257WBY 115gr BT or 115gr Berger's???

[Redtail204]

I am wondering what would be a better choice for whitetail deer at ranges from 75-500yrds? Between the 115gr Ballistic tips and the 115gr Berger's. I like the performance of the 100gr Ballistic tips, so i figure the performance of the 115gr BT would be similar. I have never used the Berger's and not sure of how they will perform, especially with their claim of " 3" of penetration be expansion " since a whitetails vitals is only approx. 9" wide between the ribs.

Anyone have experience with the .257 115gr Berger's? Or any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Nape.270]

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f84/my-little-luck-charm-63749/

The berger's are working for me though it took me about 300 rounds down range to settle on a load.

I think eather will do but the 115gr BT's will be easer to get to shoot and are easier to find.

 

[sniperjwt]

The bergers are the way to go unless you are shooting a factory weatherby rifle. In my experience the Bergers are hard to get to shoot in them because off all the freebore. I would at least try them first who knows you might get lucky if they don't work then my second choice would be the 115 BT

 

[AZShooter]

Around four years ago my friends and I built five 257 weatherby chambered rifles. We asked Dave Kiff to make us a reamer for the 115 VLD. We specified less freebore than Weatherby uses. There still is some jump to rifling. I use .070" as do some of the other shooters, one guy uses .100". So the 115 VLD WILL shoot without being into the lands.

As for killing, oh boy what a bullet! I have seen my rifle kill three coues wt for me and one more when my friend used it last year. The ranges were 525, 400, 385, and 350 yds. Two dropped in their tracks, the other two staggered around and fell within 15-20 seconds. Entrance holes were small but within a few inches they became much larger. This year's deer is fresh in my mind. 385 yds quartering towards me, entrance just behind shoulder exiting ribs on far side. The edge of the shoulder had a small hole, the entrance side ribs had a 3" diameter hole and the exit was just a bit larger than bulllet diameter. The lungs were total mush.

One of the guys uses his in Co. He has killed three elk and three mule deer. He swears by this bullet for elk! He says two elk instantly dropped to the lung shot the other ran a bit then dropped. Same results for his mule deer, very fast kills.

This 115 VLD has a high BC and bucks crosswinds very well. The bearing surface is minimal something the 115 Nos Bt is lacking. If you can get the VLD to shoot use it with confidence.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

We use a 257 wby Mk 5 for deer and antelope with a 100 grain Barnes ttsx at 3760 fps. It is a lazer to 600 yards and makes kill shots within that distance very easy. It will group 1 1/2" at 1/4 mile. With the freebore this bullet performed very well. Barnes bullets seem to do well in freebore rifles or away from the lands in general. It kills like lightning. Any further than this and the BC of the 115 takes off but you said to 500 yards. In that cae I would look at the 100 grain lazer point and shoot system. It is quite a bit of fun to hunt that way. But again it is not a long range bullet and if you decide to go further than 500-600 yards the 115 helps in the wind.

 

[Redtail204]

Thank you for the replys!!! Any pet loads you guys care to share???

 

[JRS3]

Thank you for the replys!!! Any pet loads you guys care to share???

Guys,
I found this old thread but it is new to me. I want a great long range load for my Accumark. So far, it has shot multiple loads of 100 TTSXs around .75 MOA at 100 but I want a more accurate combination and a higher BC. It sounds like the 115 Bergers are tough to shoot in a factory rifle so what other bullet do you recommend for 600 yard deer and antelope in the 257 WBY? Considering 110 NABs but am I better suited with something else?

 

[Nomosendero]

From what I have seen the 115BT expands very well but still penetrates plenty for Mule Deer?Whitetails & Varmits, a good all round bullet.

 

[JRS3]

From what I have seen the 115BT expands very well but still penetrates plenty for Mule Deer?Whitetails & Varmits, a good all round bullet.

I should have put this in my first post but I am not really interested in the BT. Besides the Berger, what else would you recommend?

 

[Nomosendero]

I should have put this in my first post but I am not really interested in the BT. Besides the Berger, what else would you recommend?

BT as in Bal. Tip. I thought that was the question? Anyway, none I suppose for shooting over 600 yds. if you don't want the bal. tip except for the Bergers, as the other bullets are lacking in BC except for the Speer 120 Boat Tail if they are right about their BC, which seems to be an overestimate. I have bought some but have not shot at long range yet.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I shoot the Berger 115 VLD and the NAB 110's out of my .257 Wby Mag. They both are excellent bullets.