Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 250-3000 Load Data

I’ve never loaded for this caliber, but I’m looking for a good deer load using 100gr -115gr bullets. Any recommendations appreciated.

Which twist rate are you loading for, if it's the old 1-14 you'll be better off with the 87s.
I've seen a couple guys post about using the 35 gr H4895 100 grain bullet load published by Nosler. I use it myself in my Ruger Tang Safety. Check some of the online data published by Hodgdon, Nosler, and Speer, some of the newer powders are looking pretty decent. I've been meaning to try CFE223, a couple sources velocity readings are getting up there.

I'm using 40.5 IMR 4350 under a Barnes 100 TTSX, 2812 fps out of an 18" barrel (Ruger 77 RSI). Terry

I have had vey good results using a bullet that is not popular or commonly found any more - Hornady 117 g. RN, over enough Win 760 to push it out at 2700 FPS from a 20" barrel. It kills big deer way better than paper ballistics would indicate. Expands well but shoots right through big Saskatchewan whitetails from most any angle out to 250 yds or so. That tough but easy opening bullet makes the little cartridge into an overachiever. I mostly used it in a modern Savage 99A with 1-10" twist, but the load even stabilized OK in the older 1-14" rifle I used it in for a while, and of course works well in a Ruger M77.

I used 39 grains of H414 or WW760 with a 100 grain Nosler SB or BT in a couple of Remington 700 Classics. Velocity was 2950 out of their 24" barrels and it was "more" than sufficient on whitetails, accurate, and pleasant to shoot. YMMV

IMR 3031 100gr Sierra out of a Ruger RSI tang safety

I'm using Reloader 15 with the 100 gr Hornady and H-4831sc with the Hornady 117 g round nose in addition to 40.0 of H-4831sc with Hornady's 117 gr SST bullet

My preferred load is 40.0 for H-4831sc and the hornady SST bullet but the load is heavily compressed, I have to re-seat the bullets before shooting or hunting.

I tried Reloader 26 with the 117 gr Hornady but the accuracy was not there.

Think I’ll try some RL15 & H4895 and see where that take me.

I'm finding joy with CFE-223 and Varget in a couple .250-3000's (1918-vintage Savage lever gun and a Ruger No.1 re-barreled with a fast twist Douglas barrel). I think the .250 is one of those cartridges wherein given a bullet of a length suitable to its twist, one can close one's eyes and pretty much pick a powder and it'll work well.

Very interesting. Please tell us more.

I think he’s right, even an appropriate weight of BlueDot will “work”, at least it gives great accuracy in my XP-100. But that wouldn’t work as a deer hunting load.....😉



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35 years ago in my 99 EG Savage, I loaded 33 grains of H-4895 with Speer 100 gr. Hot Cor bullets. Nice deer rifle, wish I'd never got rid of it. My Remington 700 Classic was fed 33.5 grains of the same powder with 100 grain Hornady IL or 33 grains of IMR-4320 with 117 grain Hornady RN.

Sakohunter264, that's a really good looking rifle. Tell us about it.

I bought the rifle from the estate of an old rifle loony who wanted a #1 .250-3000 so he built one. Price was a virtual steal. It'll group 87 Speers and 100 Sierra BT's into way less than MOA, with both Varget and CFE-223- all I've tried so far. Only dislike I have is it's a 1A-length/weight barrel with a 1B forend. Call it a #1A-B. The wood is off at the moment- I'm shortening/slimming/re-checkering it and fitting an ebony tip to make it more balanced and pleasing to (my) eye. Iron sights and a barrel band sling swivel will complete the "faux 1A" look I'm striving for. Pics to follow later in the winter when she's done with her transformation. Initial trials done with a Leupold 3-9, which may or may not continue in place. I'm liking the Leupold 1.5-5 that lives on my 1A 6.5x55 so I may go that route on the .250- the little scope just looks right on that small rifle, and is certainly up to coping with the cartridge/conditions I use it in.

CFE-223 is hands-down my go-to powder with 87 Speers for the Savage Model 250-3000, 2nd Variant, 1918. 35 grains chrono's at exactly 3000 fps and slops them into a heavy MOA- MOA-and-a-half, with Lyman tang sights. Would be pure death on one of our whitetails, if I could coax one to wander in front of me while I'm carrying it!!

120 gr Speer, IMR 4320:

H4831 with 117 grain Hornady roundnose has been the most accurate in my Ruger. Thanks to a campfire member for the help.

Varget with a 120 Nosler Partition is a close second.

Model 70 Classic Compact (hard to find) chambered with a Douglas Supreme XX 1-10 twist to match perfectly the factory contour. Roger Ferrell did the work, it’s flawless. Just an awesome little rifle.

It's a beautiful rifle.

48 years with the .250-3000. The caliber taught me to shoot (and that may be its greatest attribute). Full disclosure: I have not tried the "new" powders.

1) Confining its field application to deer (even large Muleys), Antelope and Coyotes, I have almost exclusively confined my bullet selection to the ones that fulfill the cartridge's title: 3000fps. (85-90 grain wt.).

2) Only two of my 99's agree on what they like for loads (out of five guns). The M700 Classic departs from all of them as to preference. A Ruger 77R that I gave to my Sister In Law had its own tastes, and a girlfriend's 77RSI liked something different still.

3) I started with Sierra's old "Accuracy/Hunting" load at 33.5 grains of IMR3031 behind the 90gr Sierra HPBT. This is a high-end load that will indicate eventually the characteristic of the 99 action to allow case stretching. Also: 3031 is not something to toy with at the top end. There is a wall there that you had better not cross (watch that chrono!). The Sierra is still preferred by one 99 here.

4) IMR4320 was listed in the old books as a likely candidate, then was discontinued, and now (thankfully) is back. For VERY good reason: It is much more forgiving at the top end than 3031 and case life is improved. The 700 likes H380 and safely exceeds 3100fps (85gr).

5) In all guns (save for one Savage mentioned previously) the 85gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is the stellar performer for velocity and accuracy. DO NOT discount this bullet against big game. Field experience leads one to believe it is incapable of failure toward one shot kills (NO bullet really is). I certainly would not trust it to "range forward on a raking shot into the boiler room from the south end of a monster Muley", but I am not in the practice of considering fannies as targets even when carrying the .350 Remington Magnum. No animal (over 60 Antelope and 20 or 30 deer) has EVER required a second shot with this bullet.

I have always wanted to carry the .250-3000 toward elk, and if that were my venture I may consider heavier, stouter, slower bullets. Recently I have considered expending the effort toward exploring newer powders (and that would certainly be "effort" with all the .250's floating around here). This thread was helpful in that regard.

As young men, often we fell in love with a teacher. My romance with the .250-3000 goes on and on.

I have the same rifle but my grandson has taken a liking to it so I dont get to hunt with it much anymore. I do love that ruger RSI in 250 savGe in a tree stand. It kills all out of proprtion to its caliber with the 120 grain partitions.