Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 257 Roberts deer bullet

After a bit of load work up I’ve found two loads that are consistently accurate(1” at 100 yards). For strictly deer hunting, would you go with a 100gr Sierra pro hunter at 3000fps, or a 90gr hornady gmx at 3200fps. Shots up to 400 yards aren’t uncommon where I hunt, but 300 and under is the norm. I know which way I’m leaning, but, I’d like to hear others thoughts.

I have killed lots of game with the 100 gr. Sierra.. But use it in my .25-06... Placed right it is deadly... Great coyote/whitetail load..

I like the GMX better because it will not go to pieces on you even if you hit bone.
The Sierra is somewhat "explosive" and if you hit only a rib, or go in between, I would bet that most times the Sierra will drop a deer a bit faster, but hit a shoulder blade or shoulder bone and the results can work against you. I have seen it from the 25-06 and also with a similar bullet in the 270 Winchester when I was a kid.
The GMX and the Barnes X are dependable and do the same thing if they hit light mussel, heavy muscle, light bones heavier bones, broadside, quartering or ranking. Some deer will drop a bit slower but you don't get erratic results. Most drop fast, but if they run a short ways you have a GOOD blood trail.

I prefer wounds that go clear through and exit about where I want them to. That is a reliable way to go, instead of sometimes wondering what happened, even when you shot well.

Since Hornady discontinued the 100 Interlock, the 100 Ballistic Tip will probably get 1st call in my 257 Roberts. I've been considering the 100 Pro Hunter Sierra for my M77 Ruger 250 Sav though. I figure the 2800 or so muzzle velocity won't be quite as stern a test as the higher speed cartridges. Got some 100 Hot Core Speers to try as well. Best thing though, I've still got 4 boxes of the Hornadys.

Certainly the GMX. There's been a hunter on my place that we finally had to ban from using a .243win with 100gr Gamekings due to inadequate penetration for blood trails. Deer and hogs were nearly always very tough to find after the shot. They may be dead, but 75yds into the briars with zero blood sucks, and it was happening all the time. Pretty much anytime a shoulder shot was involved. 100gr mono-bullets at 3,200-3,300 from .25 and .26 caliber rifles have told a very different story. Blood may not be gushing, but is generally present.

I loved the 100 Hot Cors in mine. Real thumpers I thought.

My last 2 .257s have shot very well with the 100 grain ballistic tip.

My favorite deer bullet, though, for the .257 is the 120 grain partition. +P brass from either Nosler or Winchester, Federal 215 primers, 43.0 grains of H414. This load has shot very well in 3 of the 5 .257s I've owned, better success rate than any other load. And it flat kills [bleep].

Tom

I shoot a 117 grain SST, i have had extremely good luck. Most were DRTs.

The 110 grain AB over 38.8 grains of H4895 has worked well in my Ruger 77 RSI.

110 Accubond

100 gr Sierra. I use both game kings and pro hunters in 25-06 in the 100 gr and have not had any penetration issues from 20-400 yards. It’s generally lights out quick with them. I don’t shoulder shoot-in the ribs and short trails if at all. No issues with blood trails either.

Monos have their place but I don’t think you own a 257 bob to shoot lengthwise through a deer. In my experience a fast expanding cup and core is where it’s at on whitetails.

Craig

My friend Steven L. (80 years old now) killed a whitetail yesterday in a blowing snowstorm. 257 Roberts, Ruger M77 Mk2, using the old Remington standard load. 117 gr Round Nose. 169 yards on the Laser Range finder.
Hit was in the front shoulder and exited the neck on the other side. Deer dropped before the recoil was over. I gutted it for him and we loaded it into his truck as the storm was getting worse and we had to drive home 70 miles at 25 MPH because it became a full-on blizzard for a while.
But we will have some winter meat for him and his wife, so we are happy with the results.

Yes, I didn’t buy a Roberts to drive a bullet completely through a deer from any angle. When I had a 25-06, I used 100gr Nosler ballistic tips from 40 to 400 yards and never had one not exit(about 15 deer worth). I wouldn’t think at Roberts velocity I would be vaporizing cup n core bullets on impact. However, I’ll those Sierra horror stories gave me a bit of doubt. Then again, I was told the same about the ballistic tips. On the other hand, I’m intrigued by the mono metals, as I’ve never shot a deer with them, and am curious about their performance.

Pick whichever is most accurate and aim accordingly!..Every .257" bullet made will kill deer when limitations are understood and applied properly..............!

I have been very impressed with 100 grain Nosler Partitions. The ballistic tip shoots tighter groups but the partition is a better hunting bullet IMO.

115 NBT and 100 TTSX are the two most accurate in my Roberts. Both kill stuff very well at 2,950 and 3,250 fps respectively.

The 100 NPT is the most accurate bullet in my .240 Wby. When they hot they hot... You never know when they're gonna lead the pack at the range. Even if not the most accurate, the Partition is always a good choice for great performance on game. The standard, as they say.

DF

My loads are +P with +P brass and the bullets couldn't touch the lands with a stick. The 110g AB bas the better long range ballistics.


100g TTSX, H4350, 3233fps
110g AccuBond, H4350, 3163fps

Both have been very effective and accurate.

For elk:
120g A-Frame, H4831SC, 2947fps

Also very accurate.

Barnes 100 TSX or TTSX
Nosler 100 Partition
Nosler 110 Accubond

Maybe Sierra has changed it's spots. I stopped using SIerra bullets on game quite a while ago. I shot a white tail doe in the shoulder with 165 grain Sierra 30-06. The bullet never got past the shoulder. People that use Sierra bullets must place them in the rib cage or perhaps Sierra has made their bullets more stout, I don't know. I find no reason to try them again. There's bullets out there that work.

Most accurate bullet in my 257 Roberts is a 115gr Nosler Partition.