Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Favorite bullet in your 250 Savage?

My Dad has a 99 he bought whilst stationed in Texas back in the 50's he wants to start shooting again. I'd like to load him up something that'd be handy for late season does here on the farm. Something in the 110gr range I'd think.

Suggestions?

If it was a 99 bought in the 50's it would have a 1-14" twist, which means the 110 AIN'T going to work. No way, no how. 87 grain Speer seems to be a favorite in that slow ass twist.

I get exceptional accuracy with both of Speer's 87 gn bullets, as well as Sierra's 90 gn HPBT. With your rifle, those would be the ones I'd test. Varget and 760 are the powders that shoot well in my two rifles chambered in 250 Sav.

What he said and H4895.

BP...

Yep, what they said. Order up some 87gr Speer Hot Cores and go to town.

And, you might offer to clean the rifle for him. I'm guessing it ain't seem much use in Iowa over the years.

MS,

My favorite for my rifle with its 9" twist is the 110 Accubond at about 2800 fps; however, as has been pointed out, it will not stabilize with the 14" twist you probably have. My first choice for your set-up would be the 90 grain Sierra GKHP. Based on my .250 Savage experience, this bullet is consistently very accurate, is great for rockchucks and such, and, if you are careful, does a good job on pronghorns, and open-country deer.

M Bell

GKHP?

Sorry, MM! My goof! I went ahead and changed it.

Thanks for catching it,
M Bell

My old Savage 99 in 250-3000 will not shoot the 100 grain bullets either as Steelhead was suggesting. I had to load 87 grainers made by Sierra and they shot great with the peep sights. The first year with this rifle, I leveled a nice fat doe with one shot.

Not if deer are on the menu. The Speer 87-grain TNT is very accurate, but it is too soft and risks superficial wounds. The Speer 87 HotCore is the probably best bullet for your rifle.

Some short 100-grainers - the Speer HotCore comes to mind - can shoot acceptably in near-max loads. Speer recommends these for 1:14" rifles. Long 100-grainers will not shoot well. (Some old .250-3000 ammo I have with the SAVAGE headstamp was loaded with a 100-grain bullet - a round nosed hollow point.)


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the factory winchester offering uses the silver tip which to the eye appears to be rather short and is 100 grains

You're right about the 87gn TNT being usuitable for Deer. I should have mentioned that. I get equal accuracy of it with the 87gn HotCore.

Thanks guys, wasn't aware of the 1-14 issue.

My Nosler book says this barrel will not stabilize any of their bullets.

The 87 gr Hot Core and R-15 works really well in my 20" 1899 TD.

They led me away form 100 grainers for varmint use and I plan to try them on deer with the next doe tag I pull.

The 100 grainers will shot 1 1/2 -2" three shot groups but the 87 grainers run half of that.

FWIW I haven't shot a deer with one yet so I only have hearsay to encourage me.

If you want to show off a bit, load your Dad's rifle with 90gr Sierra GKHPBT over 34.5grs H4895 for accuracy, but if you want a reliable Whitetail bullet use the same dose of powder with 87gr Speer Hot-Cor.

Good luck to Dad.