.257cal sierra 120gr HPBT GK

[Austin]

has any 1 used them for deer or elk.i was very disappointed in the 115gr nosler BT this last year on deer.lost 2 bucks to them. love the round but need a bullet change.im willing to use tipped bullets but perfer a soft point or hallow point.any help is appreciated.

 

[k80skeet]

Try the 117gr Sierra Game king soft point boat tail. It has worked for me out of my Cooper model 22 25-06 at 3000 fps Not only shoots well but kills even better.

 

[FryeGuy]

I have used the 117 sbt, 117 spt, and the 120hpbt, all sierra's. I shot an elk with the 117's two years ago. it did great. i did recover the bullets, it lodged between the last rib it went thru and the hide. it had expanded well, stayed together. didn't weigh it to see how much it retained. it did leave a heck of a mess, and i was shocked at how much damage it did for a 257 roberts. I loaded the same load for a friend who has a custom 257 roberts, not sure if he has killed any deer with it yet. i have not killed anything with the 120hpbt yet, but they did shoot very well in my rifle. the 117 should do great on deer as well. i think i was moving them at 2600-2800 fps, can't really remember, would have to look it up. what cartridge are you using? i have also had mixed results with the nosler bt, and use sierra's on all big game.

 

[Coleridge]

I'll 2nd the 117gr gamekings. They are a top-notch whitetail killer. The 117 sierra is a much better killer than anything I've tried with the 25/06,always looking for something better). I have never lost a deer with the 115gr Nosler BT but it does not kill as quickly as the gameking. I have found it to be a very hard bullet. The 117GK just works!

 

[RJinTexas]

My 257 Wby loves Barnes 115 gr Triple-Shock FB bullets, leaves em DRT.
RJ

 

[2506]

You lost two deer shooting something in 25 caliber with a 115 BT???
Where did you hit them at in the hoof?? I have never seen any deer hit in the lung/heart area go over 50 yards when hit with a 25 caliber rifle with a 115 BT. Most drop in their tracks. I have killed well over 100 deer with a 25-06 and have used mostly 100 to 117 gr bullets from about everybody. I now use the 117 Sierra Pro Hunter because it really shoots in my rifle and it really kills deer in their tracks. If you want a bullet that will shoot through a deer from almost any angel use the 120 gr Speer Grand Slams. I really think they are too tough for average Whitetail deer. They really do a good job on the bigger ones and mule deer. I would not hesitate to use them on elk from my 25-06.

 

[bigfishman]

I to have shot a lot of deer and hogs with a 25-06, sierra 117 and 120's, both are very deadly.also used hornady,speer,nosler BT and partitions. winchester and remington factory loads to. always used 115 gr's and up. in the south with thick woods a 25 to 50 yard blood trail can be a nightmare.most deer fall in a few yards but the big ones seem to get back in the thick fast. for the past 5 years or so I have used only nosler partitions in this caliber. the bigger the deer the better it seems to kill them and if they run the exit hole sure helps on blood.
when the buck of a lifetime steps out, I want a partition in my rifle, very dependable!

 

[Austin]

sorry guys iv been out of town.
im shooting a 25-06.both were big fat healthy mulie bucks.both were less than 100 yds.around 50-70yds.the first was the closest and it was a side-on shot.half up and right behind the sholder.he had little red spot on his side right where it should have been.it left just a few drops of blood and that was it.i was thinking im human and a deer is a tough critter and after several hours thats hunting.

then on the second buck he was coming down a scrape line on a ridge.as he went to beating up some bitterbrush i shot.he was between quartering to and side on at no more than 70 yards.he took 1 step and face planted rolled over and feet waving to the sky.as i moved to get a better view he stood and i shot at him onthe way up but shot over him.he got up and bounded off with not 1 drop of blood where he crashed,NONE!

that is the situation.that is why now im looking at a HP or SP bullet.

 

[huntall]

I have used the 115gr Nosler Bt's in a 25 WSSM. Shot good in the gun. My 14 year old son shot a 175 lb field dressed Missouri whitetail last year from a tree stand 30 yards away quartering away with it last year. The deer left very little blood from a mid shoulder entry wound and did not exit. We trailed the deer for approximately 75 yards with just small pin drops of blood. The deer acted as if he was not even hit. We were hunting hardwoods in mid October so there was lots of leaves on and the deer disappeared. We always do complete follow ups to make sure that the shot was a miss or a hit. Lots of people would not be able to find this type of sign and maybe give up. We did find the deer within 105 yards from the stand. I was not to impressed. They didn't perform like what I had seen them do out of my 300 WSM. I think I may try the Nosler 110gr Accubonds, 120gr hpbt Sierra Gameking, or some of the 115 gr Barnes. I think you may be on the right track by getting a better blood trail.

 

[aliveincc]

I've been shooting the 25-06 for the past 30+ years and use the 120 partition w/ 52.3g H4831. This load has literally driven the FULL body length in whitetails and gets complete penetration on big hogs. It also makes nice groups in paper!

 

[Austin]

the 120 gr nosler partition has an unbeatable track record.im located about 36 miles from the nosler factory so they might get a try as well.

 

[338Lapua]

I like the 110-grain nosler accubond in the 257 wby and 2506 they are good deer slayers,
I have found that once hit in the boiler room very few animals manage to run more than a few yards.

 

[Austin]

i have considered the 110.the 1 thing im worried about is i want a 1 gun 1 load.its not a varmint gun but if a coyote or chuck pops out well you know.the main purpose is deer,elk,and pronghorn.im not totaly convinced that a 110gr is the best for the application.the game im hunting is why im looking heavier for all-around.

 

[338Lapua]

Ok 10 grains your using 120 grain; but the 110 grain your hitting with more velocity a bit flatter shooting with a slightly smaller bullet but a bonded core controlled expansion type in accubond, donÕt under estimate the advantages of this bullet I have taken big pigs @ 200 yards with this bullet and have nailed them to the spot they fell, and you can take varmint with it and not destroy pelts.

 

[Austin]

its nice to hear some first hand experience.i can always give them a try.