Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 250 Savage Bullets

Hello,

Earlier this year I mentioned reloading for a 250 with Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets. I was loading in the 2900-3000fps range. They appeared to be keyholing on the target. Several guys suggested I drop back the load to slower speed and try again. A fellow named Icedog said he thought he recalled his Nosler manual saying that none of their bullets would stabilize in the older 1 in 14 twist rifles. Just as an update, I loaded down to 2800 and 2700fps and found the same keyholing with NBT's. The factory Remington PSP's are fine at 2650 or so. Both reloads and factories are 100 grains btw. Does anyone know what I can buy that will duplicate PSP's? Maybe a standard Hornady pointed soft point? I'd love to load for the gun but I need the right bullet. Other guys with experience want to jump in? I need suggestions.

Thanx, Krag

Krag,

Since you mention only the 100 grain bullet I would look at flat base bullets such as the Hornady Spirepoint or Speer Hotcor. Of course there isn't anything wrong with the CL PSP. Cabelas sells them and the others. Most gunshops wil carry the Hornady's or Speers. Not much experience with Sierra's. I have used all three of the bullet types above in slow twist 250-3000 barrels with no keyholing.

That's not a recollection, that's exactly what the Nosler manual states. This was discussed just within the past few days within this forum.

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Here is another source for the Rem. 100 gr PSP
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=479645
Buy bulk, save money!

Ya' reckon that's the same bullet ya' get in the green box factory loads

I have an older (1915) 1 in 14 twist 250, and have used the 100 gr. Hornady Interlock with some success...no keyholing anyway. Success for me though doesn't require 1 inch groups at 100 yds. with open irons. A 3" group with that gun will put a smile on my face.

My best results are with the 87gr Speer hot core. 3000+ fps with 1.2-1.5" 3 shot groups and devastating to deer. The 100gr Hornadys and Speer hot cores should do well. Check John Barsness' article on Savage loads in the new Handloader magazine.

You need a HIGHER velocity to increase stability in a projectile that is lacking in twist rate. The less twist you have the shorter the bullet needs to be. The Larger the caliber, the less twist you need. The extreme examples are 70 grain .224 match bullets need 1 in 7 twist/ higher velocity, a 45-70 gets away with a 1 in 16/18 twist, lower velocity. Just stating some facts to help you understand that you need a short/fast 100grain .257 bullet to work in 1 in 14 twist, or drop to the 87 grain speer, which has a good reputation as a deer bullet.