Loading data in manuals for the .250 Savage reflect the use of the Savage model 99 for which it was chambered originally.
Has anyone tried to find out what the best performance is in a strong bolt action with 100-120 grain bullets and modern powders?
Both Cooper and savage chamber their bolt guns for the .250 Savage.
Like to hear from someone who has done it.
Thank you for yor time.

The Sierra Manual (latest edition) has data for the .250 Savage using bolt actions. It even has data on the .250AI.

I use the AI version, so I can't help any on the load info for the standard version.

The Savage 99 isn't exactly a weak action, so I don't know that the current reloading manuals set the recommended load ranges for a lower pressure limit. The limiting factors for the 250-3000 are case capacity, around 46 grains, and the rate of twist of the barrel.

The 250-3000, at 46 grains, just has less case capacity than the 243 (54 grains), 6mm Rem (56 grains), and 257 Roberts (56 grains).

Since 1960, all of the factory production rifles from Remington, Ruger, and Savage have had 1 in 10" ROT barrels, so that you could shoot bullets heavier than 100 grains. For some unknown reason, when Winchester/USRA made a run of 70 Lightweight Carbines in 1987, they made them with 1 in 14" ROT barrels.

If you're willing to take the chance, you can always exceed the reloading manuals' recommended maximum load data. Or, you can just increase your velocity potential by increasing the case capacity or by lowering the bullet weight. There isn't any free lunch when it comes to bullet velocity. You're limited by a mix of 3 factors; pressure, case capacity, and bullet weight.

Jeff

I have a few 250s` in bolt guns. My first bolt gun in this caliber was a mod 20 Savage which I still own. I loaded a lot for that gun in original form, 12 twist IIRC, then had it rebarreled to 1-10. The limiting factor with this cartridge, and one that P.O. Ackley agreed with, is case taper. You can run this case hot with any load you wish, but as you reach max. charges, you will be trimming every other time you load. You will also have case head seperation, even if mindfull of head space. So, tho I still have the 20s` my 700s` are in AI.

I normally shoot 1 or 2 grs. below bolt action max in my 99s...I have found that to be about right. Many of the loading manuals are for bolt actions and they will tell you on the first page. 1 or 2 grs. won't make any noticeable differnce in killing power on game or in how flat the round will shoot..

Pretty much what everybody else said, except I'll quote some velocities. I've owned at least half-a-dozen 99's and 3-4 bolt actions in .250. Of course it depends somewhat on the barrel length as well:

In a bolt rifle I've gotten over 3200 with fine accuracy with the 75-grain Hornady V-Max, and would probably choose that as the best all-around varmint bullet. In a bolt-action with a 22-24" barrel its easy to get 3000 fps or so with a 100-grain, and 2750 or even more with a 115-120. Even with a 1-10" twist, however, the slowest useable powders such as H4831 (which provide top velocities with 115-120 grain bullets) often don't provide the best accuracy. This is kind of irrelevant at normal .250 ranges, but there it is, for what it's worth.

I quit trying to make the .250 into a .257 Roberts many years ago, just about the time I quit trying to make the .30-06 into a .300 magnum. The .250 works great as a deer rifle with a 100-grain bullet at 2800 or so, and has perhaps the lightest recoil of any real deer rifle. That was what Charles Newton designed it to do in the beginning, and it's still just right.

I have a Rem. 700 chambered in .250 Savage. With 40 gr, H414 and 100 gr. bullets it chrono's 3050 fps and shows no sings of high pressure. That load is really accurate in my rifle too. You can't get much more from a .243. It's just a more efficient case and if you want you can shoot heavier bullets in it than you can in a .243. I'd take a .250 over a .243 anyday. The .250 is a way underated cartridge and should be a lot more popular than it is. Just my opinion and two cents worth.

I've got a250-3000 and a 250 savage both 99 well satisfyed with these guns ,both are good shooters also.

Remember, the Savage 99 was chambered in 308 Winchester, not a low pressure round.

What Mule Deer said. Only have one and it shoots Partitions in groups about half the size of Ballistic Tips. Consistently. Dunno why that bugs me. A little.

JB, I gather you have as much or more love for the 257....seems you have/had one in a Kimber? Just curious. Looks like a neat 25 in a 'right sized' package.....funny coming from a 6.5 nut as myself but I have considered one....since there not chambered in 250-3000

I seem to recall you get very good accuracy for a light hunting rifle...

I've got a 250 NULA, and it is a sweetie. Shoots 100gr anythings at about 2900 at 1 inch or less. I know it must recoil, but have not noticed it do so. All the hits are seen in the scope(Leupold 2.5-8) Easy to carry, easy to hit with. And kills cleanly.

The 250 Savage is a hidden jewel.

Steve

I have two standard 250 Savage bolt action rifles, and one in 250AI.
The standard 250's are a Rem Classic, and a custom one on a Model 98 action, with a Douglas barrel.
Here are two pix of groups they shoot at 100 yards.

The lighter loading data for the lever guns has more to do with the extraction camming available, than actual action strength. A modern bolt action has significantly more primary extraction....hence the ability to run at higher pressures w/o extraction issues.

In a bolt gun, the 250 Savage is treated just like any other cartridge. The AI version takes this cartridge to a whole different level.

Good shootin'. -Al

I believe there was also a change to the frame of the 99, when they started chambering the .308. I certainly wouldn't want to run bolt gun pressures in my pre-war .250-3000.

Jeff

I've often considered building a light weight 250 Savage bolt action rifle as it is an excellent deer cartridge and the sound is relatively low. I have fairly severe hearing loss and do not want to add to the loss; the 250 would be ideal.

The receiver was lengthened internally for the 243/308/358 cartridges at the 900,000 serial number mark. Previous to this it was sized for 250/300 Savage, and just not long enough for the Winchester cartridges.

Don't think there was any strengthening added.

Is what happened to this one. Was a .22-250, need a tomato stake?

I always think the .250 Savage is a great end point for a .22-250 workover. I have a tang safety M77 .250 Savage in my grandkid collection, it is an excellent rifle.

jim

That would make a great makeover for a Stevens 200 that's in my safe. Right now it's a 243.

It's nice to read about cartridges that have been around for awhile versus the short, fat crowd.

I have never understood why folks want to make a 257 or 25-06 out of a 250 Savage by loading it hot...

The real beauty of the 250-3000 is a very quite, light recoiling, caliber that is suitable for deer and antelope in every respect and under all conditions as far as I know..Hey, you don't even need ear plugs when you hunt, you don't even need a recoil pad.

If you want 25-06 or hot loaded 257 Robts. velocity, then the 250-3000 is not for you, it is what it is...

I shot a lot of deer and elk in my mispent cowboy youth with the 250-3000 with slow factory Rem corelokt and Win Silvertip 100 gr. ammo at probably 2600 FPS, and some with the 117 gr. Peters RN at who knows what, probably 2400 FPS or there abouts!! and it never failed me, once again showing the plus factor of cup and core bullets at reasonable velocity..

I still hunt deer and antelope with that same gun from time to time, usually when I am hunting from horseback and jump shooting.

I keep hearing about how well cup and core bullets work at 2200 to 2600 fps and that's been consistent with my experience. Conversely I once had an issue with a cup and core bullet at ~3000 fps, but that could have been due to other factors. As of late I've loaded my various rifles at from 2300 to 2800 fps. Maybe I'll rethink that and back it down a notch on the high end.

Separately, I remember that Jack Belk said that the .250 Savage was his favorite round for youths.

Thanks Calhoun. I was hoping one of the serious Savage guys would chime in. I wasn't sure if the mod was for feeding or strength. I'd still play it safe on guns made before the .308 was available.

Jeff

Steve, everytime I drop a deer w/a 6mmBR, or shoot an itty bitty group, I think the same, a hidden jewel that nobody notices.

DJS, if not a 250-3000, a 6mmBR is a sweetie and drops deer no problems if you use do your part. I am like you and do not want to add injury to my damaged hearing, let alone take any more on my shoulder than I need to get the job done.

I just finnished a Stevens 200 22-250 to 250 Sav. and have a Sav 1920 and a 99 Takedown in 250-3000.

A few years back I built a wildcat 25-204Ruger that is running 100gr NPT's at 2800fps, great little deer rig.

erich

Ah, the hidden jewels. More and more, I find myself looking at cartridges that I owned years ago. In some cases, they are cartridges that I wanted to buy but could never afford. The 250 Savage is one, along with the 25-35, Wasps, Zippers and Bees.

How did the 250 Savage build go? I assume that you had no problems with feeding from the magazine.

I recently started loading for a .250, that I built on a Savage action as a coyote gun. It has a Douglas barrel from Sharp Shooter Supply, as well as their recoil lug and trigger. I've an abundance of Sierra 90gr bthp bullets, so started with them in Remington cases, and Reloader 15. It groups quite well, but I've yet to get it to feed from the magazine (older, stagger feed magazine). I think a stronger spring might help, and maybe a spacer in the rear to take up space.....

Kaiser Norton

I think we all get to the point of realizing, the stuff from the early part of the 20th century works just fine. The 250 Savage is a wonderful example.

I am also with Wismon here on the fact that a little lower velocity, is not only more accurate, but also more along the lines of giving the best performance with standard cup and core bullets.

Particularly at ranges I seem to take most of my game at, I am a big fan of 2400 fps seems to be an ideal MV for hunting, especially combined with heavier bullets.

I'm debating on a 250 Savage barrel, on what is currently a Ruger Stainless 22.250. However I want to duplicate the balance of a Ruger RSI, and make it with an 18 inch barrel, and also reduce the length of pull by an inch. To give it a little more heft and rigidity, have the barrel contoured in a heavy magnum profile.

That with the 117 grain RN Hornady, would make an easily carrying and handling rifle, making the old 7 x 57 Featherweight, seem as heavy as a varmint rifle.

Mine feeds like it was built for it, it is a center feed. The 25-204 took alot of tweeking, pulling the spacer on the old 223 mag and making a new one plus bending the mag lips. After they added the 204 the mag boxes are longer and the new mag boxes work better.

erich

That 40 gr. H414 with 100 gr. bullet is NOT a hot load, it's right out of the loading manuals and was tested in a '99 Sav. I don't believe in overloading any cartridge but I like to safely get all I can out of them. I have use core-lokts in my .250 at 3000 fps and they work just fine, same for my .270. I still say the .250 is way underated and should be more popular.

I feel that way about the 25 WSSM and 260, "underated and should be more popular".

Jeff

The 250-3000 was the first WSSM.

Doc

In my 700 Classic, I load 40.3gr RL15 and either the 75gr Sierra or the V-max. The Sierra chrono'd 3415fps. Haven't checked the V-max. 37gr of 4320 and the 87gr Hotcore does 3071 from my old 99 Savage. I have to trim cases about every three loadings. 37gr 4320 or RL15 and the 100gr NBT does 3003fps. I switched to the Hornady 100gr because I like the terminal performance better. Also use that load in my Dakota 76. Lost a little velocity, but the deer don't mind. Haven't trimmed brass for the bolt guns because I use the Lee collet die for them. YMMV

Seafire, FWIW, I passed by a 77 MK2 SS/Walnut 18.5" in 250/3000 that was mfg in the past year or two. In case you did not know, you might find one, those are very handy carbines. I'd prefer a 20" RSI in a #1 or a 22" or so bolt. Not likley there is much practical difference on deer in the field in carbine vs. std. bbl. at typical ranges.

Except for the fact a .250 Savage never would fit in a .223 length action.

I have one of the new Lipsey Ruger 77 full stock rifles , Stainless over walnut chambered in 250 Savage. What a beautiful rifle it it. Factory trigger is very nice. I haven't started to load for it yet as I had a few factory rounds of 100gr Winchester ammo. I can't get over how pleasant a round this is to shoot. I think I'll be loading 100 gr bullets for deer hunting for next season. Seems to have a rather short throat.

Regards Greg

Soon as I can the money moved around I'll be having a Browning A-bolt rebarreled to 250AI. Decided on the AI to make it be able to zip the bullets a biut faster if I want, save on brass trimming and still allow usual 250 loads for typical deer hunting.
I'll have a 250 bolt gun, A 358Win Marlin lever, and maybe someday a 454 Casul lever gun. Plus my 17 and 22 rimfires. Then maybe another 50cal lefty sidelock front stuffer someday as I sold my muzzleloader this year.

Oh... something in 300 Savage and something in 204 Ruger would help round out the collection. Then maybe something in a 40...