250- 3000 and other quarter bores

[std7mag]

Mine is a rebarreled Stevens 200. So i have all kinds of magazine room!

I'm one of the very few people i know running the 115gr Berger VLD in a 250 Savage.

[ligonierbill]

I should provide a "final" update, although there is more work to do.

I didn't get a picture of my Marlin 27S, but my 75 Speer FP ran 1,700 fps over IMR-4198. Fun gun, and likely deadly on varmints at <100 yards. This is my only slide action rifle, and a joy to shoot, but in truth the old cartridge for coyotes and smaller is the 22 Hornet. That's why I sold my Savage 23 B and C and kept the D's. But a classic handy little popper it is.

The Savage 20 250-3000 is pictured. I had it out again today with below max loads of 100 gr. Remington CoreLokt, but it seems inconsistent. I will keep trying, but this girl is nearly 100, and I'm not going to fool with such a classic. Oh yes, there are other interesting guns on GB. But...

"Bob", the old Nazi (receiver has the eagle and swastika), now reformed to a 257 Roberts deerslayer, remains my favorite quarter bore, and maybe my favorite rifle. A little heavy, as I put a Richards Microfit claro walnut stock on her. But as a result, recoil is negligible. Timney trigger is really nice. And IMR-4955 works very well under Sierra Pro Hunter 117s. So I'd be a fool to get caught up in the 250-3000. Yeah, I'll do it anyway.

Oh, the 257 "Roy". She's on her way to Sheridan, Wyoming for a new barrel. A 40+ year old barrel burner deserves a new one, and my first outing indicated the need. No worries, the price I paid pretty much accounted for this eventuality. But I can see why Roy Weatherby and others love this round. Although it has outrageous powder capacity and velocity (OK, Lazzeroni has a faster one), it doesn't really kick much. And as someone said, that 9 lug bolt is a work of art.

So there you are. I'm enjoying my quarter bores, but Bob is going hunting this Fall.

[std7mag]

I can probably tell you why your 100yr old rifle wasn't accurate with the 100 gr bullets.

The 250 Savage was originally rifled for 87gr bullets.
It probably came with a 1:12 twist barrel.

If you handload, i'd suggest some 85gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.

And unless your name is Bob, then the cartridge you plan to hunt with is the Roberts.
Roberts being the designers last name, not the first name.
Although Paul Mauser chambered the 25X57 Mauser almost 30 years earlier.

Sorry, pet peeve.

[ligonierbill]

"Bob" is my rifle. I'll give Ned Roberts his due. And I think the twist is 1:14. It stayed at 1:14 after the 100 gr loads were introduced in the 30's. I do have a load for Sierra 75 grain "Varminter" that I have yet to group.

[bacardisteve]

The quarter bore is making a little comeback. Berger now makes a 133gr hybrid with a .613 bc that requires an 8 twist. Barnes just came out with a 101gr lrx but haven't released ballistics on it. There are also some smaller makers like Patriot valley arms,cutting edge and hammer producing longer .257 pills requiring an 8 twist. Sure it won't take long now and Hornady will release a 25 creedmoor lol. Im really considering getting a 7 or 8 twist bbl chambered in 257 wby or 25x284 to try those new Berger's.

[JustJake]

The quarter bore is making a little comeback. Berger now makes a 133gr hybrid with a .613 bc that requires an 8 twist. Barnes just came out with a 101gr lrx but haven't released ballistics on it. There are also some smaller makers like Patriot valley arms,cutting edge and hammer producing longer .257 pills requiring an 8 twist. Sure it won't take long now and Hornady will release a 25 creedmoor lol. I'm really considering getting a 7 or 8 twist bbl chambered in 257 wby or 25x284 to try those new Berger's.

The real question is, which is making more of a comeback in the wonderful Quarterbore World: the 25-06 or the 257 WBY?

[ligonierbill]

I don't know that either is making a comeback--they never left. I think the 250-3000 and 257 Roberts are making a modest return to the mainstream. Folks are rediscovering what my grandparents' generation knew: They kill deer and they don't kick. The hot 25s have always had a limited, but enthusiastic, following, and they still do. They kill...well, some folks shoot elk with them, and Roy Weatherby killed a rhino (?)...and they don't kick a whole lot. But I don't think they will challenge the current 6.5mm craze. Still, it's a lot of fun to get the old rounds back in the game, and new things are always interesting.

[kmw1954]

The more I look into this topic and consider my needs and also my personality of "a different drum" I'm thinking this 250 savage may just work very well to the 300yd distance our league shoots. May even prove to be more fun than the 223 I'm shooting now.

[std7mag]

Most of the members heard i was going to build a benchrest rifle.
So of course after a match we are all sitting around conversing, and my friend brings the subject up.
It was an imediate, overwhelming " buy a known winning rifle in 6BR"!

Wherein i looked around and brought up, of the 20 some people there, only 2 were shooting 6BR.
Rifles ranged from 223 through 30BR caliber wise. One person shooting a shortened 284 Win case with 190gr Bergers.

I'm not going to be burning much, if any more powder than the 6.5X47s.
Recoil should be light. (Planned weight of 14 lbs)
And for some unknown reason to me, the 6mm (and 6.5 mm) shooters are shooting heavy high BC bullets even at 100 yards.

With a good, consistent bullet out of my 24" barrel clocking in the 3,150s, i'm already through the target while the wind is still blowing on theirs.

That's my theory anyways, and i'm sticking to it!

[ligonierbill]

Sounds like testing your theory will be a lot of fun at worst, and you may just dominate your league for awhile. I have not been able to find any 87 grain bullets for the Savage 20, but I will give the 75 Sierras a run next week. Although I have not given up on 100s, I've caved to the faster twist and ordered a Remington 700 barreled action on GB. As usual probably paid too much, but I have a new project with a 1:10 twist. Mine are always intended as hunting rifles.

[std7mag]

The Sierra 75gr HP Varminter was discontinued.
I bought 3,000 while they were available.

My build this year was unintended.
Someone offered me an E.R. Shaw barrel in 257 Roberts for $100.
It is now paired with a Savage 111, and reamed to Ackley Improved.
Mostly looking at bullets in the 115-120gr weight for it.

[ligonierbill]

I have 80 of the 75s left; I had already switched to the 70 gr BlitzKing for my Roberts varmint bullet, so it's a good use for them. FWIW, those 75 Varminters go 3,400 from the Roberts, 3,234 from the Savage 20, both with 24" barrels.

[std7mag]

The 75gr HP Varminters are running about 3,150 from my 24" barrel using Alliant Varmint.
Not the fastest loading, but man are they accurate! Especially from a sporter barreled hunting rifle!

Got my trigger in today.
Also found out my barrel shipped today. Should show up on Wednesday.
Only took 18 weeks.
Was told 12 when i ordered.

[stagpanther]

Also found out my barrel shipped today. Should show up on Wednesday.
Only took 18 weeks.
Was told 12 when i ordered.

Last barrel I ordered was quoted 10 to 12 weeks; ended up taking 5 months--but it was worth the wait, a great shooter. What I don't like is a barrel that takes a long time AND is poorly executed; meaning it sat in the pile and was rushed when they finally got around to it.

[Hanshi]

I like the quarter bores. At one time or another I've owned the .250, .257R and the 25/06.

I bought my first .250 more than 50 years ago, and my second near 40 years ago. They were a Ruger M77 and a Savage M99. The Ruger is still so unbelievably accurate it's truly amazing. It's lightening on deer and shoots under .5" at 100 yds and smaller. The 100 grain bullet is my favorite and is used on deer. The 87 grain is just as accurate. The M99 is very accurate and a sure deer killer, but not on the M77 level.

I've had two .257R rifles, a Ruger M77 and a Remington classic M700. The M700 was by far the best but only a little more accurate than the long throated M77. I took lots of deer with the M700 and the 100 grain bullet. Two 25/06 rifles have graced my safe, a M700 HB varmint and a M700 sporter. Neither were used much but I wish I had one of them back. The .257R sped a 100 grain bullet at between 3200 fps and 3300 fps without going max on powder charge.

[bacardisteve]

I received some of the new Barnes 101gr lrx in the mail today. Barnes told me they have no data for 257wby yet but use 100gr ttsx as a starting point and that the g1 bc is .400. The lrx are slightly longer overall with more bearing surface and a longer base to ogive. The ballistics look really promising if that bc holds true.

[std7mag]

Please let us know how the new Barnes works out for you!

Another option for Varmint bullets is the 90gr Sierra BlitzKing.
Has proven effective on coyotes, and depending on wind, fairly accurate out to 500 yards.
I use them in both my 250 Savage & 257 Roberts.

I'm looking forward to trying out the new 110gr Tipped GameKing.
If their advertized 0.447 G1 holds true then it will definitely help at longer ranges!

I wish i could get something heavier than the 90gr Raptor to shoot jn my 1:10 twist barrels from Cutting Edge.
Their MTH line shoots great in my 7mm's.

[bacardisteve]

I started a thread on the new Barnes in the reloading thread.

[std7mag]

Well, my Shilen barrel finally arrived.
Recoil lug pinned to receiver, barrel on & headspace set. Trigger on & adjusted.
Now to get the stock built.

[gemihur]

You can't go wrong with a 250/3000
1:10" twist was standard for their barrels

I take it easy on the little break action, but she shines!
22-250 as been the most prevalent donor brass for conversion
Thanks,
Jimmy

[Seedy Character]

Mid 70s, college days, it was Rem 700 .25-06. Never should have let that one get away. Mid 80s, it was. a Rem 700 .257 Roberts. Had it cut to AI. It was a one ragged hole shooter, with 117gr bullets. So much so, a guy on the rifle range made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I should have, but couldn't.

[std7mag]

I built a 257 Roberts AI on a Savage 111 this year.
Cases are fireformed. Now doing load work ups for 120gr Partitions & 120gr Sierra HPBT GameKings.
Would like to do the 115gr Berger VLD, but don't have enough.
I'll end up using them in my Ruger 77 MKII in 257 Roberts.

Finding bullets that i want has been a PITA this past year!

[std7mag]

Ran a ladder test for the 257 Roberts AI with 120gr Sierra HPBT GameKings using Norma MRP powder.
Not too happy with it.
Seems too slow burning. (Roughly same burn rate as RL22).

Going to try something a little faster burning.
IMR 4831, RL19, Ramshot Hunter.
May play with Alliant PP4000MR.

[ligonierbill]

I get good results with a standard Roberts and 117 Sierra ProHunters over Re-22 or, recently, IMR-4955. The Enduron powder acts like Re-22 in this application, more like Re-19 in others. I'd sure like to hear how 4000-MR does.

[std7mag]

My go to powder for my 257 Roberts with 100-115gr bullets is Hodgdon Hybrid 100V.
I'm loading to +P pressures. It's done well with regards to velocity and expected accuracy.

My 280 Rem & 284 Win up through 150gr bullets have been reacting well with the Alliant PP4000MR.