Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 250 - 100 grain vs 117 grain ?

I am in the process of developing some whitetail deer loads for my 1953 250 Savage Model 99. It has a 1 in 14 inch twist barrel.

I was wondering if there are opinions about using a 100 grain spire point vs a 117 spire point or semi-spire point for eastern whitetails ?

Thanks for your help.

My own preference is the 100 grain Sierra Prohunters in my loads. They shot much better and I was able to get a more uniform load with the lighter bullet. That load has take two large Mulie bucks, several does and two antelope. Fired over IMR 4350 for 2650 FPS, shoots really well and puts them down. I save the 117's for my 257 Roberts, I have a bigger case for that bullet. Ryan

The slow twist probably won't work at all with 117s. With a 1 in 14 twist a lot of folks have to fiddle around a bit to find a spitzer 100 grainer that works well.

Folks here pointed me at the 100gr Hornady's for a larger load. In another rifle I've got, the 87gr Hornady's are scary accurate and should do the number on any deer you run into. A medium load of H4895 has them coming out at 2925 fps.. Manual shows that a max load will get up above 3100 fps. Whoof..

Also hear rumors that the 117gr Hornady RN bullets will work well.

For eastern whitetails.. I'd really consider the 87gr Hornady's. The cartridge was designed for the 87gr, and it shouldn't have any problem downing a whitetail.

Calhoun,

How does the Hornady 85 grain bullet hold up on the deer you have shot? Hornady lists their single .257" 85 grain offering in the "varmint" category instead of "traditional hunting". (Does the bullet retain mass well enough to penetrate?)

Any expanding hunting bullet, if moved at sufficient velocity, can disintegrate "like a varmint bullet" upon impact. Conversely, any expanding bullet, if moving slow enough, may not expand at all. "Varmint" does not necessarily mean it will not expand properly on deer, and I wanted your experience.

I've been using 100gr spitzers, but I want to try using 87 gr bullets for big game. The Hornady seems to be more available than other brands of 87 gr, or 90 gr bullets.

Try the Speer hot cores. I use the 87 and 100 grain bullets. Haven't shot a deer with them yet though.

I really like the 87 grain Speer HotCore for shooting deer with a 1 in 14" twist 250-3000. 1 nice thing about the Speer is that the 87 grain HotCore and 87 grain TNT shoot to the same approximate POA in my scoped 1920 and 20/26, so I feel confident shooting deer with the HotCore and coyotes with the TNT.

Actually, the best ever deer bullet for the 1 in 14" twist 250-3000 could be the discontinued 75 grain Barnes Original X. The beauty of that bullet is that it shoots to the same approximate POA as both the 75 grain VMax and 75 grain Sierra HP. Practice with the cheap(er), bullets and hunt with the Barnes.

Jeff

I'm still shooting factory load 87 grain but I've dropped 30 or 40 whitetails with them and very few have ever taken another step. Will be loading some Speers this winter and see how they do.

blackcat,

Not trying to thread highjack, just trying to bring up that most around here try to shoot shorter bullets, rather than longer. Bullets in 117 or 120 might work well in your rifle, but general rule of thumb is that 1in14 twist works best with 87 grain and lighter bullets, and sometimes with 100gr for satisfactory bullet stabilization. 117 and 120 more likely to keyhole. You will not know for sure unless you test the bullets, just don't invest a lot of money unless you are sure.

Randy, only used the 87gr Hornady on antelope so can't swear how they'll work on deer. Yet. But it performed awesomely on antelope at 180 yards. In one side, through the top of the heart and both lungs, nice expansion and out the other side. Maybe a 2" exit wound? My biggest worry would be a close shot where the velocity was still 2800 fps+ and I screw up and hit a shoulder..