Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting .257 Partitions

I have some 117 partitions, I don't have any 120's. I have an old 25-06 ADL - early 60's. I thought that rifle had seen better days, the bluing has faded and the stock finish is pretty much gone. It looks like someone left it out in the sun - a lot. Spending a lot more time indoors lately and I went through all the targets I have saved in the last 5 or 6 years - putting the results in a spreadsheet. That old 25-06 shoots as well as my "new" 25-06 Classic, which in general is very well.

The best group I have shot with the 115's were 2.38" at 100 meters. Granted, I have not worked enough with that bullet. I took out some loads where I saw others' rifles did well and it didn't work out in my rifles.

I'll pickup some 120's as soon as I can find some.

About 80% of what I shoot in my 257 Roberts. My older model 70 loves them.

Got an old Model 70 that giggles everytime it gets near a Partition. It does not discriminate between 115 and 120s.



The .250 Savage has an attitude...
Top target was shot with Ballistic Tips, 85gr.
Bottom with Partitions, 100 gr IIRC

I think they still have some. Sometimes they'll show remaining stock. Nothing here, so maybe they have a bunch. Hope so. Mine are headed my way.

https://www.shootersproshop.com/loa...5-120gr-partition-spitzer-blem-50ct.html

DF

THANKS I just ordered some! Thanks again.

I seriously doubt we'll be seeing prices this good again.

DF

My Mauser 25-06 and my Daughters 257 Roberts both shoot 117 and 120 Partitions into very tight little groups at 100 yards. 3/4" and sometimes. less.
H3831 or AA 3100 powders in my 26-06 and she loads 4350 in her 257 Roberts.

If your Remington has a good bore and is only doing 2.3" I would guess you need to try different powders and/or charge weights, and maybe adjust seating depth. Free floating the barrel can often help too.

Just ordered some as well.

Looking at my recipes for 110 gr. NAB and 120 gr. NP I think I'll just split the difference between them and begin with a starting load of 44.5 gr. H4350 and see how they do....

Hard to beat H-4350 in the Roberts with 115-120's

DF

Pretty close to H-4350 burn rate for those heavier bullets would be StaBALL, which I have not tried. I do have a couple of cans, so when my 120 NPT's arrive, I may be forced to try that combo. RL-17 is another interesting possibility that I've not tried.

I've had some excellent H-100V loads with 100's, esp. the TTSX at 3,250 fps. Accurate and deadly.

The old Roberts is quite a round, not near done. Just keeps getting better and better as new bullets and new powders are rolled out. And rifles are getting better, even the cheap ones, especially the cheap ones.

DF

This is what my Bob has shot:

Nosler PT 115grain H4350 45grain 4" ( 3 shot) at 100 meters

I don't know what the deal is. That's the worst group I've shot with the 257. The 115 Ballistic Tips are almost as bad of grouping.

It really likes the CT 85 grain bullets and the 87 Hornady bullets - less than 1 MOA. It shot nothing well over the weight of those bullets. It shot the 100 partitions better than any other heavier bullet though - about 1.75 MOA (5 shot).

Maybe I should check the twist as the previous owner may have had planned on this being a varmint rifle.

The bore looks very good. Glass bedded, free floating barrel...

I have not tried anything lighter than 85 grain bullets in it.

I and several acquaintances tried the 90 grain Sierra HPBT Gamekings in our Bob's and 250 Savages and found the accuracy to be fantastic, but not reliable on Whitetails so we quit using them. I have killed many a coyote with them with in a Savage 99-A 250-3000, other wise if a .257 Roberts, 250-3000 or 25-06 does not test out well with that bullet, there is usually something wrong with the rifle.

Sierra says: "The 90 grain #1615 Hollow Point Boat Tail bullet was designed originally as a varmint bullet, but it has taken on an expanded role. This bullet is extremely accurate at all velocity levels, making it suitable for the entire range of 25 caliber cartridges. It will perform as a varmint bullet at high velocities, but it may also be used on medium game from smaller-capacity cartridges, such as the 250-3000 Savage and 257 Roberts."

Thanks. I just ordered a 1,000 of the 115s. Should work well in my new 257 Robert’s

Good deal.

They have an excellent shelf life...

DF

When they mention .257R velocities, they probably haven't read much here on the Fire, where 3,250 fps is a reasonable 100 gr. velocity, 90's would probably move faster....

As I posted before, the SGK HPBT is a very accurate bullet and in larger rounds, a deadly deer bullet. I'd not be afraid to hunt deer with the 25 cal version, though I may not push it to 3,300+ fps...

DF

Just an FYI on the factory seconds 115 Partitions @ SPS. They are not the same Original Nosler 115 Partition.

The overrun has a forward *.525 ogive with a cannelure. Shorter blunter bullet from the original.

Original 1.145 OAL the *.525 has an OAL of 1.085

Not sure if it makes a difference, but not the same bullet.

I got the 120’s as those shoot better in my rifle.

That shorter 115gr. may shoot great in some guns. I doubt deer could tell the difference, hogs for sure. But they say hogs are smart. Probably not that smart.

DF

Bugger have you tried the 110gr Accu Bonds? They work great in both my Roberts and 25/06.

With all the usual variables eliminated and a gun shooting light but not heavier bullets, twist would definitely be something I’d be checking. If it just shoots light bullets, I’d be finding the best light bullets for what I was hunting.

Hammer, Cutting Edge, TTSX, other monos would be on my list. Gotta be careful there, as length, not weight is the critical variable with twist and they tend to run long for wt.

Even a picky gun will generally shoot something pretty well. If not, I’d be barrel shopping.

DF

The second load I tested in my wife's Ruger 77 Hawkeye .25-06 using the 110 AB shot into a 3/4" group. Results on deer have been great. I am curious how the Partitions might shoot in it, but don't see anything to be gained.