Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 87-90 gr bullets .257 Rbts

With the status of components, I am going to experiment with what I have on hand (really what choice do I have) I have several hundreds of the Hornady 87 gr Spire Points and 100 of the Hornady 90 gr GMX. The plan is to find a load combination that my rifle likes with the 87 gr SP’s and hope that will parlay and get me close to fine tuning to a good load using the 90 gr GMX and then shoot some hogs & deer with those 90 gr GMX bullets this fall. I have been wanting to try these 90 gr GMX for some time. Soo….who has a pet load for the 87-90 gr bullets in their “Bob”

Not the GMX, but using the 90 grain Barnes X-bullet that's not longer made. 46.5 grains of IMR 4350 and a Rem 9-1/2 or CCI 200 depending on what I have on hand. I've smoked so many deer and sheep with that load it's not even funny. I've only had one take a step after being hit with it.

I like the sound of that.

Mine is 90 gr GMX, 38.2 gr of good ol' 3031, Hornady brass, Fed match primer, 3120 fps at 70 deg. 5 shot groups sub moa. 24 inch barrel Mauser sporter. It is a published load, in very old manuals with 100 cup and core. But still it's pretty perky, and I wouldn't store my ammo on the dashboard of the pickup on a hot day. Brass is holding up well though. By the way, shooting the 90 GMX into frozen snowbanks, I'm getting picture perfect expansion at 100 yards...whatever that means, but in my experience, what works in a snowbank, works on deer.

35gn H-4895, Speer 87 Hot-Cor, Nosler case, BR2, 2.800 OAL, 2815fps out of a Ruger Hawkeye UL 20" barrel...

I got along with a max load of IMR-4064 with 85, 87 and 90 grain bullets.

I have a few pounds of Big Game so plans are to start there...I have IMR 4350 and W760 too. I hope to find a good load with one of these three powders. If memory serves me well, the 85 gr TSX was the darling when 25-284’s were the deer killers of the day here

Roy, like Dub I am shooting the 90gr X behind 45gr of RL19. 3150fps. Never had a deer take a step, They just get a hump in their back and fall over like a paper doll in the wind. I'm down to my last 25 and they don't get used on targets. Killed some large (160lb) s.Texas deer w/them. powdr

Powdr...Curious what your plans are once those are gone? You going to try the 90 gr GMX or go up to the 100 gr TTSX

Following... I've got a box of 90 GMX collecting dust that I'd like to load up after I get my 100 grain Nosler E-tips squared away.

Roy, I'll probably go to the 85gr TSX. Speed really kills with these bullets. I've killed some really big deer in s. Texas (160lb) along w/some very heavy weight hogs. My gun is a 250Ackley which is basically a 257Robts. powdr

Powder
If you are shooting the original 90 gr X. Shoot me a pm. I have a partial box I’ll send you.
GreggH

Always good to know a good snowbank load......Hah!

47gr W760 in my Shaw #3 contour .257 sends 85gr ballistic tips at 3347fps with sub-1/2" accuracy.