Looking at adding a .257 Roberts to the arsenal for antelope, deer and hogs. I prefer to keep my shots at 300 yards and in, with almost all well inside 200 yards. My preference in bullet styles runs to the Partition/A-Frame/TSX type projectile.

What I'm unsure of is bullet weight. For example, Nosler makes Partitions in 100, 115 and 120 grains. What is the trade off between increased velocity at the cost of extra bullet weight?

What have you all used, and what results (both good and bad), have been seen?

Also, has anyone used the Accubond or similar bonded bullet? Where the results good, fair, poor?

Thanks for the help.

Depends on the rifling twist rate of your barrel.

If you have a fast twist rate any of the above if it is slower then 100 grs and lower.

I have shot any where from 87 grs to 117s the 100gr bullets would be my go to if making a first pick.

My Kobe 09 dotes on the 100g NP. I have a 13 yr old God son who's twin sister will be shooting a Rem. 700 and I will load it w/ the 115g NP.
Rusty loads the 110g AB and likes it.

I have found the 110 Accubond to be the best medium game bullet for my Bob. It has been used for many whitetail deer, mule deer, and pronghorns.

It shoots a bit better than the partition and does not have the copper fouling issues found in the Barnes offerings.

quote:

I have found the 110 Accubond to be the best medium game bullet for my Bob. It has been used for many whitetail deer, mule deer, and pronghorns.

I haven't used them in a Bob but have used and loved them in a 25-06. Very accurate and excellent performance on game.

My buddy shoots most anything from antelope to elk with 117 gr Sierra out of his 257 Roberts.

I use 117/120s for everything. Sierras and HOrnadys. Note that much load data is light; get a rifle that will take 3 inch long loads and seat the bullets out for more powder capacity. One of my Rugers has a veeery long throat and I can easily get 25-06 velocities by seating the bullets shallowly. I have used 100 grainers on deer and they work well too.

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
My buddy shoots most anything from antelope to elk with 117 gr Sierra out of his 257 Roberts.

I do also out of my .257 Ackley, and also prairie dogs, coyotes, mule and whitetail deer, bighorn rams, a Dall ram, a mountain caribou, and a wolverine.

Actually, 115 gr Ballistic Tips, 117 gr Sierra Gamekings, and 120 gr Hornady HPs have all worked fine for me out of my .257 AI.

For low cost pig whacking with the 257 Rbts., I use Hornady 117gr. round nose bullets. They penetrate well and are harder than the spitzers.

A local gun shop had a bunch of these and could not interest customers. Bought these on sale for $8/box of 100. No need for higher ballistic coefficent as most porker shooting is usually less than 50 yds.

You may be able to find some and convince the shop owner to give you a similar deal.

Geoff

i use the hornady 120 hollow points too.
but I'm cheap, and I just want the animals dead.
they do excellent [as far as accuracy goes too] in one of my 25-06's and both of my Bob's.

my other 25-06 is built around 85-100gr bullets.
and likes nothing heavier.

On mule deer have used cup and core none premium bullets from 87 grain FPs to 120 grain PSPs. Never had a problem.
Point of interest: The 87 grain bullets were loaded down to 25-35 ballistics just to gauge its performance at that level. roger

My all time favorite .257 bullet fore any case is the 100 grain partition, but the accubond has also proven to be a great bullet in the 257 Wby and 25WSSM. That said all I used to shoot for deer and pigs was the Sierra 90 grain HPBT Gameking from Sierra. It is as tough a cup and core bullet as I have seen and the couple I did recover were intact and perfect mushrooms. They are very accurate and will perform well from the Bob to 300 yards. I have used them in 25-08, 25-06, and 257 Wby. Not as sexy as a premium, but very effective.

Back when I had a 257 Roberts I shot the 117 gr Sierra BTSP. Super accurate. Now with my 25 WSSM I use a Nosler 115 gr BT and it shoots really well also. The 100 gr Sierra MKs are also good shooters. I've used both of the Noslers on deer with good results.

I have used my .257 for years on texas whitetails and hogs using Remington 100 gr. core-locts over H4831. Worked great and shot sub one inch.

35 whelenman,

I used the 115 NP's at first but found the 120 NP's to be more accurate and giving only slightly less velocity. They've worked well for at about 2820 fps for pronghorn to caribou.

Mark

With most of my deer rifles I dont really care that much about heavy for caliber bullets and prefer a little more zip for better trajectories. But the Bob being at the smallish end of the spectrum, I lean the other way and prefer the 115 through 120 variety of slugs. Although I have been toying with the idea of trying some 100 grainers lately.

I typically use cup and cores, have taken several mulies with 115 Bt's but prefer 117 Hornadys or 120 Speer. I expect the 110 Accubonds are a fantastic bullet, but Ive never tried them. I just cant bring myself to waste a "premium" bullet on something as easy to kill as a deer. Never have and never had an issue. Hogs may be altogether a different prospect.

I've settled on 100gr Sierras, I tried 115's and didn't think the velocity sacrifice was worth a mere 15gr of bullet weight.
Using the above mentioned bullet i've killed critters from groundhogs to Elk without any kind of failure. This was in a Roberts and Ackley Improved. And they are very accurate in several different rifles.

Stepchild

My daughter's 257 Bob loves Nosler 110 Accubonds. They do a good job!

quote:

antelope, deer and hogs.

Small deer, anteleope and litte hogs the 257 is fine. Mule deer, large whitetails and big hogs ...not so much. I shot a bunch of california coastal deer and hogs with one. I also used 25-06, 243, 25-3000 and 6mm. They all work fine unitl you have a larger animal and/or poor shot placement. At that point you have a big mess on your hands.

Once I stated shooting 308. 30-06 and 45-70 everything died right there. No frantic running about chasing game. Since those days I am leagally obligated to use copper bullets. I now have a 35 Whelen. Unless you have some sort of physical disability I would steer clear of marginally adequate calibers.

quote:

Originally posted by Scota4570:

quote:

antelope, deer and hogs.

Mule deer, large whitetails and big hogs ...not so much.

I am glad you werent around to tell that to the several Mulies I have killed with mine. They might have listened to you and forgot to die..

I've used a lot of bullets from my Roberts but like the semi pointed 100 grain Winchester silvertips.....now obsolete but they sure worked in my short magazine .257

Currently I like the 117 SST from Hornady as I now have a much longer magazine rifle.

There is nothing magic about 3,000 FPS.....2,800 is just fine and any well constructed bullet will get-er-done.

Sierra's 90 grain HP has also worked well for me and is my load for pronghorns but prefer somewhat heavier bullets for deer....Hornady's 120 HP is also a fine choice......actually, I'm not sure there are any poor choices in the quarter bore.

The 100 grn Sierra seems to be made for the 25-06 and never blows up. They are very accurate.

My wife's .257 Robert's does really good with the 117 grain Remington round-nose Core-loct factory loads, in fact this is the only rifle we use factory loads in, and for handloads I use Barnes 115 grain TSX.

For me, 117/120 gr bullets from a 257 at about 2900 to 2950 are a perfect sweet spot offering flat trajectory to 300, low recoil, and execellent terminal performance/penetration using plain ol C&C bullets

My wife shoots a Rem 722 Bob. It loves 120 NP's. Found out by buying her a box of Federal Premiums. Now I load them for her. Factory or HL's...she commonly shoots a 1/2" 3-shot group at 100 checking 0 each year before hunting season.