Just wanted to put in yet another plug for the old 250 Savage. Other forum members love it, and based on their reports I built my first in 2015 using a Savage Axis Stainless receiver as the platform and a 22.8” / 1-10 twist stainless sporter barrel that I ordered from ER Shaw. While I’ve built multiple rifles using the Axis as the platform—17 Remington, 222 Rem, 1-9 twist 22-250, 243 Win, 7mm-08, 25-06—the 250 Sav stands out for low blast and recoil, with a wider range of game applications than the rest. It has been particularly gratifying to update this classic with full pressure loads appropriate to a modern bolt action, using some of the latest powders (CFE223, Leverevolution, Reloader 16, IMR 7828 SSC, and now StaBall 6.5). 90 grain bullets at 3250 - 3300 FPS, 100 gr at 3000-3100, and 117-120 at 2800 to 2900 are all readily achievable loads in a modern bolt gun.
I’m glad to share load data with anyone who wants it. I’m looking forward to the arrival of my new 20” stainless barrel from Shaw, in order to build a handier woods version of the first one from 2015. These days I ask myself regularly, why in the world did I wait so long to discover this gem from the past? Why all the rage for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm ARC, 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel, etc, when we’ve had the 250 Savage all along? I know, each has his favorites, but for my purposes, the 250 could replace all the rest. It really is an overlooked masterpiece of cartridge design. And so easy to load for!
Good afternoon to all, and thanks to all of you who influenced me to resurrect this little wonder.
