Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .243 Win. or .250 Savage?

PennDog,

I have hesitated to suggest it so far, but maybe the real answer is a cartridge halfway between the two, both in case shape and bullet diameter. That would be the hardcore rifle loony solution!

B-24.5

I'm really surprised the 25 Souper never took off, but I guess with the .243 pretty near killing off the .250-3000 and the .257 Roberts in the marketplace no one figured a .25 medium case of any kind was worth pursuing.

A .25 Souper Improved with a 28 or 30 degree shoulder would trump the .243, .250 Savage and .257 Roberts in one fell swoop.

IMNSHO, of course.

Damn you guys. 250 barrel is heading this way for my savage model 10. Dont have much free cash but could afford an er shaw


...fuggin enablers...

Just to summarize this thread and extrapolate a bit.

BORING
Easy availability of ammo.
Easy availability of components (mostly cases).
Lots of slippery bullets available.
A plethora of modern rifles chambered for it.
Standard manual loads in the 60-65 kpsi range.
Lots of published, pressure tested loads with up to date components.
Created or legitimized post World War II.

EXCITING, NEATO, COOLER THAN THE FONZ.
Relatively scarce availability of loaded ammo.
Relatively scarce availability of components (mostly cases), with some manufacturers only creating annual runs.
No modern firearms chambered for it except limited runs or from smaller manufacturers.
Standard manual loads in the under 60 kpsi range, often way under.
A relative scarcity of published loads using limited numbers of older powders and often copies of data from older manuals.
Invented pre World War II.
Preferably invented pre World War I.
Double extra credit if it was invented pre Spanish American War.

Just wanted to make sure I understand the criteria.

By George, I think he's got it!

.24-250?????

Just split the difference and go with my favorite cartridge...the 6XC.

God knows that I love a "new" cartridge and God also knows that every year I have been able to procure these cartridges I have tried in vain to find the "perfect" rifle/cartridge combination for the majority of my big game hunting (85% deer, 15% everything else - no big bears) and have concluded, based on these last 45 years that a 6.5 caliber would accomplish all that I need to have done give or take a caliber or two I see no real world advantage to any caliber over another at the distances I shoot game (contrary to Scott's opinion of 53 yards out to about 400 yds or so). That all said, in my attempt to find this perfect combination I have accumulated my equivalent of a 401K so I could be worse!! I am all for a B-24.5 - would that be a 6.5 Remington Magnum necked to .250 caliber? could use 25ACP bullets for minimal pelt damage

PennDog

My son shoots a 6mm-250 and I load the 85 Gr. TSX's for him. He shot one doe with the TSX and one doe with a 85 gr. Partition. Both deer very dead.

I really love that cartridge.

As you can tell, I am a .250-3000 fan. I am a big fan of the 75 gr. V-Max bullet. It has proven extremely accurate in several 250s.

I find the .243 Win. boring, for no obvious reason. I recommend the .243 to shooters who don't reload, but reloaders usually find the .250 Sav. to be very enjoyable to work with.

I gave my only .243 Win. to a nephew who doesn't reload (yet).

The .243 caliber rifle that I do own and enjoy is the better one, the 6x57, thank you very much.

I am surprised nobody from the Savage Collector forum has kicked in. I have several rifles in .243. The only thing I've ever shot and killed with one are woodchucks. The only deer shot survived. (for sure). I have many Savage rifles in 250-3000. Have shot several deer and NONE walked away. I need to say, I am more impressed with 87 grain bullets by FAR than I am with 100 grain pills. To me, the 87 seems to produce a kill much quicker that a 100. It's just an observation on my part.

This one was taken with a model 1920 with an 87.




And this one with a 250-3000EG. BOTH DRT!!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice.

Yep, the 87 grainer has magical powers. Lol. I never have used any hundred grainers, but my dad has. He says the same thing.

The two deer that I did shoot with a 243, were DRT also. Spine shots with 70 ballistic tips.

love my 250 savage with 87gr

and here is brother Bill with his savage 1920 in 250 savage

I guess it all boils down to being 6 of one and a half dozen of another. Whatever works for you will be just fine. No need to split hairs. Deer are thin skinned and relatively easy to kill if they are unalarmed. Here's a model 14 American Classic in 250 Savage. I bought it to have the faster twist for heavier bullets. It also did the job with Winchester factory 100 grain silvertips. This rifle doesn't "crank me up" like the nostalgic Savages do, but it DOES the deed.

LBK: That Model 20 in .250 was Larry Kollers favorite whitetail rifle...but I'll bet you knew that...

Yes I did. I have the book and have read it so many times I took the dust jacket off of it and put the jacket in a manila envelope to protect it. I now have 4 1920's and have yet to find one completely original.

here's another pic of my savage barrel band

and brother Bill's 1920

C'MON.................You tryin' to make an old many drown in his own drool!!!!!!