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

I have a Model 70 Featherweight in .257 Roberts and have shot both the the 100 gr. Ballistic Tip and the 90 gr. Barnes X (no longer in production). My rifle prefers the Barnes bullet, but does shoot the Nosler Ballistic Tip extremely well also. I've killed pile of deer with both bullets. The load for 90 gr. X bullet is 45 grains of IMR 4350 and a CCI 200 primer.

Used to have a 257 Roberts on k98 action- wish I still had it. (Sad sigh)... anyway....

My most accurate load for it was a 100 grain FB Hornady spitzers over 45-46 (?) grains of IMR 4350. Shot <3/4” moa to 200 yards.

I've loaded H4350 or H4831 in all my Roberts rifles with 100 - 120gn bullets. I've never loaded lighter bullets or faster powders.

Have you considered the 80 grain TTSX? Speed?, check. Penetration?, check. Accuracy?, depends on the rifle.

Load 45-46 grains of I4350 behind that 100 grain BT and never look back.

On W.T.'s and such, I don't use very low S.D. bullets at hyper velocity. I don't know the S.D. of that bullet, but if below .200 and at high velocity, I'd save'em for 'yotes and such, not use them on W.T.'s... I had a bad result on a W.T.with a 80 TTSX at 3,600 fps out of my .240 Wby. Once was enough.

Just a series of one, but left a lasting impression. Too many better options to go back.

DF

For shooting deer at close range I would use a partition if I was going to take shots as they come and wasn't able to wait for the best angle. That said I would not use either of your 100 grain bullets but would prefer a 115-120 grain bullet loaded to 2700 fps.

Too much expansion or not enough?

I prefer the 100 grain BT, 100 grain Partition, or 110 grain AB in the 257 Roberts.

I've gone to the 110gr Accubond in the Roberts, 257 Wby and a 25-06 and they have served me well. A little less destructive than the ballistic tips and a little more expansion than the partition.

Actually both, too much expansion/not enough expansion. It's just where it happened.

Huge blast effect with double hands full of blood clot from chest wall. Not much damage inside the chest, just a pass thru. This 100# doe, ran 100 yds., found her in the woods after dark with flashlights.

The bullet seemed to have expended most of its energy outside the chest wall, wasn't much left to mess up lungs, heart, etc. Very accurate in that gun. I moved on to the 100 NPT, which the .240 likes even better and it kills MUCH more efficiently.

The 100 TTSX at 3,250 fps out of the Roberts is a different matter. It penetrates, devastates, kills quickly with authority.

I'd like to hear opinions about very low S.D. monos at hypervelocity as deer loads.

DF

Another good load is the 115 NBT over 44 gr. H-4350 at around 2,900 fps. Deadly on hogs, never used it on a WT, was off to other projects, Loony style. That load is slightly more accurate than the 100 gr. TTSX load posted earlier.

BTW, JB reported that H100V was one of the most temp sensitive powders he tested. Where I hunt, not a problem. Even though it may be the fastest Roberts powder, for hunting in sub zero weather, probably not the best choice. H-4350 would take those honors, IMO. I use both.

DF

The OP has two of the ingredients for a good deer load that I have used in 4 different Robert's, 100 gr NBT and 4350. The only difference is my cases are Remington and primers are CCI 200. No complaints here on the performance of the combination on Whitetail/Mule deer.

About 15 years ago, John Barsness wrote in a article on the Roberts: "These days I load the 115-grain Nosler Partition for all big game hunting. As life has grown more complicated. I try to simplify anything that can be simplified." Made sense to me.

That does make a lot of sense. My Roberts liked the 115 NBT and 100 TTSX better than any NPT.

I'm never disappointed when a NPT is the best or near best bullet in a gun, as was the case with my .240.

DF

This is load I use in my 257 Roberts Model 70 24" barrel. It has a fast barrel.
48.5gr RL26 115gr Nosler Partition WLRM primers Winchester cases
at 2.80 OAL. 3130 feet per second. SD 6.0 Not that hot a load in my rifle.

47.7gr RL23 110gr Accubond CCI250 primer win case 2.820 OAL
3123 Feet per second SD 5.1

My 257 Roberts likes the 115gr Partitions. I also use 47.7gr RL23 with the 115gr partitions. Velocity is only about
3 feet per second different.

MRP, RL22, and RL17 also work good in my 257 Roberts. I used to get 2925fts with 43.5gr IMR 4350.

I have a model of 1. But, I shot a big MN doe with a .257R and Rem CL 117gr RN. It did a lot of damage. Shot was about 30 yards, perfect broadside. Shot her, she did a 180 and stood still. I thought I missed so I shot her again. Saw the bullet hit through the scope. She ran right at me, then passed me about 15 yards. Stiffened up and tipped over dead.

She had 4 perfect holes behind the shoulders. 2 in, 2 out.

RL-26 shot dirty in mine and with heavy bullets. I'm saving '26 for my 7RM.

Hunter should be a good one with heavier bullets, have't tried it.

I hear talk about 4451 being a good sub for 4350, but the data I see shows slightly less velocity.

DF

Norma MRP was even more accurate than the RL26. RL23 as very accurate.

I have range tested the Nosler Ballistic Tip 100 gr. and Accu Bond 110 gr.with IMR 4064 and IMR 4350, these combinations have produced good accuracy. I just bought some 120 gr. Partitions and plan to load these with IMR 4064 and IMR 4350 and see how my rifle likes these.

My Roberts favored H4831 with 115 NBT's and 120 NPT's

I too, have had better luck with H4831sc with the 120s than 4350.