Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 115 grain N.B.T. .257 Weatherby

I just received my .257 Vanguard. I went with the stainless steel and the accumark desert camo stock with the aluminum bedding. I think it looks great. The test fire target it came with has a .81" group. Better than I'll be able to do! It's time to start enjoying it at the range instead of just my living room couch, and I wanted to hear some feedback about Weatherby's 115 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. My rifle will used for antelope only. Any info would be appreciated.

Sounds like a bomb ... a half a speed goat waiting to happen.

I just re-zeroed my Roy with 110-grain Accubonds (Nosler Custom Ammo) which shot great, and I'm worried about THAT bullet at 3400 fps being a bomb. (We'll soon see, though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). I wouldn't personally consider a B-Tip in a Roy. Too many other bullets out there that can better handle the extreme velocity. JMO, though. Take it for what it's worth.

Might try that Accubond, or a TSX.

Rick

I'm with Rick on this one. I drive a slightly faster version of the Roy (25 STW), and i have seen first hand what BT's will od to game when pushed to those speeds, it's not pretty.

I darn near exploded a coyote with one. It absolutley turned him inside out.

The 100gr TSX would be dynamite for antelope if you handload. If you do not, then try the 115gr X or Partition. You won't want for more.

Another no vote from me. I used the Btip on smallish blacktails a few times out of a lowly 25-06.

The carnage was uhhhh......notable...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

JimF

I've tried a few but get my best performance from the 100 TSX. I get around 3700fps and average groups between .5-.7. No reason you should not be able to achieve the .8 group, especially if you handload. Taken whitetail, coues, and a B&C black bear with it. Used partitions on the bear but couldn't get them to group all that well, it was pre-tsx. I have the Ultralight version.

I'm with Tundragriz. The 100 TSX is a real screamer, and performs well out of my Wby .257. No worries about it becoming a bomb.

My SS MarkV shoots the 120gr NP extremely well. So far, its performance on whitetails has been spectacular.

J Scott

Sounds like everyone agrees on this one. I also would use something with more controlled expansion. The 257 has a reputation for ruining meat. Combining it with a NBT on a pronghorn sound like a messy situation at best.

Prairiegoat, I use this factory load in my .257 Weatherby Magnum Blaser rifle. It shoots MOA with this load. I've shot two Prairie Goats, and one deer with this load, so it is effective. All shots were at relatively long ranges, 278, 330 and 404 yards (all lasered).

One of my uncles helped a coworker gut and drag out a
small PA black bear (about 125 lbs) a couple of years ago,
that had been shot with a .257 Weatherby. He told me it
was pretty devistating.

I would stay with 100 grain tsx on the Antelope. As you know there is not a lot to an antelope and the the larger 115 might not give you as much expansion at the longer distances. Cannot go wrong with the tsx in the .257 Roy in my opinion.
I have never used the Nosler BT on game so I have no reference as to how they perform. Good luck with the Roy.

The two deer I shot this year with my .257 WSM and 100 TSXs showed disappointing performance at best. Both had complete pass thrus but the exit was caliber sized on both and left no blood trail. It appeared thet both bullets shed the petals within the first few inches of penetration and the back half of the bullet exited. It left massive damage inside, but where I hunt, no blood trail can mean a lost deer if it travels more than 50 yards. I have switched to the 110 gr Accubonds, but haven't shot any critters with them yet. Still crossing my fingers on that one...

Jamison, how far were the 2 deer you shot this year with the 100 gr. TSX 25 WSM combo?
I experienced small exit wounds also at ranges under 150 yds but they were pumping a considerable amount of blood the few steps they took. I am very interested to hear how the Accubonds perform in the 25 caliber. I also was beginning to think the TSX bullet was sheding petals till I recovered a 85 gr. TSX from large whitetail that passed thru the body out the skin then back into the off shoulder, the bullet was shot from a 6mm-06 at a chronographed 3600 fps at an approx. range of 100 yds. The exit hole and re-entrance hole appeared to be caliber size though the recovered bullet measures .411 at the widest point across the petals. That makes the expansion just a little over 1.5 times original diameter. Other than the TSX the best results I had with other bullets out of my .257 Roy were the Hornady 117 gr. RN Interlocks but they were less than ideal for the long range stuff. I will have to wait till this years hunting seasons to end to hear how the 110 Accubonds perform, they should make that 25 WSM a ray of death. Has anyone heard how any caliber weight Accubond has performed on game?
I guess I to was initially a little dissapointed at the size exit wounds that were produced by the TSX but I have always liked the .244 & 25 calibers and my shots at deer and antelope are usually 150 yds and beyond, when I really started to list exit wounds with those calibers I could think of one before I went to the X and TSX. If I was in your situation I also would be looking for something that would give more of an explosive exit wound. Let us know how the Accubonds perform. In case you wondering how the bullet could exit and reenter, the exit side leg was back and the bullet exited\reentered in the armpit area(if deer have armpits).

I would use either a 100 TSX or the 110 Accubond. Both shoot good in my SS vanguard 257, and velocity is excellent. For powder, look at RL-22, RL-25, IMR 7828, or Ramshot Magnum. If you want to have some fun, and be alittle different, take a look at Magnum powder. Give me a private if you want my load data with it.