257 Caliber 85 & 90 Gr Terminal Performance

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Buck_358

New member
Hi everyone
I am interested in the terminal performance for those of you who use (.257) caliber 85 to 90 grain bullets as dual use on coyote & deer. My current focus is the 85gr Nosler BT and the 90gr Sierra HPBT. However, I am open to others in this weight class for comparison; also please list muzzle velocity if known.

I appreciate any and all feedback
Thanks,

B..
 
Originally Posted By: Buck_358Hi everyone
I am interested in the terminal performance for those of you who use (.257) caliber 85 to 90 grain bullets as dual use on coyote & deer. My current focus is the 85gr Nosler BT and the 90gr Sierra HPBT. However, I am open to others in this weight class for comparison; also please list muzzle velocity if known.

I appreciate any and all feedback
Thanks,

B..

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At .25-06 velocities the Sierra 90 grain "Game King" #1630 is a good choice. I would stay away from their Blitz King and Varminter versions though. The 85 grain Nosler ballistic tips leave football sized exits in coyotes. The 100 grain ballistic tips are good though.
 
I agree with what's been said. The 85gr BT can almost cut a coyote in half [~3500 fps]. I have not shot deer with them because there is no need to.

Sierra's Game King bullets are good and the 90gr would cross over nicely.
 
The 100g nbt is better route and bullet for dual purpose.

It will hold together a lot more then an 85 nbt which will suit you better for deer. They are still fast and flat as most 85-90g loads as well.

The 100g nbt at 3375fps will Dang near rip dogs in half as well on closer range shoulder hits.

Either will smack dogs but id rather have the extra weight and hunting bullet for deer instead of a varmint bullet.
 
Thanks to all for the info:
I will order up the 100gr NBT's and give them a test flight as I have the others on hand.
Thanks again,
B..
 
Try 57-58 of RL22 with a WLR primer in a remington case.

I get 3375-3400fps and 1/2 MOA or better from a model 70 classic sporter.

This is best combo of accuracy and speed that I four.d with the more common powders used.

All were acceptable accuracy wise but I wanted 3300fps to go with 1/2 moa and rl22 was far and away the clear winner for my rifle.
 
I wouldn't use an 85/90 gr bullet on coyote/deer. Bullets in that weight are limited to varmint. For deer, go to 100 gr.

I also disagree with what you're hearing about the 100 gr bullet being a dual purpose. It will work on both but is overkill for coyote. If I were going to pick a bullet for coyote it would be the Sierra 87 gr. For deer, any 100 gr bullet.
 
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Better to be safe then sorry.

Use right bullet and will kill both, use wrong one and you increase risk of losing deer.

Seems logical to me anyway...

Its what "dual purpose" is about.

If I was taking a 270 deer and elk hunting I sure wouldn't use or expect the 130 to perform all that great on elk so id move up to a 150 to tackle both game and ensure the 1 bullet covers both ends and definately the bigger end of things well.

A big bullet will always kill big animals, small bullets don't always work that way.
 
I have been smacking coyotes,bobcats,fox, raccoons and have shot 4 Whitetail deer with the 85gr Nosler BT.... BUT I am running it from an 18 inch barrel 25DTi at 2900 fps so take that into consideration.
 
I use nosler 85 gr bt with reloader 19. On deer and coyotes .. It makes a hole in both. I like the bullet. My wife uses my Tikka t 3 lite 25/06 with a nikon 4x12x40mm she loves the set up.
 
Originally Posted By: varmit_masterI use nosler 85 gr bt with reloader 19.

This load works! I've bang flopped a bunch of stuff with it. Anything inside three hundred yards don't stand a chance.
 
The Nosler 257 85 gr BT is a varmint bullet and is not intended to be used on deer. The 100 gr BT is a Game bullet and it works well on both coyotes and deer.
I shot this coyote with a 100 gr BT from my 257 Roberts.
Exit wound shown.
IMG_0374.jpg

JD338
 
Originally Posted By: varmit_masterI use nosler 85 gr bt with reloader 19. On deer and coyotes .. It makes a hole in both. I like the bullet. My wife uses my Tikka t 3 lite 25/06 with a nikon 4x12x40mm she loves the set up. -
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I have some photo's around here of north Texas coyotes that I shot with 85 grain Nosler ballistic tips at around 3500 fps. Even if I can find the photo's I couldn't post them here because they are much too gory. Football sized exits, coyote innards in pools of blood are not what I am looking for in a coyote bullet thank you.
 
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