[clawson_rob]

have a 257 wby mag made a few loads with nosler ballistic silvertips just afraid at close range with that much speed they wont hold together i bought gun to chase pronghorn but things got tight around home so i want to try it for deer where i know shots will be less then 100 yards which leads would you use

[338RUM]

what grain bullets are they? they probably will explode in the animal but they will penetrate into the body cavity first

[samuel]

Quote:       Originally Posted by clawson_rob

have a 257 wby mag made a few loads with nosler ballistic silvertips just afraid at close range with that much speed they wont hold together i bought gun to chase pronghorn but things got tight around home so i want to try it for deer where i know shots will be less then 100 yards which leads would you use

You don't mention what you are using now but I have seen 75gr bullets pushed to 4000fps+ and they held togather.However I would say the best bullet you can use in .257 cal for deer and smaller is a 100gr at about 3200/3350fps,and I prefer a hpbt.They have a 90gr I have no experience with.Maybe someone else can get in here. ,,,sam.

[338RUM]

i use 90 grain pills in the 25-06 and they do great i have never had to track a deer and they do shoot through the shoulder bone just fine, plus they do not exit and jelly the heart and lungs

[Palladin8]

Well the Barnes line of bullets will handle a lot of punishment. Most Bonded bullets will hold together fairly well at higher velocities. The Ballistic Tips are more of a lighter jacketed bullet and are designed to come apart and do not retain as much bullet weight. Another alternative is to just reduce your velocity down to minimum loads.

[Boone]

Best bullet I have ever shot in a 257 Wtby. Mag is the 120 Gr. Speer Grandslam. They are tough bullets and are devastating on Deer. They will flat out shoot in my 258. I tried the barnes bullets and could not get them to group well enough for me.

[samuel]

If you can get a 120gr to shoot good it definitly would save meat.The trouble is some 120,s dont do well in a 1in10"twist but work in the 1in9 1/8" twist. ,,,sam.

[Boone]

I shot 120 Gr. Speer Grand Slams in my 257 Wtby. mag. They were not only very accurate in my rifle, they were simply devastating on deer. Shoot em in the shoulder or behind the shoulder or above the shoulder. Dead deer.