I was given a box of the first lot# of Nosler B.T.s back in the '80's when they first came out. They were too thin and explosive and though I didn't lose a deer, I lost a lot of meat and had some long trackings to find the deer. However, they increased the thickness of the jacket and subsequent lot#s have been better. Mind you that in GA, most of the shots are under 150yds, and mine were running 3,000fps+ m/v.
I had a bad batch of Hornady 117's that were tumbling and I had to switch to my p-dog loads on a mule deer hunt to Montana in '93. I took a mule deer doe at a measured 378yds with a 85gr B.T. to the spine/shoulder with a bang-flop and 2" exit wound. At ranges under 100yds they are bit "soft" however. The 100gr. B.T.'s are better, and 115gr. better yet... I've refused to pay the price of the 110gr Accubonds and feel that they are uneccessary with the 'Bob.
I've used the 115gr B.T. and consider it a hard to beat bullet from the .257Roberts. I use 45.0gr of IMR4831 for near 3,000fps and it has worked every time I've used it... about a dozen times to date. Most shots have been 125-225yds and hits have been to heart/lungs or shoulder/spine.
I did however lose a doe hit in the shoulder with a 115gr.B.T. from my .257Wby. M/V runs 3,350fps and the shot was ~75yds. The bullet blew out shards of meat that were hanging from nearby brush and tree. Deer went down, but got up 10seconds after shot while I was negotiating terrain (clear-cut w/ditch) and couldn't get a shot off before it topped the far rise. No blood trail, ect.
I've had excellent luck with Sierra's and Speer 100-120gr bullets from the "Roberts". No need for bonded, ect from it.
I bought 500 Hornady 100gr "Interlok" "blems" from MidwayUSA several years ago. These have been superlative for me through the years.
I have however had "issues" with Hornady bullets and wouldn't use them on a $$$$ out of state hunt. (failure to expand w/200gr .338"; failure to expand w/139gr .284" SST's, above mentioned jacket failure on .257" 117gr BtSpt's.).
IMO you cant go wrong with a Sierra 117gr "ProHunter" or 120gr GameKing.
Lately I've had good success with the 115gr Berger VLD "Hunting" from the 'Bob. For the .257Wby, the 100gr Hornady @ 3,600fps m/v has been good. The last deer I shot this past season was a 180lb (dressed) 8pt at a lased 177yds. The heart shot left a 1" hole and double blood trail for about 80yds. I drove my truck to within 10yds..... But, the 'Bob does the same thing....
I've also had excellent success with the 100gr and 120gr Speer's. Too bad they are phasing out the "HotCor" series. Good thing I've got a good stash of 87,100, and 120gr .257's.