Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 1899B in 32-40 is going bear hunting

this afternoon. We started that obsolete cartridges thread on Hunting Rifle forum so get with it fellas. Put those old mules to work this fall.

I'm covetting that rifle

Fireball, How does yours shoot? I only shoot light 165 gr lead reloads in mine. First group at 25 yds was about 3 inches. I got her down to 2 inches at 25 yards. Open sights with a peep. Very fun guns to shoot, zero recoil. Do you shoot heavier jacketed bullets? In comparison I tried same loads in an Winchester 1894 in 32-40 with a half oct barrel with button magazine. It shot very poor, maybe 4 inches.

Me Too! My 250 is my go to deer gun, This year I plan on taking my Ruger #1 in 25-35. I bought it from the estate of our old friend 7X57Steve. He had it custom barreled in 25-35. I also plan on taking my 303 F, and if I get the Malcolm scope back from a rebuild in time the 1912 22 HP. So I have a couple old ones in there.

What year, really what twist, of .250? I'm reluctant to use any of my .250s for deer. All of my .250s are pre 1920 and I can't bring myself to shoot a deer with one. I know how to place a shot but I have calibers that I feel much better about deer hunting with. I'm not trying to be insulting, just looking for information and education.

My son in law and I have taken several deer with 250/3000, don't recall but one that didn't drop right their. Nothing wrong with the cal, just a tad back on his bullet placement. For years I hunted with a 243 and my success rate for drop right their with the 250 has been much better than the 243. GW

I've shot a lot of whitetail, muley's and pronghorn with a .243 but my .250s will not shoot great with anything over 90gr bullets. Which is why I asked.

I'm sure I have shot close to 75 deer with my 1950 R. It may be the only one in the world that shoots the 100 grain CL's better than the 87's. I tried several loads with 87's and they were terrible in the R. Tried them in a couple of my other 250's, and they shot great. I've shot the R off a bench at 200 to see if it's an anomaly, and it will put 5 in a tea cup saucer circle. I've always wanted a post mil 250 just for the 1:10 twist, but there is always stuff I want more. So, my advice is if it doesn't like the 90's, stay away from the 100's.

Mine hate anything over 90gr. Which is unfortunate because I have about 30 boxes of Winchester silver tips that now I just shoot to get brass to reload.

The first deer I shot with my 250 was with 100 grain Silver Tips. Shot it dead broadside on the right shoulder. Knocked it down and it jumped up and started running away. Second shot at the base of the head dropped it. The bullet blew up on the shoulder. Never shot one in the shoulder again. Mostly neck shots, lungs shots, and a couple in the eye.

Just started my second 100 rounds of reloads for my 303. Bought it last Nov. with the hopes of having 1 last deer hunt this Fall. Shot my first deer with a 303 in 1955 so I 'm hoping to close out this hunter's dream with one more. Been practicing at 50 yds with my open Buck horn and have gotten pretty good. I'm loading Hornady round nose 180 gr. With 26 gr. Of IMR 3031. Can't seem to learn how to send pictures here but my 303 looks just like the one on the bear rug. I plan on sitting in my ground blind Nov. 11, 12 and 13 in Montana's Castle Mountains south of White Sulfur Springs. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
WhipseY

Well, one evening hunt down.

An area that has acorns on bushes that ripen in September is nearly ready. Huge canyon country, big, big holes so you gotta be careful and pattern a bear higher up nearer the road. Lots of sign tonight, many bears moving about, but it was 95 degrees so it needs to cool off. Lots of 400 yard shooting out there so the 32-40 is out of it's league.

Good luck. I'm gonna wander out this year with my old 303.

Hey Roy,
Your choice of 32-40 is not unreasonable for bear, and having wandered the area you now live and hunt in, I believe you will be successful. The cal is famous for long range shots with heavy bullets and can be extremely accurate with good condition equipment. Folks forget the penetration this cal is capable of, and going slow and heavy as it starts out it hits at nearly the same speed. The oldtimers I knew told me they used it because “you could eat right up to the hole”. For Savage 1899 hunters of the oldies I think the most overlooked round is the early 303 Moose/Bear load of up to 190gr bullets at nearly 1900fps. I love your thread about hunting with the old classics and hope you stick with it and generate interest.
Tom

I've been cheating and carrying the 358 carbine. Kicked a big buck out of his bed at very close range today. Unfortunately I was working when it happened.

Sigh.