Antelope hunt

[dkmlever]

I had a couple of tags for a herd reduction hunt this past weekend, and was looking forward to trying out my new load. Last year I used a 25-06 with 100 grain Nosler Ballistic tips for antelope, worked great but a little to quick in expansion. This year I am using a 257 Roberts with 110 grain Nosler Ballistic tips. Both animals (full size does) went right down, range was 220 +/- 10 yards and both had nice exit holes of about 2-2 1/2 inches. I like how these slightly heavier bullets hold together better, granted they are going slightly slower.

 

[Guy Miner]

Sounds good to me - and I think you've hit on a key factor in bullet performance - slow 'em down just a tad, and maybe toss a little more bullet downrange and suddenly everything starts working real well.

Congrats! :grin:

 

[Charlie-NY]

Ballistic Tips should have an impact velocity BELOW 3,000 ft/sec. I'm guessing that the 25-06 exceeded the design parameters for this bullet. If the distance was farther then you would have likely seen less expansion and greater penetration with the reduction of impact velocity.

 

[JD338]

dkmlever

Welcome to the forum.

Congratulations on your hunt. The 257 Roberts with a 110 gr AB is just about the perfect. What is your load in the 257 Bob?

JD338

 

[dkmlever]

JD338
My roberts load is IMR 3031 33.5 gr with the Nosler Ballistic tip 115 grains, Federal 210 primers and new Winchester brass. The book says this is 2600 FPS. My "old" load in my 25-06 is IMR 4350 51.5 grains using the 100 grain Nosler Baliistic tip, going 3350 fps. So the differnce of 15 graisn and 700 fps makes a difference.
Both shoot 1/2 inch at 100 yards so I was sold on these loads. I killed a bunch of antleope with that 25-06 load. I picked up the the 257 R this spring and wanted to use it. But did want a heavier bullet for deer.
I did not know that the BT was not supposed to go faster than 3000 per Charlie-NY comment.
I also have 100 and 120 N Partitions to develop a load in either caliber and 110 grain AccuBond bullets. Any advice on those loads?

 

[jdmason480]

JD338
My roberts load is IMR 3031 33.5 gr with the Nosler Ballistic tip 115 grains, Federal 210 primers and new Winchester brass. The book says this is 2600 FPS. My "old" load in my 25-06 is IMR 4350 51.5 grains using the 100 grain Nosler Baliistic tip, going 3350 fps. So the differnce of 15 graisn and 700 fps makes a difference.
Both shoot 1/2 inch at 100 yards so I was sold on these loads. I killed a bunch of antleope with that 25-06 load. I picked up the the 257 R this spring and wanted to use it. But did want a heavier bullet for deer.
I did not know that the BT was not supposed to go faster than 3000 per Charlie-NY comment.
I also have 100 and 120 N Partitions to develop a load in either caliber and 110 grain AccuBond bullets. Any advice on those loads?

All else being equal, I would opt for the the AB over the BT whenever possible. Antelope are thin skinned, but I've experienced complete bullet disintegration on antelope with the BT sub-3,000 fps impact velocity. Yes, they were dead as dead, but who wants to fish lead fragments out of backstraps as if they were shot with a 12 gauge?

 

[Greg Nolan]

dkmlever


If you go to the 110 gr. Accubonds they will take the higher velocity impact and hold together much better. The ballistic co-efficient is the same as the Ballistic Tip so you lose nothing in trajectory. I use both with different velocity loads and am very happy with the results.
Nice hunt on antelope. Did you get any pictures?
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:

 

[nomosendero]

100 gr. Bal. Tip BC: .393

110 gr. Acc. BC: .418

115 gr. Bal. Tip BC: .453

Actually, I have seen several Antelope & Deer killed with the 115BT in 25-06 & the bullet is a little tougher than many think, usually pass throughs & always more than enough penetration. For my 25-06AI or a 257 Wea., it may not be the best choice for a shoulder shot up close on a big buck, but
otherwise you are good to go for Deer size game. Keep in mind the 115
has almost identical SD of a 140gr. 7mm bullet.

 

[bullet]

I think that is great to get the antelope. I love the quarter bore cartridges. Good shooting and hunting.

 

[JD338]

I have a M700 Classic in 257 Roberts and shoot the following loads-

100 gr PT and BT
45.0 grs IMR4350
R-P Case
Federal GM210M primer
Accuracy .5 MOA

110 gr AB
48.0 grs RL 22
R-P Case
Federal GM210M primer
Avg Vel 2974 fps, ES 16, SD 8
Accuracy .5 MOA

115 gr PT and BT
43.0 grs IMR4350
R-P Case
Federal GM210M primer
Accuracy .6 MOA

These are MAX loads but safe in my rifle. Work up very carefully.

JD338

 

[dkmlever]

Off I go Friday morning to WY to antelope hunt once again. This time I am using my 25-06 (Ruger action schillen barrel) with Nosler 115 grain Ballistic tips and 49 grains of IMR 4350. They shoot 1/2 inch at 100 yards out of my rifle. Two doe tags with permission to hunt on one of WY's Private Land Pubic Access locations. I will let youknow how the bullet performs.

 

[Colin]

I used the 110gr AccuBond in my .25-06 for my Antelope last year. The shot was broadside at 185 yards. I hit him high and he dropped. If I remember right there was about a quarter sized exit hole.

Almost forgot!!! I shot a mule deer in Wyoming at a little over 200 yards with the same load. He was running, quartering away. The bullet entered behind the last rib and was lodged in the vertibrea right near the skull.

I think they work great. The 100gr Ballistic tip is devistating on coyotes, but I've never shot anything else with it.

 

[FOTIS]

Great job. The 110 gr 257 cal AB's are great speed goat medicine!