Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 250 hand loading

Hello folks, I am curious about loading another ammo for my 250's which are all 14 twist. Does anyone shoot lighter that 87 grain bullets? I am looking at the 70 grain Blitz King by Sierra. I have a bolt gun 22-250 that will shoots just about any load really well, but this past weekend shooting 55 grain Blitz King bullets put this gun on a different level, touching or double punching consistently. This bolt gun is a 14 twist also. Thanks for any replies. Mike

I'm shooting the 80gr Barnes TTSX in my 250, but I don't know if those would stabilize in a 14 twist barrel or not.

While I haven't messed with them enough to say "Yeh or Nay", I shot handloads using Hornady's 75 grain red tipped V-Max bullet when I got my first 99. They were loaded with both Varget and 3031 and were previously loaded for my Ruger Model 77 top-tang bolt gun which they are very accurate in. I shot some at around 50, 75, and 100 yards using a 99G in 250 with a Stith scope mount with a older Weaver 330. The scope has excellent glass and had been sent for restoration by the guy I bought the rifle/ scope setup from. Anyway did get decent accuracy out of the Hornady V-Max's, good enough to drop a coyote or even a deer, but I'd rather be using at least a 87 grain pill for Mr. Big Rack.

Not sure how well the 14 twist in the 99G was for stabilizing the 75 grain Hornady, didn't really bench it that much, but I did take around a 50 yard shot on a crow that was only saved from annihilation by a hair(or feather be more accurate). It flew off so I didn't get a second chance. If I'd really bench the 99G loading ammo specific using the V-Max I might get better results. I have loaded some 250 brass and Horn's 75 grain V-Max using Varget, RL15, and 3031 sort of geared for the 14" twist 99's but not enough to cloverleaf 3 shots. Have also shot some of the same 75 grain V-Max's in a iron sighted 99EG 250 with acceptable results. Might not be 1" MOA, but gallon milk jugs full of water at 50 yards were blowing up.

Bought 1000 of the Hornady 75 V-Max's back before all the crazy price and scarcity happened from my main gun shop guy, he had bought them on a special deal and shared the savings with me, something like $12 per 100. Had intended in only getting 2-3 boxes. Glad I did the 1000. Great bullet in my Ruger M77 250, a real coyote dropper.

I recall loading up Hornady 75 grain V-max bullets but the Sierra 90 grainers, both the Blitzkings and the Gamekings bullets were so accurate that I never bothered fussing with the lighter bullets.

Like Zack, I loaded the 80 grain Barnes TTSX for my M14 American Classic. These too proved accurate enough to shoot varmints at distance though I never used the 80 grainers on deer.

So no, not really because the Sierras bullets and 34.5 grains of H4895 proved their point out in the field out to 300 yards. Remember a century ago the 250-3000 cartridge was designed primarily to shoot 100 grainers, and then as second thought 87 grain bullets. In my mind, those are the projectile weight ranges and the parameters in which to experiment and play.

The 80gr Barnes TTSXs do leave a mark:

Is that a beaver, or a groundhog? Can't see the tail very well.

I haven't shot anything but paper and steel plates with my 250 yet, but the TTSX bullets have worked well on critters for me in 6.5mm and 30 cal.

Fat groundhog!

T've been reloading for the 250-3000 for about 55 years and like the 75 grain VMax and Sierra HP for shooting varmints. I used to shoot the 90 grain Sierra BTHP Gameking, but decided that for my purposes the 75 grain bullet are a better choice for varmints. If you want one load for 2 different bullets, the 87 grain Speer HotCore for medium game and the 87 grain TNT for varmints are always a good choice in 1-14" ROT 250-3000s.

I've used the 75 grain Original Barnes X in 1-14" ROT 0.257" bore rifles, but they require more frequent cleaning and are hard to come by.

I've still got 5 boxes of the original 75 grain Barnes X squirrelled away for my Model 1920s in 250.

What was your favourite loading for the Xs?

I have a few boxes of them left too.

40.2 grains of Varget, worked up from 38.0 grains, groups opened up over 40.2 grains in z Winchester 70 Lightweight Carbine from 1987. On older rifles, I'd cut the load back to 38.2 grains.

Thanks Jeff

Has anyone tried 85 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in a 1 in 14" twist 250-3000? I think Nosler says a 14" twist barrel won't stabilize any of their .257" bullets. I have never tried the 85 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in my 99 F 250-3000.

Yes, folks have. They are pretty inconsistent. If you REALLY want to try them, pull the plastic tips off and they may work well.

I've heard that too, but haven't had reason to try them. I have a lifetime supply of 87gr. Speers, and a couple short blunt 85 grain bullet molds, so it's pretty much a moot point to me.

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I think that you got it right, don't mess with success, just work up a load under an 87 grain Speer that shoots good groups in your 1-14" ROT 250-3000 and be satisfied. If I had confidence in the 90 grain Sierra BTHP I'd shoot deer with it again, but 2 failures caused me to lose confidence in it. My confidence in the 87 grain Speer HotCore is very high, as it has never failed to do its job if I did mine.

I have a 1-14" ROT 25 WSSM that I put together specifically to shoot 75 grain bullets at varmints. The 2 75 grain bullets that I settled on, the VMax and Sierra HP, have been consistently accurate and proven deadly on a truck load of pdogs, gsquirrels, and the odd coyote.

How odd was the coyote? He didn't have a mail-order account with the Acme Anvil Company did he?

They're as long as a 100 grain Sierra boat tail. I wouldn't waste the time or the bullets in a 14" twist.

Ahh yes the ODD coyote dilemma.

Years ago we milled off the plastic tips of the Barnes 257 TTSX bullets but these all still proved to be TOO long for the 1-14 twist rifles measuring just under an inch, IIRC. The bulllets shoot well in the 1-10 American Classic 250 Sav. rifle but obviously not the older rifles.

Bought a little Kimber in 257 Roberts with a Hunter Kryptek Highlander stock as a third option for reloading and shooting 257s. All good!

Quite odd.

He didn't any cash, credit cards, or ID on him, so I don't know about the Acme account.