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Joined: Oct 2002
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OP
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I notice somehow I have nearly 6 boxes of these. Some I bought a couple boxes to load for a friend who shoots a 25-06, he loves this bullet for Mule deer. I mean you hate to get him started on it and he has killed some whopper Mulies, several elk but has lost his enthusiasm for these bullets use on elk. Yes he has lost a few. Anybody else like em? They do shoot very well out of my 257.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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They are a bullet worth building a rifle around, the 117g Hornady btsp is not a bad bullet either.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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I've used the 117 GameKing in .25-06 and it's a good accurate bullet, but I've found the 117 ProHunter to be a bit more accurate. I'll probably end going with the GameKing, however, as I think the 117 ProHunter has been discontinued.
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Joined: Jan 2017
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Long time ago in a place not to far away I found 5 boxes of the Sierra 120 hpbt in .257 " for $5/ box. Had a lot of WW brass , Fed 215's and H870 all added up to cheap shooting. Bullet worked okay and did a good job as long as you kept to ribcage dbl lung shots. The bullet did not weather leg bones worth a damn
Antelope or deer keep them in the ribs. They expanded readily but came apart easily on bone. When I purpose buy a bullet for +$25-35 a box I expect them to perform well all angles but that don't mean I pass up bargain deals on bullets if they will least work on ribcage shots. Mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Never had an issue with them. 257AI loves em..
The deer don't much like them...never had one get away.
Hunt...
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Joined: Sep 2009
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My Roberts loves them. The lone deer I shot with one with didn’t like it much.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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It is an adequate and generally accurate deer bullet. I have killed a few mule deer with them. Quick opening, but OK and reliable results on deer size game from my .257 and .25-06. I currently have some loaded up for my .25-06 and will use them for another deer hunt when the opportunity presents itself. But I have to wonder at your "friend" who used them on elk. And decided after he "lost a few" that he'd quit using them. Anybody with a lick of common sense knows that the .25-06 is pretty near the lower limits of adequate elk rounds. And using the .25-06 with a fragile bullet on purpose is just stupid. Especially after losing ONE and continuing with that irresponsible choice. I'm all for practical experience, and don't believe a cannon is needed for hunting elk. Yes, bullet placement is important, Bla, bla, and all the other small bore wisdom that is currently fashionable, But C'mon. The elk deserve better.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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OP
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It is an adequate and generally accurate deer bullet. I have killed a few mule deer with them. Quick opening, but OK and reliable results on deer size game from my .257 and .25-06. I currently have some loaded up for my .25-06 and will use them for another deer hunt when the opportunity presents itself. But I have to wonder at your "friend" who used them on elk. And decided after he "lost a few" that he'd quit using them. Anybody with a lick of common sense knows that the .25-06 is pretty near the lower limits of adequate elk rounds. And using the .25-06 with a fragile bullet on purpose is just stupid. Especially after losing ONE and continuing with that irresponsible choice. I'm all for practical experience, and don't believe a cannon is needed for hunting elk. Yes, bullet placement is important, Bla, bla, and all the other small bore wisdom that is currently fashionable, But C'mon. The elk deserve better. Well he was a union carpenter, not exactly gun or bullet savvy. I don't know who told him the 25-06 and the 117 Gameking was a magic do all combination. One of the elk he didn't lose was hit in a hindquarter and came in front of me and I dropped it with a 180 gr. Speer from my 30-06. This was back in the 90's in nowhere Wyoming, no internet. That bullet only made 7 inches into the hindquarter but it was a solid piece of meat.
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/J7pSrGRB/Screenshot-2024-03-16-at-13-00-21-U-S-Coast-Guard-ordered-to-allow-illegal-migrants-from-Haiti-to-e.png)
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Joined: Oct 2002
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OP
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Long time ago in a place not to far away I found 5 boxes of the Sierra 120 hpbt in .257 " for $5/ box. Had a lot of WW brass , Fed 215's and H870 all added up to cheap shooting. Bullet worked okay and did a good job as long as you kept to ribcage dbl lung shots. The bullet did not weather leg bones worth a damn
Antelope or deer keep them in the ribs. They expanded readily but came apart easily on bone. When I purpose buy a bullet for +$25-35 a box I expect them to perform well all angles but that don't mean I pass up bargain deals on bullets if they will least work on ribcage shots. Mb
I have a box of them also. I had heard they were tougher than either the Pro Hunter or the soft nose Gamekings.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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One South Texas camp everyone there shoots these with a 25-06 and they swear by them. I think they top out at 25-06 velocities, they are not too good at Weatherby velocities, while the Hornadays can hold up to the Bee. Just about everything works in the Roberts case.
I would buy them on sale but not as a first choice, but my use is skewed by the Weatherny's. If for 25-06 or lessor rounds I would gladly use them.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,319
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Shot a truck load of deer with them in my 25-06. No complaints.
NRA Life Member
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Sep 2015
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After several deer with the 25/06 I prefer a tougher bullet.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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After several deer with the 25/06 I prefer a tougher bullet. How did the bullet perform for you? Not enough penetration or too much damage?
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Joined: Dec 2014
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I've used them without incidents in 25/06 &,257R. The 257 WBY either didn't care for the bullet or maybe the powder I tried (IMR 7828). I have thought of trying them in a 250 Savage but haven't gotten around to it.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,879
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Hell on our Missouri deer.
I have shot a few with them and my bud loves them when he shoots a 25-06.
Seem to get a few runners for some reason, not as many DRT as he gets with 117 SSTs.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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They sure sound ideal for that Roberts. I'd be feeling wealthy ...
I do not entertain hypotheticals. The world itself is vexing enough. -- Col. Stonehill
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Joined: Feb 2009
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The 117 gr Sierra GameKing bullet has been my favorite in my .257 Ackley since I built it back in 1977. I made it for my primary deer and antelope rifle, but it also made one shot kills on my 3 bighorn rams, Dall ram, mountain caribou, and probably my quickest elk kill on my 2nd largest 6x6 bull.
SAVE 200 ELK, KILL A WOLF
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The 120gr. HPBT does seem tougher than the sp versions. I don't think I'd choose them for elk, but if I were out for deer and bumped into elk and this is what was in the gun I'd use it. The best was the 120gr Hornady HP. It flat worked well. When I found out Hornady was dropping production I bought a bunch. I stockpiled some Sierra Hpbt as well.
When people start talking about a .25-06 with 120's not being enough, but they're ok with a .270w loaded with 130's, they haven't used either one very much.
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.”
Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I've used the 117 GameKing in .25-06 and it's a good accurate bullet, but I've found the 117 ProHunter to be a bit more accurate. I'll probably end going with the GameKing, however, as I think the 117 ProHunter has been discontinued. Never tried the GK but those Pro Hunters haven’t let me down near or far. Shame they quit making them.
Yup.
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Joined: Nov 2016
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Shot a truck load of deer with them in my 25-06. No complaints. Same here. I’ve killed a pile of bucks with them with no problems including some huge mule deer
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Joined: Feb 2014
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I’ve personally used them in 25-06 & 257 Roberts. They work as you’d expect a softer c&c would. My best results have come when impact velocity is at or below 2700-2800fps or so. However, when I shot a couple whitetail in Idaho with it out of a 25-06 at under 100yds, there was quite a section of bloodshot meat & no exit (one bullet clipped high shoulder blade & one straight lung placement that hit a rib) my fault on that shot but if you hit the shoulder point-on it’s gonna be even messier with this one. Perhaps others have had different experiences but those were mine.
Deer both died tho - which isn’t tough to accomplish really.
It’s not my favorite bullet by any means - many better options.
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I generally expect the Sierra boattails to open fast at short ranges, they are after all designed for impact velocities under 2700 fps. Same for the Speer boat tails.
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Joined: Dec 2014
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Shot a buck this past year with a 25-06 and a 100gr sierra and didn't get an exit wound. Top of heart and double lung shot. Deer made it about 100 yards but didn't get any blood until about 50 yards. I bought a few boxes of the 117gr to work up a load with for this coming year. Hoping for a little better penetration with the heavier bullet. Rifle loves the 100 grainers though.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 318
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I think they are a fantastic pronghorn bullet out of a 25/06. I've used them successfully from 75 - 425 yds with no issues and no losses. Very accurate out of my M700V and fairly priced as well (at least they were when I stocked up on them). Though not as fast as the 100gr bullets I think they hold up to the WY wind a little better.
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