Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting .257 Cal Bullets?

My bad...it was a 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip... not SST. Good catch.

The TTSX bullet shoots well, in my rifle but it seems a bit hard for sub 200 pound deer to me, just my opinion. I have had all good results with the 117 grain Hornady and as well the 117 grain Sierra. No deer has made it past 25 yards with a typical shot behind the shoulder. The 257 Robert’s is my favorite deer cartridge.

I’m going to work up some loads with the 117 Sierras and see if I can get good accuracy with IMR 4831 at less than maximum velocities. Most shots here are at 100 yards or less so the lower velocity should be fine even for 200 yards. As a rule I avoid Hail Mary shots. I want clean kills.

I took a buck couple years back with 80ttsx out of my 250ai. It was a quartering away shot and aimed for middle of off front shoulder. Bullet MV is 3563fps and 100yd shot so probably hit the buck around 3400fps.

Buck stumbled a few steps and went down...thought he DRT. Gave him 15 mins and walked up to him and he staggered up stumbled 10ft and dropped back down with his head was up looking at me. Knew he was hit hard and would eventually bleed out but not what I was expecting. Put another shot into chest and he didn't move...still head up looking at me.

Third shot took my time and took a head shot and finally went down. I don't take risky shots and hate seeing game suffer with bad shots. After gutting and skinning the buck...bullet took out liver, one lung and shoulder. Second bullet zipped thru without much damage.

The buck would have eventually bled out and died after first hit since he obviously didn't run off after walking up on him but I won't use the 80ttsx at that speed for behind shoulder shots. It's probably a great thru the shoulders bullet but definitely want more expansion and energy dumped into vitals with softer bullet.

Long story short...if you are a behind the shoulder shooter ...I would look at accubonds, partitions, ballistic tips, etc that fit more into opening up and dumping energy into vitals more than mono bullets with higher speeds.

Honestly, I've always liked the 120 Partition and 117 Interlocks. Great accuracy with either of them.

I’ve had pretty spectacular results with TTSX bullets over the years. I’ve probably shot a dozen deer using slightly lighter than standard weights, i.e. 120 gr bullets in in a 7x57 or .270. They’ve almost always dropped within 20 yards and usually much less. One time though, I hit a large doe a little high and a little far back on the shoulder, at least that’s what I think. She took off and all I could find were a few drops of blood where she was standing when I hit her and then in one or two spots within a few hundred yards. That’s the only deer I ever failed to recover and it still bothers me. My guess is I missed the heart, lungs and spine and possibly the bullet failed to open, but maybe it was just the shot placement. I still use Barnes bullets almost exclusively.

My son has used the 80gr TTSX in the 25-06 for years. He has shot deer to huge-bodied bull moose to brown bear. They work and work well. Like real estate, location, location, location.

My load of 50 gr of 4831 & 117 gr SGK out of 24" ER Shaw barrel is death on whitetails in west TN. Never had any bad experiences, I've stayed away from any SST. Just my opinion, good luck sir.

CLB, if I can find the 117 ILs I’ll buy some. I’ve had consistently great performance from them in 6.5, 7mm, and 30 cal chamberings.

Any experience with the Pro Hunters? I thought my stash was GKs but they’re PH.

Here’s a postscript:
I was rummaging in the man cave and found a box of Hornady American Whitetail 117s, 2 boxes of Remington 100 Core-Lokt, 1box of the Hornady SST 117s (that I’ll sell), 1/2 box of Double Tap 100 TTSX. They all came with my A Bolt and I forgot about them. Too many decisions.

I've had good results from the 25-06 with 100 gr Barnes TSX, 115 gr Berger VLD, and 115 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets.





Regards, Guy

110gr Accubond has worked well for me too

I’ve never used an SST in .257 but the performance you shared is not what I’ve experienced with my 25-06’s. I’ve found it a most emphatic killer if I do my part.

I
I just started loading those 110 gr Accubonds last year and haven't taken game with them yet. The accuracy is sure impressive.

Regards, Guy

The responses to this thread are making me wonder if there was something special in my Wheaties. Question: Isvthere a reason why y’all prefer the tipped bullets to a good cup and core? I have shot a couple of deer with tipped bullets and the exit wounds were the about the size of a big orange or a small grapefruit. Is that your experience?

100g Nosler Partition, 46g H-4350, Ruger No.1, 26" barrel, 257 Roberts. 3200fps + or - a bit. Point Blank Range, 0 - 300yds. Not that a partition is needed, but it doesn't hurt.

i like this load and will try it since i got a bunch of 100 gr.Partitions ,thanks for posting ,Pete53

Pete53, that load is with WW Super 164g case/brass, federal 210M primer @ 2.880 COAL. I use it in three different 257s. 26" Ruger No.1, 24" Savage, and a 20" Ruger Hawkeye.

With the exception of the 100gr TTSX & Partition, I’ve used mostly cup & core. 117 Pro Hunter & 100gr Horn Spirepoint/Interlocks with good success. The 117 pro hunter is pretty stout when shot from a 257 Rob which works good up in our woods.