Which .257 bullet?

L

lackeyse

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
11   0   0
Location
Kingston, On.
I have loaded up two different bullets for my .25-06. Both are well constructed bonded bullets and shoot MOA. I am considering using this rifle for moose and will not take any shots beyond 300yds.

The first load consists of a 125gr flat base bullet that is sighted in +1"@100yds. The muzzle velocity is 2950ft/s. According to JBM ballistics this bullet has a calculated drop of -11.7"@300yds and should be travelling 2348.7ft/s with 1530.8ft-lbs of energy.

The second load consists of a 110gr bullet that is sighted in +1"@100yds. The muzzle velocity is 3100ft/s. It has a drop of -10.5"@300yds and should be travelling 2428.1ft/s with 1439.8ft-lbs of energy.

I know they will both work with a clean shot to the vitals. The question is...do I choose the one with greater velocity at 300yds or greater energy:confused:
 
Mass+Energy=Success,
Shoot what best suits you and your rifle/component supply.

There has been considerable debate between the Weatherby round in 257 and the 25.06, where it is pointed out that a mere 95 to 100 fps means little when the shooter does/her job.

The animal still dies and then the bragging rituals begin.
So, if I where to compare the .257Wby to your load, what would I gain?
I would be labeled as a thread jumper or a troll maybe.
So back to my opening comment for what it is worth, mass+energy=success
Tight Groups and Warm moose liver this season.
Rob
 
My son took a 3x3 elk at 400 yards with a handloaded 120gr Hornady HP and it exited the off side ribcage.Elk ran 50 yards slowed to a trot and fell over................Harold
 
I have taken 2 Moose with a 25-06, both folded as well as when shot with any other calibre. The shots were at 150 and 225 yards. If I were to hunt Moose again with the .25 I would try to contain shots within a couple hundred.

Assuming the performance of each bonded bullet is similar - and that you fully trust their ability to penetrate I think I would look to the heavier bullet. 15 grains of mass is a pretty decent trade off for a loss of 1" of drop at 300.

just my .02

Good luck.
 
mbogo3 said:
My son took a 3x3 elk at 400 yards with a handloaded 120gr Hornady HP and it exited the off side ribcage.Elk ran 50 yards slowed to a trot and fell over................Harold
Click to expand...

Harold,

As you know, I have been an advocate of this bullet for big game hunting for a long time. Tried it shortly after it was introduced, almost forty years ago, and never been disappointed with its performance. First animal I shot with this bullet was a dall ram from my old 25-06 Husqvarna, but it clobbers moose just as well. :)

Why it is not better known, as it was specifically designed by Hornady for hunting big game, is anyones guess, but I suspect the hollow point makes folks think it is a varmint/target item.

Ted
 
Thanks for the input guys. I have decided on the 125's and can't wait to go hunting. I have shot moose with my .30-06 and have always wanted to dump one with the .25. It should make for an interesting hunt considering I developed this load from scratch.....with a little help from a gent at Hodgon;).
 
norskie said:
I have taken 2 Moose with a 25-06, both folded as well as when shot with any other calibre.
Click to expand...

Six for me with similar results. Four with my 7600, and two with my BAR. I used 120gr nosler Ps for most.I think I took two(1 for sure) with factory Cor-Lokts.
Just picked up some 120gr A-frames for loading.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Mass+Energy=Success,
Shoot what best suits you and your rifle/component supply.

There has been considerable debate between the Weatherby round in 257 and the 25.06, where it is pointed out that a mere 95 to 100 fps means little when the shooter does/her job.

The animal still dies and then the bragging rituals begin.
So, if I where to compare the .257Wby to your load, what would I gain?
I would be labeled as a thread jumper or a troll maybe.
So back to my opening comment for what it is worth, mass+energy=success
Tight Groups and Warm moose liver this season.
Rob
Click to expand...

Not to start anything but having a 257 wby the difference is more than 100fps. I shoot the 100gr tsx at 3650fps and when I did use the 115gr tsx I was getting 3450fps.

To the OP I would go with a light fast bullet, especially if it is a high quality bullet with virtually 100% weight reduction.
 
lackeyse said:
Marshal Ambrose's AKA Matrix Ballistics custom bullets. He highly recommended his bonded 125 flat base hunting round. Not to mention the wealth of knowledge he passed on to me over the phone:) Do you know him?
Click to expand...

Figured that might be whose bullet you were using. :)

Never met him personally, but have spent time with him on the phone, and used his 9.3 and 7mm bullets. Very good product. He really knows what he is doing, and I suspect you will be very pleased with the 125s performance.

Ted
 
Why not? said:
Figured that might be whose bullet you were using. :)

Never met him personally, but have spent time with him on the phone, and used his 9.3 and 7mm bullets. Very good product. He really knows what he is doing, and I suspect you will be very pleased with the 125s performance.

Ted
Click to expand...

Nice to hear other people have used his products. I'm confident they will do the trick. Thanks Ted for the reassuring comments.
 
captonion said:
Six for me with similar results. Four with my 7600, and two with my BAR. I used 120gr nosler Ps for most.I think I took two(1 for sure) with factory Cor-Lokts.
Just picked up some 120gr A-frames for loading.
Click to expand...

I was using the same 120 Nosler Partition. My wife has killed a bull and cow Elk with hers using 115 Partitions with good results also.


I think you will like the A-Frames - I have shot a couple of Elk with them in a 308 Norma Mag and was impressed.
 
We have used the .25-05 successfully on elk, moose and of course, deer. We usually just used "whatever was on sale" in either 117 or 120 grain bullets. Never lost an animal and they tended to drop just as fast as if they were shot with anything else. If I still used one, it would be with a 120 grain Partition in a good stout handload.
 
Why not? said:
Harold,

As you know, I have been an advocate of this bullet for big game hunting for a long time. Tried it shortly after it was introduced, almost forty years ago, and never been disappointed with its performance. First animal I shot with this bullet was a dall ram from my old 25-06 Husqvarna, but it clobbers moose just as well. :)

Why it is not better known, as it was specifically designed by Hornady for hunting big game, is anyones guess, but I suspect the hollow point makes folks think it is a varmint/target item.

Ted
Click to expand...
I know as I called Hornady and inquired about it's suitability for elk and was assured they had tested it on them before they were marketed with complete success.........Harold
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom