Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Range Results 250-300 99

Took a look at the IMR web site and got acquainted with the 4166. According to the load data they furnish for the .250, 35.7 grains is max with the 87 grain bullet so 35.0 sounds like a good place to be.

I have Rem 700 Classic in 250, and a few days ago I shot Hodgdon's max load of 4166 under a 90 grain Sierra. Other than lot numbers I matched all the components Hodgdon listed. My Oehler 35P showed an average of 2982 fps. Pressure signs were almost nonexistent, opening the bolt and extraction were as easy as with an empty chamber.

I doubt the published data will give a '99 any trouble.

I had no pressure signs at 36 grains but will stick with 35.

I'm not suggesting pushing things at all. Just noting I found a nice safety cushion.

Went back to range today. Three shot groups with same load as other day came in about 3/4 inch at 50 until about 10 shots then group tightened to one hole. I clean barrel until copper is gone so not sure if that's the reason or not. Going back with fouled barrel later.

Better to start with a squeaky clean barrel IMO, to eliminate one variable if doubts arise as to a loads usefulness. If accuracy improves as shooting progresses, then leave it fouled until accuracy goes south again.

Of course, if one stuck with cast bullets then one wouldn't have copper fouling issues!

I do see better results after shooting a bit. I have seen that a completely clean barrel may be the way to go with a new barrel but I have also under the impression some copper is needed in the barrel to clean up machine work providing a better more accurate barrel. I have one old rifle almost takes a box of ammo to start shooting well.

Then again I maybe full of it also.

Stick with what works for you!

How often to clean the bore on a sporting rifle quickly turns into a raging debate...

I find no I4166 data for the .250 Improved, but with published data of 39.4-43.8gr for 75gr bullets in the .257 Roberts I shot 38-40gr with the 70gr Blitz-king. Most accurate was at 38gr for 3160fps (19fps ES for 5 shots) while 40gr gave 3328fps (40fps ES for 5 shots).

40gr of CFE223 was accurate in my rifle (700Rem) at 3225fps so I've now got a couple copper cleaner rounds in that velocity range. I've already got accurate loads at 3480-3510fps using R15 and H4895 with the 70BK, so won't be pushing the new powders any higher.

Hodgdon's booklet shows 28.1gr of 4166 as a max in the .204 Ruger with Berger's 35gr HP, and in my Ruger's 24" bbl 28gr was good enough at 3744fps and 4 shots in 1.4" at 200 yards. I've gotten similar speed and better accuracy with CFE223, but 4166 could work.

In the .270Win the search is for light recoil with light bullets and enough accuracy to hit silhouettes at the shorter ranges of 200 and 300 yards. I found something good for Hornady V-Max 110gr at 2960fps and Sierra 90gr HP at 3140fps. The lighter end for 140gr bullets was too light at 2660fps, so next up will be increases to get them over 2800 and see where accuracy is best. Not that it will be critical, my misses at high power silhouette are more indian than arrow.

First shot out of my 250 is always a flyer. When I clean it I run a brush through it a couple times, then patches till they come out clean. Probably not squeaky clean. For the past ten years or so all I've shot has been Remington 100 grainers. Gonna try some 87's soon and see what happens, Joe.

Is that first shot always out of a cleaned bore? If so, put one or two into the backstop before firing for record.