250 Savage: RIP.

[Tommie]

Each time a read a thread asking “What deer cartridge for my wife (or son, daughter, grandchild)?” my first thought is always the wonderful 250 Savage. Superbly balanced, efficient, light-recoiling and deadly. For decades it was a huge deer hunting favorite. It’s hard to imagine a slicker venison harvester than a Model 99 in 250 Savage. Now this grand old chambering is relegated to special order status. At best. Ammunition is manufactured in small runs and is getting tougher to find.

I’m all about cool hotrods but too many excellent cartridges are withering away. Somehow we’ve become convinced that deer (and most other game animals) have become immensely more difficult to dispatch than in years past. Teddy Roosevelt managed great success hunting lions with a “puny” lever action .405 Winchester.

Maybe the 250-3000 will make a comeback. Just call it the 25 Creedmoor.

 

[Chief 101]

say, how about 25-250? That name might work

 

[LoganDon]

A sad commentary on some of the shooters of today. I look back on my much younger days and see that the old 270 and '06 were used quite efficiently and the deer and elk fell just like they do to the newer "wonder magnums" are used. If I were to take all this nonsense of how much better our new cartridges are, I would have to conclude that what I harvested in my early years were all just a fluke. After maturing through the magnum years, I am, at 74, returning to the tried and true cartridges that are easy to reload for and cycle so smoothly. The one component that I really appreciate is the new bullets - they much more accurate and kill better - my 1955/6 pre-64 model 70's in 308,270 and '06 both shoot consistently under 1" and are a joy to hunt with.

 

[nakneker]

You always have a rifle you regret selling unless your that guy that doesn’t sell your firearms and still have the first centerfire you ever owned. Sadly, I’m not that guy. Two rifles I regret selling is an old brass counter Savage in 250 savage and a Little Sako I had rebarreled to 250 savage AI.

 

[LHSmith]

Well it ain't dead yet. Remington offers brass (packaged by Black Hills Shooters Supply through Cabelas) and Hornady lists it as a new product. I had forgone the chambering for 44 years of my hunting/shooting years until an article in PS magazine and about a dozen members here convinced me I needed a .250 AI. I had a legit reason for another build - my grandson was soon to start hunting thanks to PA's mentored program. Then 2 years ago, I was lucky enough to find a 1915 mfg. Model 99 takedown in .250 Sav. The 99 was THE rifle of choice at the hunting camp ( although chambered in .300 or .303 Sav.) I have been lucky enough to be a member of since 1966, so nostalgia made me do it.

 

[KMart]

A sad commentary on some of the shooters of today. I look back on my much younger days and see that the old 270 and '06 were used quite efficiently and the deer and elk fell just like they do to the newer "wonder magnums" are used. If I were to take all this nonsense of how much better our new cartridges are, I would have to conclude that what I harvested in my early years were all just a fluke. After maturing through the magnum years, I am, at 74, returning to the tried and true cartridges that are easy to reload for and cycle so smoothly. The one component that I really appreciate is the new bullets - they much more accurate and kill better - my 1955/6 pre-64 model 70's in 308,270 and '06 both shoot consistently under 1" and are a joy to hunt with.

I too appreciate the better bullets. When we were young and needed ammo, we went to the hardware or sporting goods store (most times one in the same) and asked for a box of ammo for whatever cartridge we shot. And we got whatever they had. Now we have the ability to pick a purpose built bullet for our shooting needs, plinking, varmint, small game, large game, or target.

 

[br1111]

I too appreciate the better bullets. When we were young and needed ammo, we went to the hardware or sporting goods store (most times one in the same) and asked for a box of ammo for whatever cartridge we shot. And we got whatever they had. Now we have the ability to pick a purpose built bullet for our shooting needs, plinking, varmint, small game, large game, or target.

anyone who truly knows the 250 savage knows what a fantastic deer cartridge it is. I had a 700 classic in a 250 savage and it was a low recoiling deer killing super accurate deer rifle.and if you improve the 250 savage it runs in the 25/06 ballistic range 10 to 14 grains less powder charges. one is in my future with a bat action custom rifle. I cant say enough good things about the 250 savage!

 

[1K6BRA]

Check out my comments on the 250 savage in the thread” if you could only own one rifle” I believe it is on page number four. Long live the savage,may I continue to hear you’re spiteful crack in deer season for the rest of my life!

 

[br1111]

Check out my comments on the 250 savage in the thread” if you could only own one rifle” I believe it is on page number four. Long live the savage,may I continue to hear you’re spiteful crack in deer season for the rest of my life!

there is just something about a quarterbore that just eats us up if your one of those people. the caliber bullet and weights generally produce less recoil and provide deadly terminal effects. my dad passed this down to me. he is gone know and I miss him dearly but what he passed down to me , loving the sports and hunting and shooting the quarterbore will live in me until the day I am gone to be with him again!

 

[thekriebles]

It is amazing how some wildcats come full circle over time. Look how far ahead of his time Harvey Donaldson was in the 40's with his 250 ACE wildcat, which uses the 250 Savage case as its parent. Clearly there are differences, but look how similar in appearance the 250 ACE is to the 6mm-6.5x47mm Lapua with their 30° shoulders, less tapered case walls, and overall size:

 

[swd]

I've always planned on building matching pair of 250/3000's for my daughter and myself and will also be her first deer rifle. I've got barrels and a pair of 36' Mexican Mauser action's just waiting for me to do it..

 

[Eddie Harren]

I built my grandson a 250 Savage AI and several months later built myself one. Hoping he will get a chance to hunt deer with me in the future.

 

[STOMP442]

The .250 Savage will always live on with me. I always recommend it on those threads where people are asking "what caliber for my son?" I own three of the little sweethearts and I don't think I will ever get rid of them. The problem with mentioning the .250 Savage in those threads is that the very next poster will invariably say .25 cal bullet selection sucks get a .243 or a 7-08. What they never say because they obviously don't know is that the bullet selection we do have is plenty and works like a champ. I have an old model 99 take down that goes with me on just about every coyote stand. I have yet to find a handier, easier to shoulder rifle that points so naturally. That rifle spits 75gr Hornady Vmaxes at 3100 fps and will hold a 3/4" group at 100 yards. The report is mild and the recoil is milder. The dogs die with a smile on their face for having been sent to the happy hunting grounds with such a beautiful classic rifle. I also have one built on a short action savage with a 24" Adams & Bennet barrel set in a youth stock that I built for my nephew. He successfully harvested a nice elk with it one year at 200 yards with a 115gr Berger at 2800fps. I also have another Savage set up much the same way except with a full-size walnut stock that I took a Coues Deer with at 667 yards also with a 115gr Berger. Are there better cartridges out there? Sure, but you are hard pressed to find one as sweet.

 

[357Mag]

Tommie -

Howdy !

The 22" barrel M-77 .250 -3000 I used to have was a death ray on groundhogs.

I remain so impressed by the .250-3000, that I'm considering using the case in a 1,000yd-capable
dual-role' varmint/target rifle. Besides its application to " Soybeanus Digestus ", mine would also
be used on a future PD trip.

In the later role' , I see potential bennies of shooting .250-3000 in a high expansion ratio rifle.
I've done math for barrel lengths in the 29-31" range.

The new Hornady .25" caliber 110gr ELD-X holds appeal, and deliverable energy looks good for
even 1,000yd shooting.

I like to shoot high load densities when I can, so along w/ the long barrel; I'd be going w/ a powder having a slower than typical powder burn. It'd be a powder w/ proven temp insensitivity, perhaps w/ a burn rate as "slow" as IMR4955. Range testing would tell the tale.

I've not seen many heavy-barreled .250-3000's over the past few decades ( in person, on the Net, or in magazines ). Certainly not any configures as heavy varmint / target rifles w/ a wt of likely 17lb + .


With regards,
357Mag

 

[KMart]

anyone who truly knows the 250 savage knows what a fantastic deer cartridge it is. I had a 700 classic in a 250 savage and it was a low recoiling deer killing super accurate deer rifle.and if you improve the 250 savage it runs in the 25/06 ballistic range 10 to 14 grains less powder charges. one is in my future with a bat action custom rifle. I cant say enough good things about the 250 savage!

I have a smaller 25 in my near future. The barrel, reamer, and dies are ordered and are about 6 weeks out.
It is a 25 Dasher built on the new F Class Dasher brass from Bullets.com. It will be interesting to see what kind of velocity I can get from the 100 gr and 115 grain bullets. Some folks here have said that they get over 3000 fps from a straight 25 BR with the 100. RE-16 works very well in my 6 Dasher with about 3100 fps with a 105.

 

[nakneker]

It is amazing how some wildcats come full circle over time. Look how far ahead of his time Harvey Donaldson was in the 40's with his 250 ACE wildcat, which uses the 250 Savage case as its parent. Clearly, there are differences, but look how similar in appearance the 250 ACE is to the 6mm-6.5x47mm Lapua with their 30° shoulders and less tapered case walls:

View attachment 1034485

I have a smaller 25 in my near future. The barrel, reamer, and dies are ordered and are about 6 weeks out.
It is a 25 Dasher built on the new F Class Dasher brass from Bullets.com. It will be interesting to see what kind of velocity I can get from the 100 gr and 115 grain bullets. Some folks here have said that they get over 3000 fps from a straight 25 BR with the 100. RE-16 works very well in my 6 Dasher with about 3100 fps with a 105.

I had a 25x47 built last year. Its a fun rifle and has accounted for two deer and half dozen yotes. Easy to load for, good brass and very accurate. I haven't really played with yet. I used the first load I shot, varget and BIB 110s and it shot well under .5 moa. I'll take it a little more serious this spring and push it a bit harder. It might be one to consider. Alex Wheeler put it together and I left the reamer with him, that would solve one problem for you.

 

[TippyRacer]

It seems like the 250-3000 would be awesome in a Ruger No 1, but I’m certainly not a No 1 historian. Was this ever a factory offering?
That would be tempting.

 

[Steve Ladino]

Love my Adams and Benett small shank FV 12 with a 75 grain and BLc2.

 

[kris bassett]

I love my model 99 in 250-3000! My Grandpa gave it to me. It was his dad's hunting rifle. I'm pretty sure mine was built in 1917. One thing I love about it is the leather buttpad. You just don't see things like that anymore. But my favorite feature is the brass round counter. That was an ingenious idea.

My Grandpa has a 250-3000 he had built off of a Mauser action .It has a nice blonde thumbhole stock. I used to love shooting that gun. My Grandpa refers to it as his big gun lol. I can't shoot it anymore because my thumb is too big to fit through the hole in the stock .

Kris

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Tommie,

I have a M1895 in 405 Winchester. Shooting it is NOT for the faint of heart.

It is a shame that so many of the neat milder recoiling hunting rifle cartridges are fading away. My favorite of the bunch is the standard 257 Roberts. That said, there are no flies on the 250 Savage, even today. Part of the joy in my Roberts was the careful design planning, and acquiring the custom pieces one at a time.