 3 deer ive used them on got dead pretty quick. Haven't recovered one yet.

The 100 TTSX and RE19 shoots better then anything I've tried so far in my Kimber 257R so I stopped load work there. I still need to work up some other loads since I have a pile of other 257 bullets on hand.

I've got 400 left, I'll be searching like the rest after they run out...

I’ve had nothing but great success with the 117 SGK. Perhaps a dozen deer and three hogs, driven over 43.0 gr. H4350 gives me 2,859 fps and 3/4” accuracy in my Remington M7MS.

I’ve also had great luck with 117 Hornady IL’s, a couple of deer that way as well as a Fallow.

The 100gr. At 3,000 might be the more accepted load but I’ve not used them on game much. Maybe once...I can’t quite recall. 47.0 gr of H4350 gave me similar 3/4” accuracy. I just never got around to using them.

good luck!

That's what I was thinking. That's perfectly acceptable deer accuracy. My standard load for my 257 gives me 1.5 inches at 100 yards. I have killed more deer with it than any "accurate" rifle I have ever owned. The only thing it won't do is impress readers when I post pics of my groups on internet forums.

Everyone seems to love the 100 grain bullets but the reason I wanted a 257 was to shoot the 117-120 grain bullets and take "advantage" of the 257 Roberts ability to be a better deer/hog gun than the 243.

With long-throated Ruger M77, Winchester +P brass and CCI 200 primers:


100g TTSX @ 3233fps using H4350 (deer and antelope)
110 AB @ 3163fps using H4350 (deer and antelope)

120g A-Frame @ 2947fps using H4831SC (deer and elk)

The 110g AB is seeing the most use.

How do you compare terminal performance, 100 TTSX vs.110 NAB?

DF

H-4350 is probably the most temp stable of the powders mentioned. I've not tried RL-19, although I have a can.

H100V is the velocity champ with that combo, IME.

Gunner is right about that being a real killer.

Here is the load I got from Gunner and a group, The gun has a 24" Brux on a 700 LA, put together by master gunsmith, Ron Lampert in MN.

DF

Both seem to work about the same on antelope. When I started with the 100g TTSX the 110g AB was not available. For hogs I might prefer the TTSX as we've never recovered a TTSX of any weight or diameter.

Thanks for that reply. The TTSX is very accurate, has good terminal performance at that velocity.

It's hard to keep on testing when you hit what seems to be a winning combo.

But, as a loony, I'm always looking...

DF

Yep I have a lifetime supply...




Yep that’s my second favorite have had excellent results.

I'd be dialing up some 100 grain Ballistic Tips.

What powder?

DF

I'd be likely to grab some H4350.

In the Bob (as well as 06) I’ve had excellent results from Ramshot Hunter & CCI-250s.

JB says Ramshot powders often do better with mag primers.

Hunter is close to H100V, the 4350's as well as RL-16 and RL-17.

I don't see many Roberts loads with 16 or 17, bet they would work well.

DF

My current Bob likes Hunter best under the 115.

For those asking, nothing wrong with the NPT groups. I'm simply wanting to explore a bit over the winter. We also have a coyote problem on our lease. We also have some 500 yd plus shots available. Was thinking of trying a higher BC and tightening groups a bit. Could be a win-win if I can dream up tighter groups, better BC, and still have capable deer bullets.

Mine likes 46 grains of h4350 and likes hunter too

100 grain Ballistic Tip is deadly, if hunting woods and mixed timber you can't beat the 117 grain Hornady RN.

Nice shootin DF, and yes, men, that's a hell of a barn burner load for the 257R, and too me, no farther than I'd shoot a bullet with that low of a b.c., powder temp stability is not as critical, I hit a big heavy 8pt buck through both shoulders at 200+ yards a couple three years ago, he looked like a bucking horse at the county rodeo for a split second before he reared on backwards to fall for good on his back.

The 117 grain Hornady Round Nose is all I use in my Roberts. Years ago I used it exclusively in my 25.06 as well.

I haven't hand loaded in years but I still have all I need loaded and ready. Really good performance on deer sized game and more than acceptably accurate.

I have used the Hornady 117 gr SST bullet in my 250 Savage with no complaints and it's moving 200 feet per second slower than a .257Bob.

I bought some H100V awhile back after reading some of the positive results in the 257R some of you have posted previously. My initial load work was a bit disappointing due to poor accuracy so I aborted before spending much effort on it. I might need to give it another go...

Double post...

If you're shooting the 100 TTSX, jump is a big issue. Those do like to jump and I'd tweak that load accordingly. When in doubt with a Mono, increase the jump.

With the H100V/100 TTSX load posted earlier, Gunner had traded his .257R, if IIRC, for a .280AI. Anyway, he ended up with surplus ammo, so I was able to buy what he had. Generally I don't shoot other people's reloads, but in this case, no problem.

DF

Are these loads you developed yourself or did they come from a published source?

Good point on bullet jump - I don't recall off hand specifically which bullets I tried with H100V, but don't believe I've tried the 100 TTSX with that powder. The 100 TTSX / RE19 load that does shoot well is loaded to the max. OAL for the Kimber short action (just over 2.8"). The magazine constraints require fairly deep seating on this one but it looks like I need to verify where bullets are in relation to the lands when seated to max. OAL before experimenting further.

This !

Same outta my 25-06 !

Dead deer.

My boy's old 700 Mnt rifle loved 100gn TSX's (pre-TTSX) ahead of 48 grn of H-4350. Can't remember the velocity. Was somewhere around 3100fps. I didn't care for how destructive PT's where in factory Fed premium ammo, so never bothered loading them. Also, not to be over-looked, but factory Rem 117 round-nose ammo worked perfectly on a number of deer. Was one of the most accurate loads too.

That's one gun I wish I had back.

Always liked the 100 gr HotCor in mine. Killed deer nicely.

Those are loads I developed myself that are based on a variety of sources. Note the "long-throated Ruger M77" stipulation. When I say "long throated", I've often joked the bullets couldn't touch the lands with a stick.

+P pressure specs for the .257 Roberts are still well below pressures for other cartridges for which the M77 is chambered, to wit:

SAAMI Pressure and Velocity Standards

See page 28 for the following SAAMI data.
SAAMI velocities are measured at 15', I measure mine at about 7'. For apples to apples you need to add about 13-14fps to the SAAMI velocities for that difference and subtract whatever for the difference between SAAMI's 24" test barrel and my 22" barrel.

.257 Roberts +P, 58,000PSI
100g = 2980fps
117g = 2920fps

.25-06, 63,000PSI
100g = 3210fps
117g = 3100fps
120g = 2975fps

.22-250 Remington, 65,000PSI
.270 Winchester, 65,000PSI

While my velocities are higher than published values, which must adhere to SAAMI standards, at 58,000PSI the SAAMI maximum pressure is still way below pressures that my (or most any modern) rifle is capable of handling. once again, so you don't have to go back and look them up, my loads are as follows:

WW +P brass, CCI 200 primer for all
100g TTSX @ 3233fps using H4350
110 AB @ 3163fps using H4350
120g A-Frame @ 2947fps using H4831SC

You will note I did not provide powder charges, but I can say none are compressed loads and bullets are seated no deeper than the case neck - which provides some clues as to the maximum powder charges i could be using for anyone desirous of working up similar loads. I"m not at home, and so can't check, but I'm fairly certain there is additional powder space available in each load. I will also say - no surprise here - that my loads are above SAAMI standard (non +P) .257 Roberts powder charges.

All of my .257 Roberts loads provide long case life and the primers are still rounded. Are they safe? They appear to be quite safe in my rifle. Can't say about other rifles.


.

Here's the Ron Lampert .257R with Ti take off stock converted from ADL to BDL by me. Walker trigger tweaked to perfection by Ron.

DF

Nice looking rifle, a bit shiny in a couple of places.

The 257 really is a fine performer being able to duplicate the 25-06! If I take mine on a Wyoming Mule deer hunt I will work up to those levels. Alliant says you can get 2940 fps with a 120 grain bullet using RL22 and that should be able to do anything a 25-06 factory load can.

Yep, it has an aluminum bolt shroud and polished bolt. That's the way Ron set it up and for that reason, I'll leave it as is. I was told that Ron developed serious health issues and became disabled, so this gun is special to me and the party I got it from. It was part of a trade deal with the original owner who had the work done.

Ron was a master smith, Jim Carmichael thought a lot of him. He did work for Jim, who referred to him as "one of the countries top metal specialsits". Ron shortened a Mauser action, welding the ends such that the weld couldn't be seen. That gun became Jim's 250 Savage. He took the pieces, cut another Mauser and extended it to magnum length. That one became Jim's .375 H&H. "Very cute indeed", Jim wrote in his book, The Modern Rifle.

DF

I have been happy with the 100 grain Hornady SP in my .257 Rbts

Adding photo to show ADL to BDL conversion of the Ti takeoff. I was a bit cautious at first as it was a pretty nice stock to start experimenting with, but Ingwe said he's done ADL-BDL converstions, so I tackled it. Turned out OK.

I bet the hard part is finding the BDL bottom metal.

When I traded for this gun, it had BDL bottom metal. The Ti stock was part of the deal; I had the choice of it or the factory wood BDL stock. I took the Ti and had the choice of going ADL or converting to BDL. I chose the latter. It was my first such conversion; I’ve done it since.

DF

I have the exact twin to that rifle, right down to the TI stock and BDL. Perfect deer rifle!

Thanks for sharing that info.

What's your go to load(s) for deer/hogs?

DF

Here it is before I had the TI for it. No hogs here, and not many deer these days either.







Shown with 2.5-8 but now wears a 2-7. Weighs 7.25lb with the TI stock.

Shooters pro shop has a decent selection of 25s right now.

Thought about you maybe not having hogs where you are located as I posted that.

Your thoughts on a LA 257R vs SA.

DF

My wife and I have killed a bunch of deer and antelope with various .257's, using a bunch of different bullets. Off the top of my head the bullets included Barnes TSX's and TTSX's, Hornady Interlocks, Nosler Ballistic Tips and Partitions, Sierras and Speer Hot-Cors. Most were 100-grain but some were 115-117. Almost all worked fine.

The rare exceptions were an apparently "hard" batch of 100-grain TSX's that didn't expand much (if at all) on a couple of animals, an early 115 Ballistic Tip that didn't penetrate sufficiently on a frontal shot, and a 117 Hornady Interlock boattail that came apart on a mule deer shoulder. Tipped 100-grain TSX's have worked very well, every time, along with later 100 and 115 Ballistic Tips. Haven't shot any other deer with 117 boattail Hornady Interlocks.

The deer ranged from does in the 80-120 pound class to bucks weighing at least 200 pounds, both whitetails and mule deer.

If I were going to pick a single bullet to use forever on deer from the .257 Roberts its would be either the 100 TTSX or 115 Partition, since both have worked great on deer of all sizes at various ranges.

I chose the LA on purpose so I could seat bullets out to 3". More action length then needed but I dont like crowded mag boxes. I wouldn't do it differently.

A 3” action would be ideal. Given the choice of 2.8” vs 3.4”, I too prefer COAL flexibility of the latter. The extra space has no effect on smooth feeding, at least in this case. In fact, this is about the smoothest feeding bolt gun I have, regardless how the rounds are positioned in the mag.

Pretty amazing how similar these guns are. Ti stocks aren’t that common, especially BDL conversions.

DF

115gr partition is most accurate in my model 70. Taken 5 or 6 antelope with it. second choice wood be 110gr Accubond.
with Rl23, or RL26 with both bullets.

It looks like Speer has discontinued the bullet I used the most in my 257. My first one was a push feed model 70 featherweight. It loved the Speer 120 grain flat base spitzer. I didn't have a chronograph back then so can't say what the velocity was. I used 4350 under that bullet, the same as I do now with the 120 grain Partitions and the 117 grain Hornady RN's. My wife and I killed several deer with that Speer bullet in the 257 and never found fault with the performance. I haven't had the Roberts out in a long time. My current one is a 1952 FN Mauser. It may some service this year against caribou. We have a couple of college kids living with us and both want to hunt next year with us.

Me 2,

Well, crap. First Speer drops their new Deep Curls and brings back the Hot Cores. Then Hornady drops the 100gr and 120 Interlocks. And now Speer has dropped the 120gr Hot Core??? It's a vast right wing conspiracy against quarter bores!

Unless Hornady stops making these bullets they will be what I am searching for when the current supply runs out.

Hornady has already stopped making them.

Let the scrounging begin.

Don't worry, Hornady will make up some new forming dies and get them back on the market. Of course they'll change the placement and shape of the ogive/shank transition area which will require some work to get your loads tuned back in, if they can be tuned back in.

I'm moving on to other bullets when mine are used up.

I have some 100 and 115 Partitions that I would sell if you want to test them.

My Kimber shoots the 117 hornady bullet well.

Have you tried slower powders with the 115's. My go to load in one of my 700 Mtn rifles is Mule Deer's load of 48.0 of RL 22 and the 115 Partition. The custom I have for sale shot the 115 BT well with Magnum.

There have been some here on the Fire advocating RL-26 with heavier 257R bullets. I know, it's probably too slow for the .257R, but you can get 48 gr. in a case and up to the shoulder, not in the neck. I loaded some with Rem 9 1/2 primers and 115 NBT's. I didn't set up the chrono, wanted to see if they would group. Reportedly that combo is 3K fps, QL shows RL-26 as top performer with 115's in the Roberts.

Well, they weren't accurate in my Brux/700LA, a half inch gun. I had three in an inch or so, others out of the group, probably 3" or better overall. RL-26 is a dense, high performance powder. Maybe in my 7RM, not in my .257R.

File that in the "what it's worth" department...

DF

Things don't always work out as predicted. Usually expect slower powders match heavier bullets. Don't bet on it! In the .257, my best powder with 100s is H4831, with 110 grain ABs RL 22, and with 120s (several brands) H414. Theory gives a good place to start but empirical data wins every time.

Tom

That's for sure.

I think there must have been powder residue from the RL-26 test. After a half dozen shots, I couldn't chamber a round. After I got back to the shop, no problem. Whatever was blocking a round being chambered must have fallen out. Everything was OK thru the Hawkeye. Bore was pretty dirty, worse than usual.

I think I can find better 257R powder.

DF

I have been shooting a 257 of some sort since the '70's and have concluded any bullet 100 grains on up is great for deer and antelope providing the rifle likes it.

Don't know much about bullets under 100 grains due to not trying them on deer. For varmints I do like the Hornady 75 grain V-max. It seems as though all of my Roberts have shot that bullet extremely well over H4895.

I currently have a pair of Roberts, both with 1-9" Brux barrels. One is on a 98 FN action from the 1950's housed in a Bansner stock while the other is on a C-prefix 700 LA bedded into a Ti stock. Both like the same load with 110 AB's over H4350. The 700 is one of those rifles that puts all bullet weights into the same POI. As a result, I have loaded some Hornady 117 RN's and the rifle puts them and the 110's into 3/4". I sight in with the 110's and can slip the 117's in when I wish to do so in the brush here.

Seems you like LA .257R 700's in Ti stocks...

Maybe even a BDL converted Ti stock?

DF

Yep, the best way to go here in the North Woods !!

Nope. Just a factory issue......

If my 257R would shoot the 110gr Accubonds in tighter groups I,d use those over the 115gr partitions I
use now. I think the partitions over penetrate a little.

Early in Dec. tried RL 26 in my custom Mauser 257 Roberts. The rifle apparently has a tight chamber based on how it acts with many commonly suggested loads and some factory ammo. Tried 45-48 grains in 1/2 grain increments, two shots at each increment, CCI 250 primers WW brass and Sierra 117 grain flat base Pro Hunter bullets that had been pulled.

Results: 45 g. = 2732, 2732 fps; 45.5 g. = 2749, 2749 fps; 46 g. = 2775, 2795 fps; 46.5 g. = 2807, 2807 fps, 47 g. = 2836, 2830 fps; 47.5 g. = 2879, 2867 fps, 48 g. = 2892, 2896 fps.

Stopped at 48 grains of RL 26 because that is where DF stopped. Did not shoot for accuracy as I was using bullets that had been previously loaded for a different 257 Roberts. No signs of pressure (i.e. easy bolt lift, primers all look the same, no marks on brass - examined each case head with a 10X hand lens). Temperature at time of shooting was about 30 degrees.

As DF states the powder at 48 grains is just to base of neck. My rifle appears throated for 3" with the 120 grain Nosler Partition bullet. It is shorter than that with other bullets I have tried. This batch was seated to 2.89" COL.

I was surprised at how consistent velocities were at most increments, more so than any other similar sequence of loads that I have done with this and other rifles and loads. Need to wait to test for signs of pressure at higher temperatures before doing any more work with RL 26 in my rifle. After that will check for accuracy {given my rudimentary shooting skills}.

In the 25-06 my bread & butter load is the Hornaday 117 BTSP the BT work well too. For coyotes I would try the 115 Bergers or the SST if you have enough twist for the Bergers 1 in 10 I think depends on altitude and maybe velocity or individual barrel preference. Both of these would work well on deer at longer ranges. In 25 caliber it is difficult to find a bad bullet for deer with anything 80 to 120 grains as the bullets were designed for the medium 25s with a nod to the Weatherby most function well at middle velocities.

R26 is doing well for me in the 243 & 25-06 and soon the 6AI so I would give it a try in the Bob too if I had one.