Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 100 gr Hornady in a 257R

I have an accurate load with it at about 3050fps. Would like to use it on whitetails, and would appreciate your thoughts.

I have no doubt it kill them. My concern is this: where I hunt the deer are never more that a step or two from very thick, thorny, brush. So a death run of 100 or even 30-40 yards can be problematic. Consequently, I prefer a high shoulder shot, DRT.

Any thoughts/concerns as to whether a short (40-50yard) shot would result in insufficient penetration? Maybe a mono, or a115/117gr bullet would be a better choice?

thanks very much for your assistance!

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot one at those ranges with that bullet. I've used them before, but they're not accurate enough for me in my Model 70. I've been using the no longer made 90 gr. Barnes X bullet in my 257R for several years now.

I would have no problem using that bullet for your purpose. I used the 100 grain Sierra SBT for years and dozens and dozens of deer. That combo gave me more in the track kills than any other.

GreggH

I'm pretty sure that is the same bullet Weatherby used to load in the 257 Wby Mag. Tough little bullet for it's weight.

The hornady interlocks, in my opinion are one of the best deer killing bullets going.
I have used the 139 gr in my 7mm08's since the middle 90's.
Simply does it's job deer after deer!

This load worked well on WT's. It's fast with that powder, which is not the most temp stable. My Roberts has a Brux barrel on a LA M-700, so the COAL is a bit longer than SAAMI.

I have a bunch of 120 gr. NPT's and am going to shoot them more due to supply. The 115 NBT over H-4350 was actually a tad more accurate than this load. It's not as fast but is as lethal.

Bottom line, the old Roberts is deadly with a host of bullet choices. You do your part, it'll do it's part.

DF

Interesting you have some of the 100-grain Hornadys, as they were unfortunately discontinued a few years ago.

Have used them on Montana mule deer from the Roberts, where they always worked fine, and in general mule deer are larger than Texas whitetails. (Might also mention that I've taken quite a few Texas whitetails, sometimes on culls. Was on one such deal a few years ago with a few other gun-industry folks, and for doe culling we were assigned .243 Winchesters with the 100-grain Federal "blue box" factory load. I used the high shoulder shot to drop 'em quickly, and all the bullets exited....

When you find a particular Hornady bullet that works well you have to stockpile them because sure as hell Hornady bean counters will dump it. Mb

True dat...!

DF

I used the 100gr Hornady flat-based Spire Points for decades in my 257 Roberts rifles, along with other brands as well. IIRC, I never had a problem with the Spire Point Interlocks exiting, and some of those bullets hit shoulder bones, too. I also used to run my 257 Bob loads in that 3,000 fps range but found that if I dropped the speeds down into the 2850 +/- fps muzzle velocity, I got more consistent bullet performance and less meat loss. The critters never seemed to notice the drop off in kinetic energy and I never noticed the few inches change in trajectory either.

My old Mod 70 likes the Hornady 117 BT OK. Not real obvious, but that's 5 shots @ 100 yards.

Not bad...

No telling how well it would shoot with a real rifleman...!

Ha!

Good, nonetheless.

DF

Yup. That's why I have a pile of 165 gr. Interbonds...

You guys are hilarious. Looks like he let his buddy "Bob" shoot that group...

The Hornady 100 grain flat base bullet was my favorite for years in .25-06 rifles. I am almost through my last box and have saved them for my .250 Savage. I will try 100 grain Speers next in the .250, but I am now using Hornady 117 SSTs in my .25-06. In all my years of shooting the 100 grain flat base, I never had a deer ro run. They just folded up right there.

You didn’t mention rattlesnakes out in that brush, 5 and 6 footers are quite common. You just about have to machete your way through it. Damn thorns 1 1/2” on that crap. You really want to DRT them!!!

You better watch your tongue kiddo, or I'll turn the Savage loose on ya.

AMEN, hanco!

Yeah, looks like ole Bob is a pretty good marksman.

DF

The 100gr Hornady was my first choice when I got my 25-06. Shot great but damage on game was severe. Hit deer fell right there too. Switched to 117gr Hornadys and damage went way down and accuracy was more than acceptable though not as good as the 100go. Wanted a 120gr bullet to try but Hornady only made the HP then and I have not had results I liked in anything short of a varmint cartridge. Difference in hit deer was that unless critical part was hit they would walk off a bit and lay down dead! I like that!