250-3000 Savage

M

MK2750

CGN Regular
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Location
Sylvan Lake, Ab
I have a 1922 99 that I can't get to shoot properly. I have tried all the usual suspects including different loads, mounts, scope etc etc.

Anyway I shot my first deer(s) with this rifle and it is in really good shape other than the bore. I would very much like to get it out hunting again.

I was wondering if some of the Savage guys would give me my best options for restoring this rifle back to a hunter.

I would consider new barrel? rebore to 300? or what ever is most likely and practical to work.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
MK
 
What grain of bullet are you using. These old girls really don't like a pill larger than 87 g. The twist rate is 1-14 on these and they don't tend to stabilize the larger 100's very well.

Have you tried firing the rifle with the forestock off? With the take down there have been cases where the forestock is binding causing issues with accuracy?

Just a couple of thoughts.
 
Ditto on the 87s! That's what I found too.

Has the barrel had a good cleaning lately??
I really like the new foam-out stuff, I have met a lot of guys that shoot & really don't know anything about barrel cleaning & copper build-up.

Check the crown for dings? Last & most important part of the barrel to touch the bullet!
 
I had a takedown 99 in .250. I bought it with a fuzzy dirty barrel and cleaned it several times with Hoppes Bench Rest copper solvent, etc. Groups were not great. The forend was loose. I put a couple thicknesses of electrical tape under the barrel and suddenly it shot like a house on fire.
It would shoot 3 shots to a bit over MOA with factory ammo, handloads with RL-15 powder and 100-grain Speer, Sierra or Remington shot routinely MOA and sub-MOA groups. Best groups were about 3/4 inch or so. I keep hearing on the internet how anything over 87 grains won't shoot, but I've run into quite a few owners who use 100-grain factory ammo and are very happy with the performance.
Make sure the forend is tight.
 
It has been cleaned and recrowned. I have tried several different loads including 87s.

The fore stock is a little loose. I will try the tape thing as soon as the weather smartens up.

If it does turn out to be a bad bore has anyone tried reboring to 300 Sav? Was also wondering what the chances are of finding a takeoff barrel in 250 or 300 that will fit this gun? It would be difficult to get a new one fitted and looking anything like the original from what I have been told.

Thanks for the replies,
MK
 
MK, What kind of 87's did you try shooting?
My 250 shoots 87gr Norma bullets MOA. It keyholes 100gr RP PSP's at 20yds from the barrel as well as 110gr Accubonds. They are too long to stabilize which I think in the case of a 250 is just as bad as too heavy.
Perhaps if you tried Barnes for example they will be as long as a 100gr bullet and maybe stabilize the same way.

My rifle is a Savage bolt action from 1932 but it has the same twist rate as yours. Hope you get it sorted.
 
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My gunsmith tried several different combos with no luck but I'm not sure of the exact loads. I have just got some 32.5gr IMR3031/87grSPEER made up and am looking forward to giving them a try and tighten the fore stock fit. I will also try it with the fore stock removed.

Thanks for your help and if anyome has anything else I could try please post,
MK
 
MK, the load that shot very well in the rifle I have used the 87gr Norma bullet and IMR3031 at 31.4gr. COL of 2.513.
The brass is WW, no idea what the primer is that they used.

For entertainment value I did try the 117gr Hornady roundnose and they did stabilize for the 100yd testing. However they did not shoot all that well and I wonder if they are still going to fly straight at 200yds.

YMMV.
 
My best groups (well sub-MOA) were around 35.5 grains Reloder 15 and the Core-Lokt 100 grain or the Sierra 100 grain flatbase. Sometimes I just loaded volumetrically with the supplied Lee dipper. MOA again! With 37 grains RL15, it also shot the Hornady 87 quite well, around MOA. These loads are maximum!!! They shot safely and well in my 1923 takedown. Noel was right, bullet length is very important. I could not use 100-grain boattails or Nosler Partitions, too long. The 117 Roundnose wasn't great, 3 to 4 inches at 100 yards.
 
Kilo,
I have the RP 100gr bullets to try as well. I am trying to duplicate a load from a WW booklet I found in my Great Uncle's stuff from 1932. It listed 100gr bullets which I imagine to be a semi spitzer more than full out spitzer. They must have found a way to make them work. IMO for this cal the more weight the better if Deer is on the menu.

Ones from my tried list:

85gr Nosler (H4895) shot ok at 2950, further testing to be done.
110gr Accubond H4895 going 2670 all five tumbled.
117gr Hornady H4895 going 2620 shot ok only, more testing...
120gr Hornady HP using H4831 going 2650, all tumbled. Just for entertainment.
100gr RP PSP H4895 going 2765 shot alright, H380 went up to just over 2900 but nothing special for groups.

I am going to try IMR 3031 for the bullets that showed promise. Before I only had the H powders to play with.
 
The Remingtons are even shorter, IIRC....
I read a bunch of stuff from Barsness; after using a .250 a lot, he was of the opinion that a good 100-grain load was pretty much as deadly as a good 117-grain load.
I sure wish I'd kept my .250; I may get one of the new stainless Savage 110 variations. That would make a pretty great deer rifle.
 
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