Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 250 Savage the Darling of the Campfire?

Know that the 250 Savage is well regarded (as is the 30/06) by those in the know on the Campfire. Can't quite understand why it is regarded as such. A 100 gr at 2800 is little more than a 243 win and not a 6mm rem. Even the lighter pills don't compare to the 257 Roberts. Clearly doesn't come close to my 257 Weatherby or my 6.5x55 or my 7x57 or my 270 Win or my 308 Win or my 9.3x62. Even the rifles its been chambered in have been hohum (the current Ruger #1 might be the sole exception). Someone might be able to enlighten me (and others)?

Mostly its was before the rest 7x57 30-06 then the 250-3000

Try finding one of these is 6.5x55, 257 Roberts etc







In bolts I run the 250AI, but shoot lots of 250 standard loads in it. Far more skookum fit in a shot action, and enough is often enough.

I've even heard tell that one can actually kill critters with rifles that spew empties stamped 250 Sav, thankfully critters don't read headstamps.

That sums it up right there.

As Mattie Ross said in TRUE GRIT, "Enough is as good as a feast."

I've seen quite a few animals taken with the .250 Savage, some by my own trigger finger. They all died pronto, despite the oh-so-modest ballistics.

When a rifle like the Savage Model 1920 or 1899 is ignorantly dismissed as a "ho-hum" my ire is raised.

How can a Mauser/Springfield bolt action with controlled round feed, a thumb safety, weighing under 6 lb., wearing a bolt mounted peep sight and manufactured years ahead of its time, ever be considered ho-hum? Think at back to 1920 standards.

Or how about the classic Savage lever action able to shoot pointed bullets because of an internal rotary magazine manufactured in a very accurate take down rifle like the Savage Model 1899? This version was first produced in 1915 hailing the advent of the 250-3000 cartridge.

Perhaps it would be better for you to go back and reread Jack O'Connor's 1952 book "Sportsman's Arms and Ammunition Manual" or Larry Koller's 1948 classic "Shots at Whitetails" and then rephrase the question you really want to pose.

BTW, One the articles you might want to read is Jack's "The 250-3000 can Shoot!"



All the best.

The famed Yellow shirt never fails!

For 50% of the powder it gives about 80% of the velocity of the 257 Wby., and at the ranges I hunt deer that's plenty.

PS: I easily get more than 2800 from my 700 Classic.

I cut my teeth on a British 303 but the moment I laid eyes on a used Model '54 in 250-3000 my woes came to a screeching halt. The little cartridge kills all out of proportion to it's size.I can't imagine a more perfect gun for a beginning shooter.powdr

Think about the .250 Sav vs. the .257 Wby for a moment, since the OP mentioned that the Wby round was so much "better".

Everyone knows that the screamin' .257 Wby will slam any big deer to the ground at 400 yards.

Well, then the 250 Sav will do the exact same thing at 100 yards, because the exact same bullet is going about 2500 fps with about 1400 ft. lbs. of energy at the point of impact.

In fact, the .250 Sav will do better at 100 yards because I can shoot a smaller group and place my shot better at 100 yards with my old M-1920 or my 99 than I can with my Wby at 400, not even factoring in wind or animal movement.

As others have said, sometimes just enough can be just right. The .250 Sav is also a very good varmint gun and much more pleasant to use for that than the Wby or the other quarter-bores. Use what you like, want, or think you need, but have fun.

The fad gods have strange fixations.

Not so very long ago, the .25-284 was all the craze here. Same thing -- dead bears, hammer of Thor, etc.

Barely gets a mention now.

The newer 6.8 SPC also kills effectively with even less powder. Never gets mentioned here, except derisevely.

Go figure.

1B

Olgrouser,

Beautiful picture of your M-1920! The original "ultra-light" hunting rifle. Mine has a much darker stock than yours. Mine is a first year gun and the metalwork is absolutely superb. Somewhat better than some I have seen from the late twenties. They cost too much to make for Savage to be competitive. Most folks have never seen one. I call mine the mini-Springfield.

Best Wishes

"The 250-3000 can Shoot!"



Ken

Not sure about the hoohum comment about the rifles. This little Ruger M77 Ultralight in .250 Savage is one of the nicest little rifles around.

Not only is the 250-3000 all that and a bag of chips, but the 99Savages are the best lookin shootin irons on the planet

Jerry

Hey Elvis,

I got one of them and a stainless RSI to go along with him.



Ken

Ken,
Nice looking hardware, it's got me missing a 250 Savage.... and I just sold you my dies and brass...damn!
Maybe I'll take the plunge again with one of the new Savage's blued, oil finished walnut with a floorplate?
Steve

All I can say is I bought a brand new Savage 99A 250-3000 around 1971 and still have it. It's kill a bunch of blacktail and varmints. It just plain works.
Doc

The 250 Savage cartridge may be the favorite of some. I am all for yours and my favorites.

I can be nostalgic and admire some old 99 so chambered. The little 250 S is loaded to lower pressures than average and came with a slow 1-14" twist. Its body taper is three times what it needs to be to be best. Overall its just a bygone product. Not enough to make it.

More a pest cartridge than one for bigger game. Even the diminutive 243 Winchester has more velocity with 100 gr bullets, is far more popular and available and can be loaded to normal pressures.

Not enough.

Don is a venerable cornucopia of stupidity