Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters MD best Powders for 250 Savage

I have three 250 Sav’s and a 250 SAV AI; as to the 250 Sav, I currently load for two on 700 actions with 10-twist barrels (Douglas & Shilen). These are hunting rifles with bedded composite stocks, OEM triggers, Bushnell 3200’s in DNZ mounts, and mostly used by youngsters in my tribe over the last ten years to punch a little paper and shoot whitetails when they want to go; my rifles are not benchrest long-range super rifles AND I’m certainly not the best shot by any stretch, especially as I’m 69 and holding. The point of all my drivel is that this is probably the easiest caliber I’ve ever loaded and the least ‘picky’ when it comes to powders.

I’ve had no trouble finding great 100-grain bullet loads with Win ball powders such as 760 & 748, plus IMR & Hodgdon 3031, 4064, 4320, 4350, 4895 and Hodgdon’s 380 & 414. While Alliant’s Reloder 15 & 17 look best on paper I haven’t gotten around to trying them in the 250. I know that doesn’t address your specific requests for data relating to powders Big Game, CFE 223, H 4350 and IMR 4451 but based on all that I’ve read on those powders relative to the 250, I think your best bet would be CFE223 followed by the 4451. If you’re looking to buy the best powders IMHO, get 4895 for 100 grain bullets and 4831 for anything heavier. All the published load data from both powder and bullet manufacturers is pathetically anemic, CYA loading for pressures in the 38,000-44,000 range - I guess because of the older rifles out there. Having a modern action you should be able ‘push the envelope’ somewhat, of coarse checking your spent brass and other indicators for signs of excess pressure.

I don’t mind sharing MY load data but with the caveat that - should you choose to use it - you should begin at least 10% lower charges to start. I use CCI BR2 primers for all my 250 loads and my throats are cut so that for most bullets, with my usual seating of about 15 thousandths off the lands, my cartridge OAL is around 2.7”-2.8”. I’ve chronographed all my load velocities since 2007 with a Chrony F-1, until 2012 when I switched to Magnetospeed. These are my GO TO loads:

1) Nosler BTip 100’s, 35.2 grains H4895, Rem brass, OAL 2.780”, 2839-2853 fps, groups less than 1/2-in on both. Similar results with Sierra ProHunter 100’s & Nosler Partition 100’s.

2) By far the best powder to push heavier bullets is H4831 especially Short Cut: Nosler Partition & Speer Soft Point Boat Tail 120’s typically produce 2700-2750 fps for me with around 41 grains in Winchester brass; however, my best heavy load is with Nosler BTip 115’s with 41.4 grains in Winchester brass and OAL 2.776”. Looking at my load history, I’ve gotten 2794-2811 fps & 1/2”-3/4” groups on both rifles.

Hope this old man’s rambling diatribe is helpful, or at least encouraging, with regards to what's become my favorite cartridge.

Have to comment once more:

Apparently the general experience is the .250 is easy to handload, but powders in the 4895 burn-rate range tend to work better with bullets up to around 100 grains, though slower-burning powders (say up to the 4350 range can also work with 100s, and often better with heavier bullets.

Anybody's experience vastly different?

Sounds right to me. I'm thinking about trying some 4451 in mine under 100 grain Ballistic Tips. (700 Classic, no worries about getting up to proper operating pressure.)

ClarkM, that's pretty impressive.

I would use CFE223 for the 100grain and 4350 for 117s
Remember that the loads given for most 250 loads only run a 45,000 cup for the old savage 99s with judicious loading this can be increased quite a bit. Remember that it's the same case as the 22/250 and the credemore some the case and the rifle can be loaded up to 52,000 cup with careful loading.
ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN LOADING AND WATCHOUT FOR ANY SIGNS OF PRESSURE

Have several of the 99,s in 250 Savage chambers are large and cases stretch a lot so have to segregate brass and keep loads mild.

The largest chamber was in a post million 99 A in 250 Savage.

Measured my rifling in all of them and they varried from 1 in 13.5 to 1 in 14.5 .

Powder,s tried RL 15, RS BG, AA 2520, WW 760 and others the one in 13.5 twist shoots most 100 gr well.

I find these useful to get a start on a new caliber. Just copy and paste the web address.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/250-3000-Savage-COMPLETE-Reloading-Manual-LOADBOOKS-USA-250-3000-Sav-NEW/302307740402?hash=item4662f20af2:g:4kQAAOSwxu5ZDe4p

I have been loading for it for 20 years or so. Best luck with R15 and 100 Partitions. Also find Varget to work pretty well. R15 is magic though.
Only other bullet i shoot is 87 grain Hornady spire point. Great javelina bullet