any of you lads out there use the 115tsx for hogs&goats? happy with the results? Do you see any problem out to 300yds?Any other tough bullet recommendations? Thinking of getting a .257R made in a LA700Ti with a slim 26" tube. Would you stick with stdRob. or go Imp.?

I have absolutely no experience with .257 Roberts (improved or otherwise) so feel free to completely ignore my suggestion but here it is anyway.
Why not 6.55 x 55? Ballistic performance is not that different (for all practical purposes) with an added option of heavier projectiles and you can choose from several readily available factory built rifles. BTW 300 metres with 115gr on larger pigs would be at best marginal.
Cheers

No experience with the Roberts either, but plenty with the 6.5x55. If I had a Roberts in my neck of the woods I would use the heaviest bullet I could, its the 120gr isn't it?. I use 140gr for pigs here in my 6.5x55 (I like heavy bullets). I don't know where you hunt/live, but 300 yards is a long way, at least in my area. Most of my shots have been from 5 meters to about 80 meters.

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:

Most of my shots have been from 5 meters to about 80 meters.

...and the local cats have nothing to fear.

quote:

Originally posted by Easy_Rollins:

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:

Most of my shots have been from 5 meters to about 80 meters.

...and the local cats have nothing to fear.

Thats not fair Easy, cats have 9 lives.

Easy,
Gary has video footage of the "cat incident" I'll get a copy and see if I can post it.

My standard 257AI hunting load is a 90gn Sierra Gameking for everything from rabbits to red deer.
The heavier projectiles don't perform any better at the expense of greater trajectory.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
any of you lads out there use the 115tsx for hogs&goats? happy with the results? Do you see any problem out to 300yds?Any other tough bullet recommendations? Thinking of getting a .257R made in a LA700Ti with a slim 26" tube. Would you stick with stdRob. or go Imp.?

Armchair knowledge only, but a .257 Roberts with a reasonable bullet from 85 gr to 100 gr should be fine. I wouldn't think a premium or "tough" bullet would be needed on the average goat or pig, though I would stay away from very fragile bullets. BAW's actual experience above sounds fine.

If you can hit them in the right spot at 300 yards also no problem. Obviously the little Roberts is loosing a bit of speed by then.

For deer I would consider the 115 gr Nosler Partition.

I must say I also prefer the 6.5mm calibre.

I use the 120 grain Sierra Pro Hunter in my 6.5 Swede, and it kills pigs like lightning, starting off at around 2950 fps. Have never felt the need to go heavier, tho I have tried the 140 grain Sierra SPBT, and it was a bit tough for most pigs. For the .257, the Sierra 117 grain Pro Hunter should cover most bases I would think. I have found with pigs that a lot of my shots are a running animals, and shot up the rear end is not unusual. In other words, you need something with enough weight to penetrate. The Pro Hunters are not overly stiff in the jacket, whereas the Gameking have a jacket that tapers to be thicker at the base (and they have a bota tail). I would think the Roberts would give almost identitcal results given the similar diameter and bullet weight.

No personal experience with .257R either and nearly all my pigs are shot with a .308W.
However have a little experience with lighter stuff in a .240W. Using Barnes X in 85 gr a properly placed projectile will handle large boars with confidence. Note I would only suggest Barnes X or the newer TSX in pills this light or small a caliber for pigs. Goats are a different story as they don't have the fighting pads of a mature boar.
Dropped a very large boar across a waterhole 2 years ago with this load [one shot kill] at a lasered 287yds - no problem.
My 02.
APB

used the 115gn nosler bt on a recent hog hunt, but in the 257wby, they worked a treat, would be ideal for goats and pigs, or the 117gn sierra.

cheers cc

OK, then. I must be one of the very few rugged individualists left that loves the .257 Roberts. It is my main whitetail deer rifle. Until last year when it took a follow up shot, I had a string of one shot kills that stretched back over ten years.

I handload Sierra Game King 117 grain boattails. Primer is Remington 9 1/2 M, Powder is MRP (48.0 grains), and make sure your cases are of the +P type.

For a tougher bullet, Federal has a 120 grain Nosler Partition in their Federal Premium line. I have tried loading both Barnes X and Nosler bullets, but I can't beat Federal's accuracy out of my old A-bolt hunter. If you have access to Federal ammunition, try it. I suspect it would be just the ticket for heavier critters. For deer sized animals, I have no need for anything better than the Sierras.

As to accuracy, I can keep all of my shots in a four inch group at 300 Meters with my handloads above.

i have a bunch of 257 roberts experience and use 120 partations, hornady or sierra hollow points..they all kill deer and hogs(my biggest about 250#) with 45.0 gr of h4350 that is good for between 2850-2900 fps in a 24" barrel..