I don't hear much about this bullet. What is the GS designed for, medium to larger game?

Would it make a good bullet for deer in a 257 Roberts or is it too hard. More of a 25-06 or Weatherby bullet?

Perry

I have used the 120 GS in 257 Roberts, Ackleys, Weatherbys but have not had any of them when I was shooting at game. they all performed well on paper and over the chronograph. the GS is an improved Mag-Tip, which I have used on game at standard velocities and got immediate results. I haven't hunted deer in Texas but from what I read, they generally run about 100 pounds live weight. For an animal that size, the GS is probably a little on the tough side. For anything larger or of stout construction the GS should work well from either the 257 Roberts or 25-06.

I think you don't hear much about the Grand Slam because they are an expensive cup and core bullet with bad ballistic coefficients.

As far as on game performance, I think they will work great at 257 Roberts speeds. I hear they open easy and hold together really well because the jacket is tapered and is thick on the shank.

I had a box of grand slams.....257 120 grain.....They just didn't like my gun so I sold them to someone that wanted them more than I did.....I have never bought any since.

They shot great in my rifle today. In a 25 mph wind I shot .55" (5) shot group at 100 yds. Velocity was 2,680. That seems pretty good for a 90 yr old rifle.

How would this bullet work on Colorado mule deer?

Perry

I think it should work great on mule deer. Below is the description on Speer's website. It has internal flutes and a mag tip so It should open fine and also stay together.


PERFORMANCE-ENHANCED RIFLE BULLET FOR BIG GAME. Speer® Bullets developed Grand Slam® to provide better integrity and retained weight. It has grown to be one of the most respected and successful big game bullets in the world. Grand Slam has superior performance which translates to exceptional accuracy and real knockdown power. A tapered, precision-drawn jacket makes for reliable expansion. And internal flutes at the jacket opening mean symmetrical and consistent expansion. The long nose profile produces flatter shooting. When the game you seek is at the top end of your rifle's capability, you need a tough bullet. You need Grand Slam

They aren't target bullets and they aren't particularly aerodynamic, but the seem to kill quite well.

I got both excellent expansion on on a small hog and pass through penetration on a nice sized spike red deer. This was out of a .300 SAUM at moderate velocity.

quote:

Originally posted by perry:
They shot great in my rifle today. In a 25 mph wind I shot .55" (5) shot group at 100 yds. Velocity was 2,680. That seems pretty good for a 90 yr old rifle.

How would this bullet work on Colorado mule deer?

Perry

Well, having seen a lot of Deer fall to a .257 Roberts I would say that any Mule Deer hit in a vital area would not shrug it off, you'll have dead deer!

My dad and brother used it in the 257 Robts for years, on elk and deer, never a single complaint. I shot a 250 at the time so was restricted to 100 gr. spitzers and the 117 gr. Rem corelokt. I would however suggest keeping shots under 300 yards for deer and probably 200 yards on elk depending on skill level.

My Long Island friend from MO dropped a good sized western NE Muley like a sack of potato with my 25-06 and some cheap Hornady Whitetail 120 gr loads. I would bet they would be fine if placed in the proper area.

Are yo sure about that? Hornady American Whitetail ammo is loaded with 117gr BTs. I don't think Hornady has ever loaded a 120gr in their factory ammo. And their 120gr 257 hollow point has been discontinued.

Correction, 117 gr softpoints. Point being a tougher 120 gr GS will surely knock there dick in the dirt

Tough bullets are a mistake for deer in TX. Choose a standard cup and core soft point.

Whoa there boys, There are small deer in Texas mostly on the Edwards Plato, but So. Texas deer will tip a scale at 200 lbs or more and spreads that challenge Mule Deer..The Golden Triangle is the best of big deer country..Go further West towards EL Paso or the Big Bend country around Marathon South to the Big Bend park and you get into some of the best Coues deer country and those recently named DeL Carmin Whitetail..The Del Carmin Ive seen are nothing more than a coues deer or SW Whitetail renamed, they seem to just call them what they want to these days.

My buddy uses the 130 gr. GS in his 270 Win. for whitetails. He really likes the bullet. Most result in a bang flop.

I think the Grand Slams were originally designed for larger game but if your gun groups to your satisfaction it should do the job.

Consider this, use a bullet that will penetrate a deer lengthwise, and still open up on a broadside shot, same with elk..

If you do this, you probably won't get those dynamic kills the DRT stuff, but you will get sure kill, that you might not have gotten otherwise, and meat damage will be less..I don't care at all for explosive bullets.

I settled on a 115 gr TSX. Velocity is 2,830ish and groups are under an inch at 100 and 1 1/2" at 200 yds. This should be pretty good medicine for mule deer.

Perry

quote:

Originally posted by perry:
I settled on a 115 gr TSX. Velocity is 2,830ish and groups are under an inch at 100 and 1 1/2" at 200 yds. This should be pretty good medicine for mule deer.

Perry

Sounds like a great load and good choice. I'd be surprised if you will ever recover a bullet. The Deer will not enjoy it as much as you do.

Swampshooter,
Contrary to popular opinion and yellow jernalism by scribes. I out of circumstances culled hill country whitetail with my 30-06 and tough 200 gr. Nosler accubonds this year. those bullets killed the little whitetails as well or better than any bullet Ive used..Had the same experience with the 190 gr. Hornady some years ago on Mule deer much to my surprise..

Im beginning to wonder about some opinnions! One needs to try them before accepting common knowledge, took me near 84 years to discover it's all about bullet placement..

The Accubonds and Nosler partitions 200 gr. bullet opens up fast on the front portion apparently. then go on out the other side. leaveing 5 or 6 inches of bloodshot on entrance, less on exit, terminal damage is severe,exit holes nickel size, short 20 yard runs but mostly instant kills..All this at 100 or so yards btw. The mule deer were longer shots in the 200 to 300 yard range and they killed well but 20 to 50 yard runs were the norm and internal damage was less and exit holes were caliber in size. but no catastrophys as some claim.

Additionally the 120 gr. bullet in a 257 parrells the 130 gr. bullet in a .270 pretty darn close, I doubt that 10 gr.s of bullet and perhaps another 100 FPS for the most part makes one bit of difference..I know the 257 Robt. is a really popular elk rifle with some cowboys and ranchers I know in Wyoming..