Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles ...bullet selection for mule deer and a .250 Savage?

This wiBck(the fancy factory stock is boxed up until he is a bit older). Here in Nevada, they have a youth rifle season so that's what I will be reloading for...
Made him just use the open sights when we started shooting the rifle a couple of years ago...loaded 75gr and 87gr Speers and 100gr Nosler BTs. All shot well enough for open sights and short range. Forgot the chrony readings but the 100gr. were around 2400fps--didn't want to create a flincher. Recoil was not problem and that was over 20lbs ago.
Now, I will be mounting a VX2 2-7x33 and figure recoil at max will not be a problem. I am thinking the BT should be dandy, but I am open to all suggestions. Have no experience with the round...on paper looked perfect for a youngster so I bought it. On a mulie, I am guessing keep the shots around 200yds or less. All tips appreciated!

Thanks,

Jim

Dakota, get a box of 110 Accubonds and load them to around 2750fps and all will be good. If you want to shoot the 100grainers shoot the Partition. powdr

Rest assured the 100gr BT from a 250 Savage will no doubt serve you well and should do a fine job on mulies.

Yep, I'd also just use the 100 Ballistic Tip. I've used them on deer at much higher muzzle velocities with fine results, and a friend here in Montana killed a cow elk with one using his .25-06. The bullet exited and put the cow down pronto.

I have used the 100gr BT out of my CZ550FS in 6.5x55 and they have performed perfectly on North Dakota whitetails from 125yds to 300yds. Figured that the higher SD of the .257, it should be a pretty good performer.

Jim

Oh ya, see my first post got a little butchered... Loads are for my 12 year old shooting a Ruger 77RSI that I put on a youth synthetic stock.

Jim

I agree that 100 grain ballistic tips are a good deer bullet in that rifle. The Ruger RSI has a 1:10 twist. It can also handle longer heavier bullets than 100 grain. I have had really good results with mine, shooting deer with the old 117gr Hornady RN bullet driven at just over 2600 fps. with Win 760. this somewhat tougher, deeper penetrating bullet also makes the little .250 into a more effective bigger critter getter, if that's of interest.

I shoot the Hornady .257 117 gr round nose and primarily the
Hornady 117 gr SST. The 117 SST performance at the slower velocity of the 250/3000 has been stellar on deer.

Doc

Thanks for that info Doc. I was wondering if the SST at slower speeds might be less destructive while still giving good performance.

OSU Sig,

I found this to be thru with two deer I shot last fall. Distance was 171 yards and 181 yards with impact velocity about 2400 fps. The SST opened up quickly and destructive. The first deer was a 160 pound buck at 171 yard and the 117 gr SST only penetrated one lung yet the buck ran 26 yards...stopped and fell over. MY second deer was a 110 lb Doe shot at 181 yards and she was DRT with a high lung shot with two holes.

I use 40.0 H-4931sc with the 117 gr SST which is heavily compressed. My velocity is 2662, accuracy is under .75

I have a back up load using the Hornady 117 gr round nose as a back up load...when I feel I need it.

Doc

Dakota try reading the attached 100's are special.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.250-3000.250+Savage.html

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

BS article IMHO, that's not my experience with the .250 at all. I simply load a 100gr soft point doesn't matter which one and shoot deer sized game in the front half. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they run 30-40 yards, either way they are dead.

Thanks for the input, guys! Called the guys at Sierra and they also suggested 100gr bullets. Also, got on Midway and started reading user reviews of various bullets. Already have the 100gr BTs so I will start off seeing how well we can get the groups. After that I will try the 117gr RN if needed.

Thanks,

Jim