257 Wby Ammo question

[fishunt247]

I bought a 257 Wby Vanguard two summers ago, expecting to draw Montana. I finally drew, and drew the Multi deer here, so I'm going to use the rifle this fall. Normally I only muzzleload. I've shot the 100 gr spire pts, 7/8" groups at 100. But there are lots of options. The 110's and 115's have similar drop. 115's carry the most energy and are the fastest. 100 gr spires are flat but have quite a bit less energy. By the ballistics (I think, I'm no ballistics genuis) it looks like the 115's have the best numbers. I don't know if I should buy a box of the 110's, 115's, and 120's, or what I should do. It's not like these loads are cheap, but... what are your guy's opinions? What loads have worked the best for you?

[270Shooter]

If you are only hunting deer or antelope in MT, any of the loads will be fine. Find the one that shoots the best.

If you are going for elk, you would be better off with a controlled expansion bullet, like the barnes TSX.

[jackelope]

dead is dead and any of them will make a dead deer. find one your gun likes and stick with it.

i have one that i haven't even bought ammo for yet, but when i do the TSX will be at the top of my list. hopefully my gun will like them too. haven't had any issues with those bullets in 2 other guns of different calibers.

[fishunt247]

Yeah only deer. I was just wondering about anybody's experience with the different loads. I'm in college, don't really have $180 to spend on 4 different boxes of shells. Just looking for ideas, guidance. I've never shot the TSX before. I just shot Hornady's in my old 264, so all of this is new.

[270Shooter]

A 7/8" group will be fine for hunting deer I would think, unless you really want to reach way out there.

[jackelope]

that gun shoots so flat that a 7/8 group is plenty for any hunting situation in most people's eyes.
JoshT or 257wbymag should be chiming in here anytime. 
http://www.biggameinfo.com/BalCalc.aspx
try that out.

[Little Stu]

I shoot the 120 factory loads out of my vanguard and it seems to love those. they pack plenty of punch for deer out to 500 or so.

[fishunt247]

Yeah I was impressed with the group. Just want to look at more options maybe. Thanks for the site jackelope. Hopefully those two guys get in on this, they sound like 25 caliber fanatics. And stu, guess I'm buying a box of 120's too.

[buckhorn2]

I have been using 110 grain nosler accubounds and they did good on deer and antelope.

[JoshT]

Alright... y'all sucked me in. I like the 100s... and the 115s... never shot a 120 out of any quarterbore... ever. Looking at all the available loads for the .257 Roy (DAMN those things are spendy!!) the 100 grain SP load at 3600 is pretty sweet... but I'd shoot the 115 NBT at 3400 load. Both those loads shoot mighty flat, but the 100 is flatter... 1.5" high at 100 is only about 3" low at 300... and around a foot low at 400 (where it still brings 1500 ft/lbs to the table). If your rifle likes the 100 grain load... shoot it... I've killed piles of furry stuff with 100 grain pills in the .25-06... and never felt like I needed more juice.

Either way... like I told jackalope when he bought his... once you shoot a critter with a big .25... there's no turning back.

Save your brass too... or for the kind of money they want for those things... is it made out of Gold?

[bobcat]

I'd go with the heavier bullets myself, for the higher BC's. A couple inches more drop at 400 yards maybe, but less wind drift. The drop is much easier to compensate by holding high, and with a rangefinder there's no guessing involved. But the wind is pretty hard to judge, and therefore I like the bullets with the highest B.C. I'd probably look at the Ballistic Tips or the Accubonds in 115's or 120's, whichever they come in.

[JoshT]

I'd go with the heavier bullets myself, for the higher BC's. A couple inches more drop at 400 yards maybe, but less wind drift. The drop is much easier to compensate by holding high, and with a rangefinder there's no guessing involved. But the wind is pretty hard to judge, and therefore I like the bullets with the highest B.C. I'd probably look at the Ballistic Tips or the Accubonds in 115's or 120's, whichever they come in.

At 400 the difference in wind is only 2" between the 100 SP and the 115 NBT loads... not enough to matter in most situations. Stretch it to 6 bills (where the difference is almost 8")... and I'm with you... that's where the 115 NBT load starts to really seperate from the rest of the bunch. But... no matter which bullet you choose... wind will still eat your lunch much faster than elevation corrections will.

[257 Wby Mag]

Mine really likes the 100's, but will shoot all factory's under 1 1/2''. The exceptions are the 117 round nose, and 87 grainers, never fired them. The 100 Hornady's work from 20-30 yards,


to 502,

 and about everywhere in between.




That being said, my next move is gonna be some moly'd 100 Sciroccos', backked by some RL 25. You've got yourself a hellava buck huntin gun there, hellava lot better than a 25/06!! grin.........

[fishunt247]

Thanks guys, really appreciate it. Truly. Those are an impressive bunch of facts. Thanks for posting. Like I said, the 100 grainers shot super well. I think I'll buy the 115's, shoot em, and see what I get. I dumped a coyote with a 243 WSSM this winter at 450, so practicing all summer I should be able to do the same or more with the 257. This could be an expensive summer. Hopefully I won't need anything past 300, but we will see. You guys probably reload, right? After I mound up some brass, maybe next year, I'll start toying with loads, maybe hit you guys up for whats working for you.

[JoshT]

hellava lot better than a 25/06!! grin.........

Yep... we all know a 25/06 would have bounced right off, that is if it even made it to the intended target... lacking the extra 200fps, that pill might have turned right around and gone back into the bore begging for momma.