.250 Savage

roy reali · February 12, 2010, 07:22 AM

A local gun shop has a Savage Model 14 on the rack chambered in .250 Savage. I was thinking of making this my tax refund purchase.

Who here has any hunting experience with round?

Art Eatman · February 12, 2010, 10:23 AM

87-grain bullet at 3,000 ft/sec is almost exactly the same ballistics as my pet .243 round. I've tagged over 20 bucks with it. The 117-grain load for the Savage, at around 2,700 ft/sec, is plenty good. It's just not a Ma Bell load, is all, but most deer aren't out in Ma Bell distances.

Pahoo · February 12, 2010, 10:41 AM

This was the first caliber I took to Alabama on deer hunting and the performance was great. Took most deer under 100yds. and a few longer shots. I'm not sure what your usage might be but for but I think it's a great deer round.

Be Safe !!!

fisherman66 · February 12, 2010, 11:25 AM

I've picked the 250-3000 cartridge as my son's first deer gun. I've looked high and low for rifles. It's pretty slim pickings. I went to a Lipsey's dealer with a down payment on the Ruger KM77RSI in 250, but they had sold all 250 (not cartridge, but count of that limited edition model) Lipseys. I've passed on a couple tang M77RSI too. All the sellers know it's a pretty rare chamber and price them as if they are new off the assembly line. If Ruger every gets around to making the #1 in RSI (K) version I will be first in line, but I can't imagine handing a kid a rifle that costs a grand. Perhaps I should look for a 14 Savage..shutter...for a learner rifle; still pricey. That would give me the #1 to work the kinks out.

As much as I respect the Savage 99, I don't need another centerfire lever action. Only new rifle chambered I've left (that I know about) out is the Cooper. I'm not quite ready to drop a few grand into a rifle yet.

HiBC · February 12, 2010, 03:15 PM

Its really not so different than a .257 Roberts till the +P loads.I'd like to own one.
One thing you might consider is the twist rate.Per PO Ackley Vol1,standard twist is 1 in 14 .That does fine on 87 grs,and maybe 100 grs,but you won't have luck with 115-120 gr bullets.
I built my 257 1 in 10.

I'm not suggesting that should be a deal breaker,its still a fine cartridge.It good to know these things up front.

longranger · February 12, 2010, 03:18 PM

100X better cartridge for deer than the .223 Rem. 85gr-110gr. bullets under 200 yds. very effective deer cartridge.My sons first deer rifle was Ruger M77 Mannlicher in 250-3000.Excellent youth, small stature shooter cartridge.First commercially available cartridge to exceed 3000fps. in a factory load.Deer sized game on down to feral cats,squirrels.

I would buy it,can't go wrong.good bullet selection and it kills.

Scorch · February 12, 2010, 06:21 PM

My dad hunted for 45 years with a Model 99 chambered for 250 Savage, and fed 4 children venison and rabbits for several years until they were old and skilled enough to go get their own. It is a relatively mild-recoiling, high velocity cartridge, good out to 300-ish yards, and has a reputation for outstanding accuracy. I say go for it!

taylorce1 · February 12, 2010, 06:27 PM

Get one or build one, that is my problem right now. I'm leaning toward building one on a commercial small ring action. I will have one someday.

L_Killkenny · February 12, 2010, 06:45 PM

Interesting you brought this up. I'm looking to get a used bolt gun in .250 Savage or .257 roberts for a project gun. Think I'd rather have the Bob but if I get a shot a good used .250 I'd take it.

LK

fisherman66 · February 12, 2010, 06:50 PM

LKKenny, if you really wanted the extra performance of the Roberts an AI'ed 250-3000 should run you right smack dab in that performance class, and still shoot factory 250.

Jack O'Conner · February 19, 2010, 05:51 PM

Arthur Savage introduced his Charles Newton inspired 250-3000 cartridge in his lever action model 99 about 100 years ago. This cartridge toppled many Canadian animals including caribou, big horn sheep, moose, and the great bears with a high speed 87 grain soft tip bullet. A few years later, Savage replaced this load with their 100 grain bullet. Many decades later, Winchester necked down their .308 cartridge to 6mm and named it the 243. Since then, the 250-3000 has faded into obscurity while the 243 continues to shine. Unfair but true.

Any new 250-3000 deserves consideration as both an investment and a legitimate hunting rifle. Plan to be impressed by these factors: outstanding accuracy, low recoil, and quick knock down of deer sized animals.

Good hunting to you.

Jack

February 12, 2010, 11:25 AM	#4
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	I've picked the 250-3000 cartridge as my son's first deer gun. I've looked high and low for rifles. It's pretty slim pickings. I went to a Lipsey's dealer with a down payment on the Ruger KM77RSI in 250, but they had sold all 250 (not cartridge, but count of that limited edition model) Lipseys. I've passed on a couple tang M77RSI too. All the sellers know it's a pretty rare chamber and price them as if they are new off the assembly line. If Ruger every gets around to making the #1 in RSI (K) version I will be first in line, but I can't imagine handing a kid a rifle that costs a grand. Perhaps I should look for a 14 Savage..shutter...for a learner rifle; still pricey. That would give me the #1 to work the kinks out. As much as I respect the Savage 99, I don't need another centerfire lever action. Only new rifle chambered I've left (that I know about) out is the Cooper. I'm not quite ready to drop a few grand into a rifle yet. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

February 12, 2010, 03:18 PM	#6
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	100X better cartridge for deer than the .223 Rem. 85gr-110gr. bullets under 200 yds. very effective deer cartridge.My sons first deer rifle was Ruger M77 Mannlicher in 250-3000.Excellent youth, small stature shooter cartridge.First commercially available cartridge to exceed 3000fps. in a factory load.Deer sized game on down to feral cats,squirrels.I would buy it,can't go wrong.good bullet selection and it kills.

February 12, 2010, 06:21 PM	#7
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	My dad hunted for 45 years with a Model 99 chambered for 250 Savage, and fed 4 children venison and rabbits for several years until they were old and skilled enough to go get their own. It is a relatively mild-recoiling, high velocity cartridge, good out to 300-ish yards, and has a reputation for outstanding accuracy. I say go for it! __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 12, 2010, 06:50 PM	#10
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	LKKenny, if you really wanted the extra performance of the Roberts an AI'ed 250-3000 should run you right smack dab in that performance class, and still shoot factory 250. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

February 19, 2010, 05:51 PM	#11
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Arthur Savage introduced his Charles Newton inspired 250-3000 cartridge in his lever action model 99 about 100 years ago. This cartridge toppled many Canadian animals including caribou, big horn sheep, moose, and the great bears with a high speed 87 grain soft tip bullet. A few years later, Savage replaced this load with their 100 grain bullet. Many decades later, Winchester necked down their .308 cartridge to 6mm and named it the 243. Since then, the 250-3000 has faded into obscurity while the 243 continues to shine. Unfair but true. Any new 250-3000 deserves consideration as both an investment and a legitimate hunting rifle. Plan to be impressed by these factors: outstanding accuracy, low recoil, and quick knock down of deer sized animals. Good hunting to you. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

February 12, 2010, 07:22 AM	#1
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	.250 Savage A local gun shop has a Savage Model 14 on the rack chambered in .250 Savage. I was thinking of making this my tax refund purchase. Who here has any hunting experience with round?

February 12, 2010, 10:23 AM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	87-grain bullet at 3,000 ft/sec is almost exactly the same ballistics as my pet .243 round. I've tagged over 20 bucks with it. The 117-grain load for the Savage, at around 2,700 ft/sec, is plenty good. It's just not a Ma Bell load, is all, but most deer aren't out in Ma Bell distances.

February 12, 2010, 10:41 AM	#3
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	This was the first caliber I took to Alabama on deer hunting and the performance was great. Took most deer under 100yds. and a few longer shots. I'm not sure what your usage might be but for but I think it's a great deer round. Be Safe !!!

February 12, 2010, 03:15 PM	#5
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	Its really not so different than a .257 Roberts till the +P loads.I'd like to own one. One thing you might consider is the twist rate.Per PO Ackley Vol1,standard twist is 1 in 14 .That does fine on 87 grs,and maybe 100 grs,but you won't have luck with 115-120 gr bullets. I built my 257 1 in 10. I'm not suggesting that should be a deal breaker,its still a fine cartridge.It good to know these things up front.

February 12, 2010, 06:27 PM	#8
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	Get one or build one, that is my problem right now. I'm leaning toward building one on a commercial small ring action. I will have one someday.

February 12, 2010, 06:45 PM	#9
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	Interesting you brought this up. I'm looking to get a used bolt gun in .250 Savage or .257 roberts for a project gun. Think I'd rather have the Bob but if I get a shot a good used .250 I'd take it. LK