.257 bullet for Deer

[roberti11]

This fall will be my first rifle hunt for deer with my son.

We will be using a .257-08, with a 24 inch bbl.

I have the following bullets at my disposal:

Berger VLD 115gn, Nosler SP Partition 100gn ,Nosler Accubond 110gn, Nosler BalTip 100gn, SierraGK SP 117gn, SierraGK BTHP 120gn

I would not mind if those of you with experience could recommend your favorite bullet and velocity range you aim for when reloading.

I will also be using this rig for Coyotes, and the odd varmint.

Thanks

 

[martinbns]

I can't think of what the velocity would be like, would a 100 grainer be around 2900 fps?

If so I would likely go to the 100 ballistic tip first if it was just for deer.

 

[bronco_mudder]

I'd go with the Nosler Accubond 110gn as a first choice, and the Nosler SP Partition 100gn second. Which ever one shoots the best out of your rifle. As for varmints Hornady makes a 75 grain V-Max that I've had good results with.

 

[double gun]

100gr partition

 

['Boo]

The 100 grain Partition would be perfect for your son's .25 Souper, aka 25-308

 

[stubblejumper]

I would try the 100gr ballistic tip,and the 110gr accubond,and see which shoots better in your gun.

 

[Mr. Friendly]

go into the Hunting & Sporting Arms forum and do a search for Gatehouses threads on his Barnes TSX & TTSX tests. some impressive results. if you were talking handloading, they come in 100g and 115g for the .257. from the sounds of it, with the TSX you don't get anymore more bang flops...only bang drops.

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

110Accubond

I shot a lot of the 110 Accubonds in my old quarter bores, a 25-06 and a 25-06AI. They were accurate and deadly on coyotes, never took a deer with one though. They seemed to hold together well, even when pushed hard. If that projectile hadn't been accurate my next choice would have been the 100TSX. I'd try the TSX, just cause, if I still owned a .257 cal. rifle.

 

[Cummins4x4]

I shoot the Sierra 120gr GK in my 25-06AI, one hole 5 shot groups and the bullets hang together just fine, don't know if the 25-08 can push them fast enough for good expansion,

 

[roberti11]

I shoot the Sierra 120gr GK in my 25-06AI, one hole 5 shot groups and the bullets hang together just fine, don't know if the 25-08 can push them fast enough for good expansion,

What velocity do you get?

 

[todbartell]

if it was me, 110 gr Accubond, followed by the 100 gr TSX if the AB didn't shoot up to par

 

[Pickles]

The 257 is my favourite caliber!

I've shot a few whitetails and half a dozen caribou with the 100 grain Ballistic Tip out of a 250 Savage and 257 Weatherby.
Most people poopoo the Ballistic Tip but if it's used in the proper application, shooting through ribs and NOT through heavy bone it's a dramatic killer.

A few years ago I was hunting barren ground caribou and had the 257 Weatherby loaded with 100 Ballistic Tips @ 3600ish and shot a caribou ~ 250-275 yards away, instant bang flop. One shot through the lungs.
Later that day I shot a similiar sized caribou at roughly the same distance with the 257 loaded with 100 Barnes X's @ 3650ish. It was the loudest I've ever heard a bullet smack an animal and the caribou took 2-3 steps and fell on it's nose., through the lungs again.

With all that being said I've never shot any 257 Partitions but I'm sure they would work fine if your rifle will shoot them, same with the TSX's.

FWIW I've shot a few deer with the 250 Savage and the 100 CoreLoct (factory ammo) and they work really well, nice toonie sized exit hole when shot through the lungs. Not sure what the velocity was? 2600ish?

As for coyotes/varmints I've shot a few gophers this year with a 250 Ackley and the 75 V-Max which is a spectacular varmint bullet
Much like shooting one with a 220 Swift

 

[RickF]

100 NP, first. Then the 110 accubond or 100 B. Tip.

And for a cheap bullet, DO NOT overlook the plain old 100 grain Hornady flat base spire point, they are a great deer bullet.

 

[Longwalker]

I've shot deer with all those bullets except the Berger, either from a .257 Roberts or a 25-06. I'm guessing your 25-08 is in-between those two for velocity. All worked well for me, it's really personal preference. If you were hunting something bigger, Id suggest the bonded or partition bullets, but for deer they are not necessary.

 

[BigUglyMan]

You don't neex a TSX for deer. Go with one of the Nosler products you listed above in the 100 gr range. Plenty of bullet for deer.

 

[todbartell]

TSX are cool, use them

 

[beretta boy]

Another Nosler Ballistic Tip fan ... I use the 115's - and have no complaints.

 

[bronco_mudder]

TSX are cool, use them

Yeah what he said. I use the 100 gr TSX in my 25/60 AI at over 3600 fps, sure the accubond, or partition would work well at those speeds, but no way would I hunt deer with a ballistic tip at that velocity. I've experienced what ballistic tips do at high velocities on deer, and wouldn't risk it. In the 257 Roberts 25/308, or 250 savage they might be alright though.

 

[Pickles]

3600+ fps in a 25/06 Ackley?
Chronographed?

How much powder are you getting in that case for these velocities?

 

[beretta boy]

Ballistic tips are said by Nosler to work best at impact velocities between 1600 & 3000 fps. Should be right in the range for a 25-08.