Anyone have experience with the .250 Savage in a 1:10 barrel?

[homefront]

I'm looking for feedback.

This seems to be an efficient and useful cartridge. Moderate powder use, decent velocities and trajectory, light recoil, long barrel life, useful (300 yard) range for light big game, can also be used with lighter bullets for varmint shooting. I'm surprised it's not more popular... is there something I'm overlooking?

Does anyone here shoot the .250 Savage (.250-3000) using 100+ grain bullets in a modern 1:10 barrel? How's the
accuracy/performance? I'm not particularly interested in the old 1:14 barrels and lighter bullets.

 

[outofayr]

Yes, you're on to something! It's amazing how this almost 100 yr old cartridge can perform. Marketing on the 243 is basically what did the 250 Savage in, but the two cartridges are remarkably similar. I grew up shooting a Mod 99 in 250, and have owned several others since.

The 250 Savage is great in a faster twist barrel. I currently have one built on an FN SPR action (basically SA CRF Mod 70 w/ DBM) and a Satern 5R barrel with 10" twist finished at 22". My varmint load is an 85 gr Nosler BT in front of a case full of H380. My go-to deer load is either the Sierra 90 gr HPBT and H4895 or the 100gr Nosler BT with IMR4320. My current rifle even shoots the green box ammo to under MOA, so it'll do in a pinch.

The 85 gr load shoots in the 3s consistently, and the deer loads are all 6s or better. I've taken quite a few deer, Pdogs, skunks, and one porcupine with the 250, and never felt like I was missing out by not having more gun. I do limit ranges to 300 yds on deer with this cartridge.

I'm currently working up a load using the 115 gr Nosler BT to see how that one does. Have to wait for a somewhat decent day at the range, though; last two times I tried to go we had 25-30 mph winds with strong gusts....also have some of the 120 gr pills to try, but not sure that they'll stabilize at the 250s velocities, so time will tell.

Have fun,

Brian

 

[homefront]

Thank you, Brian. Apparently, the cartridge is all that I thought seemed. It's a shame that it's overshadowed by the .243; at practical hunting distances it sounds like the better deer round.

 

[outofayr]

Agreed. I think the 1/4 bore is better all around, but I could be a little biased...

 

[bigngreen]

The 250-3000 is a great little round, even better if you AI it!! It's got to be one of the greatest deer chamberings ever, killed a few elk with it as well. Really like the 115gr Bergers with R17!!! I've seen it smoke deer out past 400yrds like nobodies business, AI'ing it made it just that much better though!

 

[homefront]

Makes me wonder why the military never considered it. Probably not quite as effective with hardball. With the heavier bullets, I'm thinking it's at least on par with the 6.8 SPC at 300 yards.

 

[homefront]

Yes, you're on to something! It's amazing how this almost 100 yr old cartridge can perform.

I'm currently working up a load using the 115 gr Nosler BT to see how that one does. Have to wait for a somewhat decent day at the range, though; last two times I tried to go we had 25-30 mph winds with strong gusts....also have some of the 120 gr pills to try, but not sure that they'll stabilize at the 250s velocities, so time will tell.

I''l be curious to hear how those 115 and 120's do and which powders work best.

 

[backwoods83]

Great little round, obviously the parent to the 22-250 but also think about this, when a 22-250 is neck up or a 250 is necked down and given a 30* shoulder you get a 6mm XC that has the ability to launch 107 SMKs close to 3100 fps from a 26" tube. A 250 as stated above with a 85grn NBT and compressed H380 will give you almost 3200 fps from a 24" barrel and Imr4350, H4350, or RE17 will get you around 2900 with a 115. Oh and yes they are very accurate, the only reason the 250 or 22-250 was never adopted by the military is that its more efficient case design was not ideal for autoloading. If you do a 250AI you stand to gain 1-150 fps and you could start with norma 6mm XC cases, great round, have fun.

 

[homefront]

Hmm... sounds tempting. I'm getting ready to order a 26" varmint barrel for my 7mm-08... maybe changing to .250 Savage is a smarter move. Less powder, less recoil, good accuracy. Right now I only shoot paper and 200 yards the furthest backstop I have available. Once in a blue moon I can shoot at friend's club in NJ to 300 yards. I can always hang on to my brass and dies until I decide I really need the power of a 7-08.

 

[CliffM]

The 250 AI that BignGreen referred to started life as a Savage supersporter 1930's vintage that we discovered had a 14 twist barrel. It was rebarreled with a Douglas #2 26". The intent on going with the Improved version was to shoot something heavier than 100gr. at 100gr. velocities. 40-42gr. of almost any 4350 speed powder will do that. Last season's load used R17 and Hornady 120 Hollow Points. This rifle shot them at 2980 the best, but up to 3100 had no pressure signs. For me R 17 is THE powder for the 250. Have fun, Cliff

 

[CliffM]

I punched the send button too soon.
After shooting an antelope and a deer at 430 with the Hornady bullet I had no problem using it for elk, nice cow 1 shot in the neck.
This season I'll try the 115 Bergers and maybe the 110 Accubombs. A local Benchrest shooter mentioned that with the quality of bullets available now that it could do well.Cliff

 

[derrickman]

I'm shooting a 1/10T 24" Shilen barrel in a Ruger M77. Average accuracy with 100gr. pills but try 115 Berger VLD hunting with 31 grs. IMR 4895. I'm shooting 3 shot groups .16" to .270". Will be hunting with this load this fall.
derrickman

 

[the jigger]

I originally built mine for nostalgia sake.
Savage 10 action
Savage 1in10 25/06 take-off barrel(it had fewer than 20 shots through it)
Sharpshooter trigger
B&C Carbelite stock
Nikon 3X9 scope
During load development I used RL15, 100gr Bal tips,Partitions, and Sierra Game Kings. Surprisingly enough the 100gr Partition shot the best out to 200yds. At 10yds it shoots cloverleafs. The last deer I shot was at a lasered 110yds; high shoulder DRT.
My 250/3000 is certainly not a safe queen.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

 

[den]

have 2 250s in the herd one is a Winchester with a douglas barrel has killed probably 8 or so blacktails without any problems one was a nice big bodied four point at around a hundred yards behind the shoulder shot he was drt I was a little worried at the time that the little 100 gr nosler bt bullet could do this , the other is a ruger 77 with a 25 wsm take off barrel both being around 21 inches & they both shoot very well with h 414 and rl 17 and bullets in the 100 to 115gr weight range all I have tried so far