Yes, I am an old man, but... 1:10" was standard for the past 50 years. Before that it was 1:14" which frequently wouldn't stabilize 100 gr bullets or heavier. However, bullets today keep getting longer, with less or no lead, and plastic tips. I believe today I would go with 1:9" twist. Todays plastic-tipped bullets are so well made that there is no worry about over-stabilizing them in faster twist barrels, especially in a 250 Savage.
On the other hand, I have never encountered a problem with 1:10" twist in 250 Sav, but I really don't go any heavier than 100 gr in the 250. I have a friend that uses 115 gr for deer in his Ruger UL 250 Sav with no problem, and very accurate with conventional cup and core soft-points. The 1:10 twist is standard, so to speak. If 1:9 was a much more expensive option I would be happy with a 1:10 twist. A happy old man.
Hope that helps a little. Have fun.
Nifty-250
"If you don't know where you're going, you may wind up somewhere else". Yogi Berra
Yeah, but my tuned up 700 Classic has a sweet trigger and accuracy wise I could use it to take money off guys who aren't familiar with what a "little" 6x scope can do at 300 yards.
A lot of 99's do have mediocre triggers, but in the older rifles (pre-million serial numbers) they're REALLY easy to fix. I've probably done a dozen myself. I found out how from a fine book on home gunsmithing by Roy Dunlap. You don't even have to take the trigger apart, just remove the buttstock.
The post-mil triggers aren't as easy to work on, but they can be helped considerably as well.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
14 thousandths of an inch difference in diameter really smacks [bleep] harder. Of course a 243 with a longer barrel might hit harder, as longer barrels always hit harder.
But the 243 has access to so much higher BC bullets, which everyone knows are a requirement to kill game in this day and age .
As for the 250, I like it quite a bit, though mine is in Ackley Improved form.
Once upon a time, I engaged in a bit of an informal shooting match with my 250. I was fireforming rounds in the AI chamber, using 87 grain HP TNTs chugging along at 2800 fps or so. Long story short, a fellow with a new custom 7mm Mag long range special weighing about 13 lbs. was humbled when I hit targets as far away as he could (800 yards or so).
I've hunted quite a bit with both the .243 and .250, and so far haven't seen any difference in the way they kill deer and pronghorn.
I was thinking the other poster may have had a long range situation in mind where a fast twist 6mm and a long sleek bullet could have some advantage in the wind.
For my purposes, when I've been out with my 250 shooting 100 grain Ballistic Tips or Interlocks at 2950 fps I don't recall thinking "I wish I had my 243 right now". Of course, when I was out with my 243 I didn't pine for my 250 either.
Though I quickly became a big proponent of the high BC 6mm bullets after shooting enough of them, I still can't think of a hunt that I wouldn't take a good 25cal rifle on. Whether it be a 25-284, 25/06, 25/06 AI, 257 AI, 257 Weatherby, etc, they certainly hold a place in my heart for killing stuff.
No way is the .243 better - for me......by default, as I own not one .243 but several .250-3000s. in fact building a custom M700 in one right now. I have nothing against the .243 just doesn't trip my trigger (so to speak)......probably much like some men prefer blonds over brunettes or redheads or??
I have three 25's at the preset. 257 AI , 25-06 , 257 STW, may build me a 250 Sav. haven't owned one since the early 70's wish i had keep it. It was a Clerke Single Shot in 250 Sav, copy of the Win Hi-Wall. The last kill i made with that rifle that i can remember was a Big Redtail Hawk at around 250 yards sit on a old dead snag . He went down in a puff of Feather
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
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