I'm going to be working up a new load for my 257 Roberts, but I want to change bullets. I'm currently getting sub .5MOA groups with 100gr Seirra Gamekings, but I don't like their performance on deer. Every deer I've shot with them hasn't gone far, but the jacket always has seperated from the lead. I also can't stand the tips getting deformed in the magazine(call me [censored] I guess!). I'm looking to find a bonded core bullet with a protected or ballistic point. Right now I'm looking at the Nosler Accubond 110gr, Partition 100gr and the Swift A-Frame 100gr. I reallize the Partition isn't a protected point, so it's the lowest on my list. I really like the A-Frame, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. The Accubond is second on my list, but only because something has to be second! Any other protected point, bonded core bullets out there that I should look into? I'm not opposed to a 'general purpose' bullet, but experiences with Core-lokt's, Power Points and Hornady's have been less than stellar. Any and all info is appreciated.
100 grain bullets in a .257 Roberts is all one needs for deer and pronghorns.....the 120 grainers are good as well but 100 will do fine. Ive used the interlocks from Hornady with good success for years but the Swift A-Frame is a superb bullet and almost the best you can find IMO. The "buck-a-piece" pricing of the A-frames is minor if you don't do your practicing and varminting with the A-Frames. I use them in many of my guns and a box of 50 is nearly a lifetime supply as I usually only shoot a couple a year.
The first box is used to verify the accuracy and that one is not cheap as you shoot them all doing load developement. After that however I still have loads for a .300 H&H that I loaded (box of 50) six years ago and expect them to still be used for hunting another ten years.
In other words.....make them last and they're really not expensive at all.
Deer however are easily killed and personally in such guns as the Roberts, I'm still shooting 100 grain winchester silver tips and Hornady interlocks.
Last Fall I shot four Mule Deer with the 25-06. Three were with the Nosler Ballistic tip in 100 grain. The other was the same bullet in 115 grain. You can't beat the Balistic tips for deer IMO. The Roberts is really at its best with 100 grain bullets for chasing deer size game. I have shot a lot of deer with the 25-06, 257 Roberts and the 250 Savage. All with Balistic tips. I did use a few Barnes X bullets with good success.
I SHOOT A 25/06 WITH 100 GR NP'S FOR DEER. HAVEN'T HAD ONE TAKE MORE THAN 10 STEPS IN QUITE A WHILE, AND WHEN THEY DID, IT WAS THE SHOOTER, NOT THE CARTRIDGE.
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Vapodog, I guess I never really thought of loading up 'cheap' ammo for practice and just using the 'good stuff' for it's intended purpose.
I guess I just want a quality bullet that doesn't come apart when it hits something. I love the ballistics and accuracy from my gameking loads, but I can't tolerate finding an empty copper jacket inside the nearside skin and an exit from just the lead on the opposite.
I believe the A-frame is going to be the bullet....I've never heard a bad thing about them, and they seem to fit the bill quite nicely.
Every deer I've shot with them hasn't gone far, but the jacket always has seperated from the lead
I would suggest that the problem isn't with the bullets performance but with what you want it to look like.
I would agree that we all want to see the bullet hold up and not come apart, but it's hard to argue with your success isn't it?
You might find that some bullets that hold up better won't deform as much and therefore you'll have less traumatic tissue damage than the ones that do a little "blowin up"
I have felt the same way about my .243 with the 100 gr Cor-loct and Silvertips I've used. But the deer die pretty quick, even some of the big ones ...even when I've had trouble finding chunks of bullet.
I think you can find something that will do what you ask and still kill the deer quite well. But they might not die any faster.
Last Fall I shot four Mule Deer with the 25-06. Three were with the Nosler Ballistic tip in 100 grain. The other was the same bullet in 115 grain. You can't beat the Balistic tips for deer IMO. The Roberts is really at its best with 100 grain bullets for chasing deer size game. I have shot a lot of deer with the 25-06, 257 Roberts and the 250 Savage. All with Balistic tips. I did use a few Barnes X bullets with good success.
I would agree that we all want to see the bullet hold up and not come apart, but it's hard to argue with your success isn't it?
8MM,
This is the reason I haven't changed my loads over the years. They plain and simply work, but I'm concerned that they have a better chance to fail since they come apart. I guess it's just indesirable to me and I want to change it. I have a hard time believing that a bullet that retains most of it's weight would not perform better....but I don't know for sure. Call it peace of mind. I used to shoot a lot of deer in the neck(whether anyone agrees with this shot or not doesn't really matter at this point) but I find myself choosing the 'softer' target area behind the shoulder because I'm concerned about my bullet not being able to do the job. Since I have only 10 or so rounds left from the original 100 I loaded a few years ago I figured I'd change to a 'more reliable' bullet....I do realize though that my Sierra's were getting the job done, but took confidence out of my shooting. I guess I just said all that to say I lack confidence in the bullet and want to change it.
Bullet Suggestion?
