I am building a 257 Roberts (Win Model 70 CRF S/A) and I'm looking around trying to decide which bullets I want to try. I have always had great luck with plain Hornady Spire points so the 100 gr. Spire will be tested for sure.

But, I want to test drive some of the heavier bullets too. The Hornady 117 BTSP might work well. Still I have always preferred the flat base designs.

Is the 120 gr. Hollow point really just a flat-base Interlock Spire point in disguise? Is it too soft or too hard for deer hunting? When driven to 2800-2900 FPS?

Thanks,
Mark in GA

quote:

Is the 120 gr. Hollow point really just a flat-base Interlock Spire point in disguise? Is it too soft or too hard for deer hunting? When driven to 2800-2900 FPS?

Hornady's 120 HP in .257 cal is one of the shooting world's best kept secrets.

It's a fantastic performer on deer.

Also is Sierra's 90 Grain HP!!!!

I have killed quite a few mule deer and antelope with the 120 hp Hornady in my .25-06 and it kills like magic; it is the only bullet I use in the gun. I have had them penetrate diagonally thru deer at 200+ yds and exit the far side.
C.G.B.

Hi Mark,
I am originally from Ga myself. I have not used a Hornady in a long time but they worked well in my 243 many years ago. For deer I use the 7mm08 now and recently loaded the Barnes 140 TSX bullets and got outstanding performance on a few deer down in Lumkin a few weeks back. The TSX will expand well and push all the way through.

Vapodog

I too am a Robert's man. What does the 120gr HP do on deer. Is it an expander, penetrater, a little of both? I'm currently shooting the 110gr Nosler AB with excellent results.

quote:

Originally posted by perry:
Vapodog

I too am a Robert's man. What does the 120gr HP do on deer. Is it an expander, penetrater, a little of both? I'm currently shooting the 110gr Nosler AB with excellent results.

Ya know.....I don't remember ever finding a bullet.....and I normally look for them...all I can tell you is that they go "BANG/FLOP" a lot of the time.

I've taken maybe a dozen deer with them and always with the same result.....venison in the freezer.

The Hornady HP is a good deer bullet and I have used the Sierra HP with excellent accuracy as well. Nate

Mark, I've shot mule deer, antelope and several whitetails using the 120 Hornady in a 25-06 and it has performed flawlessly and with authority!! I have no problem recommending the use of the 120 Hornady on deer!! My favorite 25 caliber bullet on deer here in the east is the 117 grain Sierra Spitzer BT and I've found that rifles usually like the same powder charge behind either of the two! Just finished testing 2 more 25-06's last week for other folks and both rifles would shoot either bullet ahead of 49.0 grains of IMR 4350 or 53.1 grains of H4831sc very acceptably!!! I have used the 117 in a 257 Roberts also and it performed well in that one also. Never shat any of the 120's in a .257 Roberts though! GHD

I run the 120 gr Hornady HP thru my Ruger .25-06 and it is the only bullet I've found that will approach the W-W 120 gr Positive Expanding Point load which shoots under .5 in my rifle. The Hornady shoots between .5 and .75. The last buck I shot was at about 80 yds and took the hit in the top of the heart. Ran about 30 yards and piled up. All of the feral hogs I've shot with it have dropped in their shadows.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark in GA:
I am building a 257 Roberts (Win Model 70 CRF S/A) and I'm looking around trying to decide which bullets I want to try. I have always had great luck with plain Hornady Spire points so the 100 gr. Spire will be tested for sure.

I don't even bother with the 115-120s anymore in my Roberts (on a 722 action). For deer (Whitetail and Mule), the 100 gr Hornady has served me extremely well. Just two week back I was in MT and got a decent 4x3 Mulie at 400 (long) paces using a 100 gr Hornady at about 3150 fps. He made it about 10 yard after the hit.

I've also loaded this bullet a touch slower (say 2900 fps) for hunting at closer ranges and have had excellent results.

I have a custom 250-3000 (also on a 722 action) that has a longer-than standard throat to favor bullets of 100 grains and up. The ONLY bullet it WON'T shoot well is the 120 Hornady...

Just my 2 cents worth...

The 120 gr Hornady HP is THE most accurate bullet in my 257 Wby. I used this combination to take a huge whitetail buck a few years ago and I was pleasantly surprized at how well that bullet stayed together. I have also used this combination on antelope. Nothing has ever taken more than a couple steps before collapsing.