Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .257 Roberts Deer Load................

I want to hunt whitetails with my .257 Roberts this fall, I shoot exclusively 100 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip and Sierra Game King bullets. Powders I have on hand are IMR 4064, IMR 4350, Varget and RL-15, cases are Winchester with WLR primers. Given these components, what combination would you suggest or have experience using? Not especially concerned with group size or velocity rather with effectiveness in taking game. I am shooting a pre'64 Winchester 70 and shots will be 100 yds. +/-.

I don't think it matters, but I tend to think the Ballistic Tip is a slightly tougher bullet. I'd go with 4350, it's my favorite Roberts powder.

My daughter shot a big buck in the shoulder with a 250 savage with a ballistic tip. Bullet exploded on shoulder bone and was never found. I watched it all and was just dumbfounded. Your results may vary but I would choose a different bullet. Ed k

Was she using the 85 grain?

Something isn't right, the 100 grain Ballistic Tips are pretty darn good at 250 Savage speeds.

I've loaded that same bullet for the wife's Roberts, 39 grains of 4064 worked plenty well for 200+ yard mule deer. The same load under a 95 grain B-tip from my 6mm is a hammer as well.

I also shoot a pre64 M70 in the Roberts and the NBT or Sierra Game King in 100gr should work fine. I'm also a fan of 4350 powder in this caliber. Something to consider is the Accubond at 110gr. I've used it and I like it maybe more so than the ballistic tip.

I have harvested a couple of does with the Hornady 120gr HP, both DRT at 50 & 75 yards each, one recovered.

I will have to check and see what grain her bullet was. Cannot remember for sure. Just know what happened. Ed k

Of the given choices, I's start with the Ballistic Tips (assuming they are of recent manufacture) and your IMR4350

The 100 NBT is darned tough... the 85 gr. is a varmint bullet.

From an article John Barsness wrote: Handloads That Work:
257 Roberts: Like the 6mm Remington
(the same case necked
down), the .257 Roberts does fine
with one powder. The traditional
choice is IMR-4350, but Hodgdon’s
H-4350 works equally well – and
better in cold weather. Around 46
grains works excellently with 100-
grain bullets with velocity about
3,000 fps, plenty for most deer
hunting. For larger deer I’ve mostly
used the 115-grain Nosler Partition
and 43.0 grains of H-4350. Velocities
run right on the heels of the
100-grain load noted above, and
the bullet is more reliable on really
big deer.

I’ve had great luck w/ both the 100 gr NBT & Interlock which is discontinued but you can still find em around.

My go-to load in my Kimber is 46 gr Ramshot Hunter, RP cases, & WLRM primers topped w/ 100 gr NBT.

Of those you list I’ve had best luck w/ IMR-4350 & 100s tho I’m sure RL15 would be great too; I’ve only used it w/ <100 gr bullets.

edk.....the bullet wasn’t found or the deer wasn’t found?

PennDog

I’d run the BT, it’ll be a deer killin sumbitch. Shoot be easy to find a good load for it

Your 100 BT's and 4350 are a good combo, especially using Mule Deer's recipe....

I shoot a 100gr Remington CL over a max charge of IMR 4350 and have killed about a dozen, all one-shot kills. Love this load on WTs.

Checked the bullets and there were 100 trainers. Deer was shot in the shoulder. Smacked really hArd. Deer ran 50 yards and fell over. We watched for about 5 minutes and no movement. Went to collect him and he launched up and over a fence into the trees. Not one drop of blood and I searched that evening and the next day. Nothing. End of story. This year she used a 30-06 and that deer died. Ed k

I could live with that rifle and chambering for the rest of my deer hunting days...you lucky dog..

of course I seem to walk a different load than most other campfire members, sorta liking the older powders..

100 grain ballistic tip in the Roberts, fed by 4064 or RL 15....and I'd be set...

4064, 100 gr bullet, Pre 64 Model 70... heck it would be 1952 all over again...

Don't forget about H100V, the Roberts speed champ, not the most temp stable, but not that bad.

This load is a real killer. COAL is longer than 2.8", my Roberts is on a LA 700.

DF