Any practical difference between the 250-3000 and the 243 win shooting deer with a 100 grain bullet in both cartridges.

Doc

the seed has been planted

Yes you have.

Doc

Can't imagine but I've been in on a few examples of odd behavior with cup and core 6mm bullets that I haven't seen with like 25's.

Throw a Barnes into the mix and it's all for not in my mind.

Are we talking old 99's in 250 with the 1 in 14" twist, or a newer rifle with 1 in 10"?

Energy and ballistics wise, not significant different at similar weights. If you're on an older 99, you're often restricted to shorter bullets which are usually under 100gr.

Larger frontal area and that is about all.

243s are easier to find and let expensive, so it the ammo. If you're not a reloader, the 243 is probably the better way to.

Jeff

The 250 is significantly more cool . . . . . . .

EZ to find .243

Yes, but everybody wants to find a .250

It's all about racism.

......and then, there's the 257 Rob.

BMT said it.

I'd normally say a the 243 is best, but the 250 Savage works so good, I bought a 6.5 Swede.

I have three rifles chambered for the 250-3000, and no rifles chambered for the 243.

I've had a couple of 243s but I'd kill for a 250/3000

And on the other end of the spectrum...I have two rifles in 243,one in 6mm and none in 250.
More so i just won a sizable sum of money on a lottery scratch ticket so a 250 could possibly be on the horizon.
Trouble is i NEVER see ammo for it.

Wisconsin Cartridge - 100gr 250-3000 at a pretty good price. I've used their 257 Bob rounds and they've been accurate and effective on deer and coyotes. They use the same bullet (PSPCL) in both.

This is from 'Technical Information' in Nosler #6.

"The Savage99 was the original rifle chambered for the 250 Savage. Many older 99's have a 1-14" twist barrel and will not stabilize any of our 25 caliber bullets ....."

What Steelhead said about cup and core bullets in the 243 echoes what I have heard over the last 50 years about the 243- One of my hunting partners uses a 243 with Hornady 100 grain bullets and between him and his daughter, they have taken around a 75 deer and antelope over the years with that bullet with no problems. Although the Hornady is a cup and core, it seems to be put together just right. I suspect the Nosler Partition would be as good.

I've probably owned over 100 rifles chambered in 250-3000 and still have over 50, so the cool factor wore off for me long, long ago.

Jeff

Wow that really is too bad Jeff.....and congratulations?????

I've got a few .250s myself and for me the "coolness" factor will never wear off (but then again it won't ever wear off for atleast a dozen other rounds either )....in fact going to go out this afternoon and shoot some 110 grain Accubonds in the newest of the .250 litter a Savage 14 American Classic.

Seriously though, as so many have already mentioned the "pratical" difference is very close to zero....both allow for accurately placed shots which = meat in freezer.

PennDog

I can't agree with the "larger frontal area" argument on this comparison - come on, .014"? There really isn't a huge difference, if I had a .250 with a 1-10" twist I'd run heavier bullets than a standard .243 can. That being said, I own a .243 and not a .250-3000, or any .25 cal for that matter, and I've killed a lot of big game running 100 gr. Partitions at 3000 fps and a pile of varmints and predators running a 55 gr. BT at 4000 fps - the .250 doesn't offer quite that much versatility. Give me a .243! If we're going to have a debate such as this we could probably have more fun with .243 vs. 260 - and I have both. What's that say about me? (as well as a .308... maybe I need a 7mm08, .358 Win, .25-308 and .22 CHeetah to round out my collection?

I believe the 250 may be a little bit quieter due to it being a lower pressure round compared to the 243.

If you enjoy reloading I'd go with the 250...it's a wonderful classic.Otherwise I'd get the 243 due to the many choices of factory ammo.

A 250 Ack Imp....now that's another story..

Dan

Three .250s and one AI. No need or desire for a .243/6mm anything.

What separates the 250 Savage from the 243 is the ability to move 110-120 gr bullets.

Apart from that there's no difference IME... except, as has been reported, the 250 is Cool!

243/6mm are death rays on deer

Yup. My boy loves his .250 as he says it's not as loud and is a little softer on his shoulder than a .243 he tried. Oh, and it has the cool factor.

That's absolutelytrue about recoil and noise.

I've always said the 250 Savage is to deer sized game what the 223 is to varmints... works out of proportion to its size and recoil.

You really should try a 260 someday, Brad

As long as the .250 is a Savage 99 and the .243 is a Pre-64 Winchester Featherweight...you're good!
Anything else with be rifles wanting to have class....

While it may not have "class," I have killed a lot of deer plus 4-5 black bear with my Ruger M77 in 250-3000. Last deer I killed with it was with a 100 gr. Core-lokt placed behind the front shoulder. He went 20 yards and dropped.

The only deer I have killed with a 243 took a 100 gr. Core-lokt behind the front shoulder. He went 20 yards and dropped.

I still own the 250-3000 while the 243 is gone.

I wish Barnes would come back with the 75 grain X bulley for the .25 caliber. I never got around to buying any. My number 1 reloading book says 3477 fps with H 414, 44 grains being max. It does not list barrel length though.

It's just my opinion, but I like the 250-3000 better than he 243. I had a Rem 700 classic in the 250 Savage, and really liked it. Someone wanted it more than I did, and put enough money in front of me to give it a new owner.

I'm sure the 243 is effective, and would make a fine combination deer varmint round.

While off topic, or at least on the outer fringe, I DO like the 257 Roberts the most (though not offered) as you can shoot a 120 grainer. I wish the 257-08 was more popular. That seems like a good idea- but then again the 260 Rem/7mm-08 would be even better.

In short, flip a coin. Both the 243 and 250 Savage are the same from a performance stand point. Both are good for their intended purposes.

I agree 99%!

I've got a couple thousand 75 grain Barnes Original Xs squirreled away, so that I can feed my 1 in 14" ROT .257" bores. The down-range performance is awesome from my 1 in 14" ROT 25 WSSM and they shoot to the same approximate POA as the 75 grain VMax.

Although the 75 grain Original Xs are no longer in production, Barnes does make an 80 grain Tipped TSX that ought to be an equally good medium game bullet. Barnes catalog #25731.

Jeff

I like the 6mm's, the .25's, and the 6.5mm's, and feel you really can't go wrong with any of them, provided you give a bit of thought to bullet selection. I hope to kill a deer with each this year.

I agree, JPro. The projectile is more important than what is stamped on the cartridge head.

The Rob is my favorite 25, with the 250 Savage a close second. I loaded 120 Speers in my 250 Savage no problemo and that combo was the real deal on deer.

Still, I wish that Remington (or whoever) had exhibited the common sense to legitimize the 25-08 instead of the 260... it's better in a modern SA than the Rob IMO, and I truly believe would have done better commercially than the 260...

The 250AI ruined me off the Roberts and the Souper, but I could like a Souper.

The 250 AI is a sound way to get a Rob in a SA without the SA Rob's throat issues for sure... Still, I'm astonished the Souper has never been made legit.

Consider a 6mm/.22-250 or it's more modern interpretations, David Tubb's 6XC or the 6mm-6.5 X47 Lapua in a 8 or 9 twist barrel. Combining the best features of the .243 Win and the .250 Savage.

I like things simple.

A 25-08 would have been the best of all worlds. As it is I have a 257 Roberts, but the 250 Savage is no slouch, and a 250 AI or 25 Souper is the easiest way to get a true SA rob.

If I want a 6mm I'll get a 243 (have had more than a few) or 6mm Rem...

Nope, what one will do the other will do.

Dober

Carbon 12, you're close.....think 25 BR and 257/6.5x47 Lapua, not seen any 25x47 Lapuas and few have used the 25BR, though the latter will drive 100BTs around 3k and better in 22".....

On the Souper, an article appeared years back, gent did a FULL blow BR gun for varmints, in a 25-08 AI of sorts, seems like it was 35-40 shoulder, sung 87-88s at like 3450 IIRC, one hole groups, and it killed varmints WAAAAAAAAAY out there. Deer would be no trouble.

It does have merit....the Souper, but personally I see myself using a 250 or 250AI, and then going to 260, being the 6.5 Looney I am That's just me. The Roberts in a Lil Sky does sound somewhat intriguing, only because the 250-3000 has yet to be chambered! LOL.

I could envision years ago, the more blunt nosed Silvertip 100 gr in 250-3000 would open faster initially than a smaller frontal area 243 and have a wider initial wound channel on a deer.....if so, perhaps it was why some said the 250 did better on deer.

The other thing is I clocked some 100gr 243s in a 20" and they were Sub 2800....as in the 2700s.....not close to it's potential.

Many 243 owners of say Mohawk 600s, etc. using 85gr SGK HPs report Lightning fast kills on WT deer, launched at 3100-3300+ depending on bbl length. Ranges out to 400 yds. I think for broadside lung shots it is a top choice for that round. I watched my son - devastate 2 Tx deer with that bullet from an 1885 Low Wall, one at 300 yds, the other around 250 give/take. Both looked like a 270/130 hit them.

Bullet choice is important I think, as much and more so is shot placement with the choice of bullet.

Nothing wrong with either round when above is done, and likely insignificant field performance when using similar wt. bullets in each.

The 250-3000 is the 'Cooler round' however, no doubt.

Ive never owned a 250-3000 but Ive had that yearning to do so and Id agree to the cool factor in the savage 250,but I just came in from the range and the ol man and I were out getting deer rifles sighted in,Ive got an old 700 ADL in 243 winchester with the 20" barrel and I fired a 3 shot group with it taday that measured center to center on the bullet holes .260" with 100 grain
sierra bullets driven by IMR-4350 and this rifle shoots this good every day I think that holds a pretty cool factor in itself,but in all actuality I think what you can kill with one you can kill with the other,as shot placement says it all.......

I have a Savage 99A in 250-3000 I bought new in the early 70's. I've killed a truck load of deer with this little rifle and it remains one of my favorites. By the way, best bullet I have found for it is 100 gr. Hornady Spire Point. The cartridge seems to be as efective at the 243 and the old Savage 99 is a great rifle.

Doc

None that you or the deer would notice.

None that you or the deer would notice. [/quote]


The biggest difference is that the .250 is way cooler!

I really like my 257 Roberts, but would not hesitate for a moment to buy a 250-3000 especially in a Savage 99. I presently have ownership of a 99 in 308 until my daughter takes it away, and to find another to replace that one is proving difficult.

I know there is no difference in reality between the 243/250-300/257 roberts, but the nastalgia factor sways me now more than ballistics charts on them, and hence my choice would be the 250-3000
Randy

I'm with Brad. Since the 60's I've been wondering why some company doesn't come out with the 25-08. America (and Canada, too) is much more 25-calibre friendly than 264-friendly, and this has been proven in the marketplace time and time again.

What a great dual-purpose, light-kicking round it is, and the 08 case has long established itself as the premier short-action, highly accurate base on which to launch projectiles. It would sell. But then, so would the 25WSM instead of that brain-fart, super-fat abomination Winchester coughed up.

Have had a couple of older guys tell me that the
243 Win killed off the 250 Sav and the 220 Swift.

Heresy! The 220 Swift is not dead.

All:

The 243 is a dime a dozen, EVERYBODY has one.

The 250 in a bolt can't be beat (and new ones can barely be found). A great custom proposition, or a Kimber off the shelf are the only [new] options.

age old question, good topic worth reviving-

the 243 has more case capacity, and more velocity than the 250 Savage, with equal bullet weights.

the value and resale of the rifle will be higher with a 250 Savage, due to the classic nature, and somewhat more scarce on the market, all other factors equal, i.e. model, make, condition of rifle

the 2 cartridges are basically kissin' cousins- the 250 savage came first, then the 300 savage made from a necked up 250 savage, then the 308 Winchester made from a blown out shoulder, improved, lengthened 300 savage case by the US Army for the M-14 and NATO configuration during the 1950's, then the 308 necked down to 243 for commercial use mainly as a varmint cartridge, that was later pressed into service as a deer cartridge, and found to be a damned good one too

it all boils down to the original 250 Savage made by Newton, being one heckuva cartridge design

and one can go on saying the 250 Savage was really just a necked down, shortened 30-06

and the 30-06 was a necked up, lengthened 7x57 Mauser

so thank Paul Mauser and the Germans for our 250 Savage and 243 Win. to really get down to brass tacks

ps- to be honest, I've yet to see anything based on a 30-06 case head, that wasn't useful in one way or another, and most of them are truly remarkable, being non-magnums yet running nearly as good, and in some cases as good or better, than some belted magnums

truth be sold, anything that a 243 can do, a 6mm can do better, and anything that a 250 savage can do, a 257 Roberts or 25-06 can do better. This is excluding the magnums, which I consider in another class. The beauty of the 250 Savage, is low recoil and muzzle blast, compared to the lethal effect of the high velocity bullet- it's capable of taking game somewhat larger than what one would think the cartridge would achieve, by looking at it.

CPT: Sorry to pick a nit. But IIRC, the 243 ws touted by Warren Page, and introduced by Winchester, as a dual-purpose cartridge (varmints and deer), not just a varmint cartridge. Remington saw the caliber more as a varmint gun, and introduced their 244 with lighter bullets and slower twist. The 243 won.

I have one of each. with a 100 g bullet, and using loads that are well to the safe side, I see the .243 making about 100 fps more velocity. As I load them, they're very nearly the same. I prefer the .250 because it's unique and it's just a very efficient little cartridge. If I was not a handloader, I'd prefer the .243.

to me the greatest benefit of these cartridges is that they are very pleasant to shoot and have enough oomph to get the job done on the whitetails I hunt.

I have 3 250 Savages that being said, I don't like the case design that's prone to stretching. If you have a tight chamber
which most 99,s do not and rear locking action case is going to stretch, and limit case life. In a tight chamber bolt rifle no much of an issue.

Shocked nearly speechless that anyone would mention ".243" in any discussion about the .250 Savage.

They used to burn heretics ya know.

The 250 was first, so it must be FOREMOST. I've never heard of any Savvy 243's.

Thread is a little jpg bare. Savvylicious

Has ANYONE paid attention???

And I thot FICTION was a lost art.

SHEESH !!!

I like the 243, but hate ubiquity. I woould go with the 250 because it's classy round that not everybody has.

a thread revived from 2009, anyone realize that...


that being said, I don't see any difference in the real world of a 250 over a 243.. especially to a handloader...

however if a choice was between a 308 for hunting or a 250 Savage, I'd take the 250 any day of the week...

Yep, that's what happens when folks use the search function. :-)

I was fixen' to say that ya know.

Whut about the 6mm???? I know you were gonna say that too!
DMc

Never heard of it. <wink>

I can certainly understand that. After all the 6mm is an exceedingly ambiguous cartridge. ah-hum....

DMc

.

250 or 250AI for me. Have and shoot both. I actually have a Kimber 243, but will never shoot it and bought it just to flip it. If I move down to a 243 projectile, I shoot my son's 6mm/250. He's taken 2 does with it (he's only 9) and I love that round with 85 Gr TSX's.

But the 250 and 250AI with the 80 Gr TTSX is all I need.

6mm/250 -> Downright perfect example of rifle loonyism! U da man!

DMc


.

Sounds like the 6x47 Lapua.

I s'pose the 25x47 would be like a 250 AI.

great thread and it is pic bare so here's 250/3000 99 sav and a pic of my 257 bob sorry no 243 or 6mm can't seem to keep them for very long

Always would go with the 250, I dont think a 243 will kill a deer!!

^^^this^^^

I know I'm way late to this thread, but after your post, I wanted to second that.
I picked up a 1935 99 in the venerable 250.
I loaded with 87gr HotCors.
The deer went down like they were hit by a Mack truck.
Even though the exit wound was barely larger than the entry and there was very little blood surrounding the exit, the heart / lung area was pulp.
They hemorrhaged internally very quickly and the hydrostatic shock left a 4" circular bruise on its way out and also bruised the rear side of the meat on both shoulders with the shots entering about 4" below and 2" to the rear of the top rear of the shoulders.
I am well aware that the 243 literally mimics this but has a flatter trajectory beyond 200 yards.
Kudos to the 250.
It's my new favorite too !

How could anyone not be overcome with WANT after reading about the 250 Savage, or having a chance to shoot one?
I’m probably an odd ball, as I like to own and shoot/hunt with 358 Winchesters, too. Had 3 358’s, down to 1 now.

Ruger 77RL 250
Ruger 77R 250 (3)
Ruger No.1 250
Ruger 77 Mark II 250 Ackley Improved.

Down to only 3 250’s now.
I guess different strokes…. ☺️

I’m also disappointed a 25/08 wasn’t commercialized. Some one missed an opportunity.

Always wanted a 25 Souper

The .260 and a surge in 6.5 mm bullets killed that idea . . .

+1

I don't like the .250. Only have three and a .250AI. .243? Meh.

Have both 250 and .243, the 250 just does not have the bullet selection the 6 mm has, i really enjoy my 250 but it will never out shoot my 6mm's, shooting a cool rifle doesn't mean anything to the critters your shooting. Rio7

In 2009 or 2010 I had Mickey Coleman build my wife a 250AI. She loves it and it’s perfect for her. A 6mm creedmoor or 6.5 creedmoor would be just as perfect and a little easier to get from A to B.