Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Favorite deer bullet for the 257 Roberts

Interested in everyones favorite bullet outa the 257 Roberts on deer. As much as I like the partition deer just aren't that tough to kill. Would love to hear from some guys back east that cull alot of deer.

Thanks
Shag

Barnes X

or TSX

The Xs do work well in the Bob, but so does the Hornady 100 flat base spitzer. Haven't caught one inside a whitetail yet in the Roberts or the .250 Savage.

I have killed a lot of deer-sized animals with a lot of 100-120 grain bullets from the .257, including:

100 Hornady Interlock
100 Nosler Partition
100 Speer Hot-Cor
100 Barnes TSX
115 Berger VLD
115 Nosler Ballistic Tip
115 Nosler Partition
117 Hornady Interlok boattail
12O Sierra ProHunter
120 Nosler Partition

They all work. I might pick one of the tougher ones (or any weight) for a big buck, but other than that there isn't a heck of a lot of difference.

I have only used three different bullets for deer out of a Roberts. The first three I killed were with the 90 grain Sierra BTHP Gameking. Then there was a couple with the 100 grain Hornady SP, finally, the last was with a 110 grain Nosler Accubond. I don't think the Roberts is fast enough to need the accubond, but I liked the weight split between the 100's and the 120's.

The Roberts is a fantastic deer cartridge. I had plans to try 120 grain Speer BTSP's out of a Kimber I briefly owned. I may yet try them out of my son's 77 mkII Ultralight.

My favorite is the 120gr Nosler Solid Base. But since that one is no longer available, the 120gr Speer Hot Core does about as well.

My choice for our deer has been the 100 gr. Sierra Gameking @ 3000 fps. Have shot a truck load or two with it and no complaints. However, our deer are not big at all. I've only used this bullet on deer up to 180lbs. with many sub 100lb does in there; drop in the tracks are normally what I get. The 257 Roberts is really not hard on bullets so I think most any deer suitable one will work.
GreggH

Just back from giving the 110 gr. AB a try on Pronghorn. Loaded them up at 3100 MV out of my 24" barreled Bob. Took 4 antelope at distances between 150 and 250 yards.

Noticed two things different from my usual 100 gr. Speer boattail. They all went down within a few feet (not yards) of getting smacked. The exit holes were noticeably larger, but the internals didn't appear noticeably jellied or such.

All in all the MV seems about right & so I'll give them a go on a Muley next.

The 100gr Hornady works for me in the Bob and the Savage.

JB,
you willing to pick just one if ya had to? I live and hunt in southwet washington. It's a jungle. We only getta shoot one deer a year over here. There are some big blacktail bucks around. About every other year I'll see that dark heavy horned buck that will no doubt exceed 200 pds. And score 135-150. That's my dream ,thats my goal and I wanta a bullet up to the task. A good blood trail is of upmost importance also. A ton of rain..

In that case I'd either go 100 TSX or 115 Partition. Both tend to penetrate on through and leave as decent blood trails as you're like to get with a .25. In general I would say the 115 Partition tends to kills a little quicker on straight lung shots, because of the fragments from the front end, but either will stop a deer pretty quickly if you can get a shoulder or two as well.

Thanks MD,

I've used the 100 Hornady SP for DRT's, the 100 BT for DRT's and the exemplary 100 TSX for a serious whooping on Deer in Nebraska. I second MD's recommendation of the 100 TSX. At 3150 from the Bob it's a serious killer.

Thanks for the reply.

The 115 gr. TBBC takes them down from any angle.

Just got back from antelope hunting in Wyoming with a pair of Roberts. Steve used an M77 in 257 and I used my old Browning 'bob. Both were pushing 100gr Hornady IL's at 3100fps. Steve shot his goat in the right ham. Bullet broke the big thigh bone went up thru the entrails and broke the back...DRT. I found the flattened jacket when I was peeling out the loin. I shot mine at about 250 yards broadside. I was shooting downhill and hit too high - broke the back. Bullet left a dime size exit hole and screamed off into the sunset.
There really isn't much that you should do with a Roberts that can't be done with a 100gr Hornady...IMHO

I don't think there is a bad choice in bullets above 100 grains to send down the barrel of a Roberts for deer or antelope. For the past 30 years or so my favorite has been the 100 grain Partition, but I have tried several others during that time, also with excellent results. I'm giving the 115 grain VLD a try this year.

I have had very good results with Hornady 100gr SPs and Nosler 110gr ABs.

Next bullet on the "try list" is the Hornady 120gr HP.

I've shot a few Roberts. My current is a Remington 7600 that I shoot Federal 120g Nosler Partitions out of. Works for me so I haven't changed yet. The same load shot well out of my Ruger UL. I used to have a BLR that liked Winchester Supreme's, but I only shot paper with it. My 700 Classic I had didn't like any factory loads and I sold it before my dad started reloading.

Is anyone out there using Winchester or Remington factory loads for hunting? If so, what are your thaoughts.

Dale