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Oldfolks, if you subscribe to the hyper-velocity, high BC hype you read on the internet, no 257 caliber rifle is worthy of consideration of anything past 100 yard shooting, and a lowly 250 Savage, forget it.

I've ignored all the sage advice and shot my 250's to 700 yards where I've been able to hit small sticks laying on the ground. I'm sure the little 87 grain pill over-penetrated, and the stick wasn't in full charge, but it was impressive none-the-less. Don't listen to any nay-sayers of the mighty 250-3000, just go forth and slay small helpless animals with reckless abandon, giggling all the while.

The thing with shooting long bullets that are on the ragged edge of stabilizing in a slow twist (ie: 100grain spitzers in the 1-14" older Savage .250's, and 70grain spitzers in the 1-12" twist old Savage .22 High Powers) is that altitude, temperature, and humidity play a role also. That's to say, for example, a Hornady .228" 70 grain bullet out of the HP has a poor chance at stabilizing/accuracy at sea level on a hot humid day (like where I live), but may well perform ok at 6000ft. on a cold dry day. I strongly suspect the same can be said of 100 grain spitzers out of a 1-14" .250-3000.

While the Pratt&Whitney sine bar rifling machines of the bygone era did indeed require astute operator attention to run accurately, errors weren't that egregious to make the differences we note today concerning whether certain guns shoot long bullets better than others. In all of our discussions I don't remember one where the stated rate of twist varied more than 1" from nominal, which isn't enough to make a noticeable difference IMO. I suggest that we aren't submitting enough information into these discussions. Example: "Pappy's old .250 shoots bughole groups with X-brand 100 grain spitzers all day long. Oh, by the way I was shooting in 25º dry conditions high up in the Rockies." And "These 70 grain Hornady Spire Points only gave me 4" groups at 100 yards. Of course, I was shooting them on a 90º 95% humidity day 3 miles from the Chesapeake Bay." I have noticed improvement in accuracy with these bullets on cold days versus hot days in my locale.

On top of that, velocity plays a bit of a role in this too. That 100 grain .25 bullet stands a better chance at stabilization in a 1-14" twist out of a .257 Weatherby than it does out of a .250-3000.

I think we have been on the right track, but we haven't been taking it far enough. I'm guilty as charged, too.

I altered my viewpoint after witnessing discussions among people much more conversant in exterior ballistics than me.

As some wise old sage said, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating", so when those boxes of Hornaday 100 grain bullets I ordered from Midway arrive, I'll go out to the back pasture and bang away at a target on a big hay bale at 100 yards. Sure is fun to get excited about a rifle again.

I don't think anyone is commercially loading 87 gr so you will have to hand load them. As stated above, the Speer hot core 87 gr seems to be a favorite bullet.

Iv been slow to warm up to the 250, had a A saddle gun and killed 2 deer with it, with the 100 grain silver tips! but got a 250 barrel band, From Roy on here and it loves the 87 grain core locks, Midway had them on sale a few weeks ago!

I didn't think Remington was making those components anymore. When I first started handloading I bought 100 87 grain corelokts and they were very accurate. Ran out and couldn't find them again. I did so well with the Speers though that I didn't look after that.

My Bad, on pain meds, I ment speer 87 grain Hot cores!

You can't buy the components from Remington anymore. I do pay the 38 bucks a box for the 100 gr Corelokts. I have 3 250's and two of them will put 3 shots under a quarter at 50. The third one I haven't shot yet. I've shot at least 50 deer with my 1950's R in 250 with the Remington 100's. I tried Nosler 117's and they went through the target sideways. I shot two wild boar, one 220 pounds the other 150, both dropped in tracks, wiggled a couple times,and that was it. I was messing with my guide about shooting my first pig behind the ear, and having to wait for it to turn around. He said next time just shoot it in the eye. So, the second one I shot in the left eye at about 75 yards. I've got 300 of the Speer Hot Cores, but as long as Remington keeps making the 100's I'm not switching. I did pick up a couple boxes of Remingtons at a show for $30 a box. I plan on taking my 1919 250-3000 rifle to the Savage get together in two weeks. I'll take some pics. It's open sights, so the group may open up a little. I may take the R just to see if I can punch one hole with it, I think the rifle can do it, I might not be able to, Joe.

But, Joe, on the other hand I wonder if that rifle would put 5 or 10 shots (not just 3) under a quarter at 100 yards not 50 yards- with 87 grainers and a custom tweaked handload. If I had to pay $38/box to shoot I would probably take up croquet.

Watch out for this guy. He's slippery!