I've worked up a very accurate load using 100gr ballistic tips @2950fps for my Rem700 250Savage. I'll be using it for pronghorn and mule deer. My son harvested one of each with this gun and this load last fall. That said, would a "premium" bullet make much sense in this caliber rifle and for that type game animal? I know something like a partition might be a better choice for larger calibers or at higher velocities and on larger and thicker skinned game. Is it worth the cost, time and energy working up another load for this situation? Give me your thoughts.

As long as you can place that bullet in the neck/lung/chest area it should do just fine. I've hunted with a .250 Savage Ackley Improved and shot plain old Speer 100 gr softpoints. I never had a problem killing deer in Northern Wisconsin w/it as long as I put the bullet in a vital area. That said, you'd never go wrong using a 100 grain Partition. It will break shoulders on large deer, something I wouldn't attempt with a Ballistic Tip.

i use 120 speer flat bases in mine and it killes really well but i can only get 2550 fps, i use 120 partations in my 257 @ 2850 fps and it kills about the same in my small sample. personally i like 120gr bullets better than 100 gr's but john lewis has killed tns of deer with a 250ai with 100 gr bal tips

I'd be a little hesitant using 100gr. ballistic tips on mule deer. The ones I've tested on wet phone books all had core/jacket separation at handgun velocities (200-300fps slower). Hornadys and Speer flat base bullets hold together better. I stay away from boattails for hunting deer sized game. With Partitions there is no question, it'll work.

ras323

I have done similar testing on various weights of balistic tips & while it bothers me that core jacket seperations happen it doesn't seem to affect the terminal performance of the bullet.

The last deer I shot with a 30 cal 150 Gr bal silver tip shot at 2750 fps at the muzzle had jacket core seperation but killed the deer with only 1 shot. The bullet entered between the ribs hit the spine & glanced off it & traveled back. The jacket was recovered on the same side in the upper part of the rear leg.

I also shot a deer with a 30 cal 125 gr Bal tip at 2000 fps at close range through the shoulder & hit the spine the bullet then exploded. I then used a second shot to finish off the deer, Which I probably didn't have to do. Just didn't want the deer to suffer.

In both cases the bal tip did it's job. Granted these were just Whitetails & not as big as mulies. If you research around a lot of game has been taken with the bal tip bullets, don't sell them short.

I've seen a few posts of others who have used the 100 gr bal tip with success.

Rich Jake

I have always like the 100 gr. silvertip in the 250 Savage...It has worked well on deer and elk in the past, as has the Rem Corelokt...Today I think the welded core Nosler bal. tip would be a great bullet or the Swift Sirocco...and of course the Nosler partition is always a winner on larger game, but I like the Nosler better in 30 caliber and larger...

Got to agree with Ray. I used to shoot a lot of smaller stuff on California deer and hogs. .243, 250 Savage, and .257 Roberts. I never had a problem with factory soft point ammo. When I started loading I used lots of Nosler solid bases. They held together and expanded well. I tried partitions as did some buddies. We had some trouble with partitions. In the smaller calibers they seemed to be short in the expanding department. You got a little hole in, and a dime sized hole out. We used to go for a lot of neck shots. Debate that all you want but, we did it. Anyway, on more than one occasion a neck shot with a partition did not put the buck down. You get an easy shot, poke him in the neck and he ran away. Very disconcerting! I don't remember loosing any but it got pretty exiteing. The heart/lung shots also resulted in a lot of frantic running around an tracking. One shot kills were not as common as they should have been. I never had these troubles with quicker expanding bullets. Partitions may be wonderfull in larger calibers but I am not sold on the tiny ones.

Now I shoot a 30-06 with whatever is handy, even factory ammo : ) and the animals go down pretty fast. I'm getting to old for the frantic running around the hills.

[ 04-12-2003, 01:32: Message edited by: scot ]

Right on Scott, and the smaller caliber Noslers do not leave that big swash of a blood trail I like, just a few drops here and there...Noslers just don't turn my crank in small calibers...They are my favorite bullet in 30 cal. and up, and they are fine in the 270 for the most part.

Remember the Nosler is basically a half solid/half expanding bullet and the cross section is smaller than most bullets and that results in outstanding penitration, something not really needed on deer and Pronghorn antelope

The 100 gr Hornady has worked fine for us. Very accurate and does the job on deer and hogs.

Killed an average doe with a .257 100 Hornady at around 2750 last year. It penetrated the onside shoulder, crossed the chest, and exited in front of the offside shoulder. Not bad for a little bitty bullet. She tumbled - no tracking required.