.250 Savage...favourite bullets?

Kilo Charlie

Kilo Charlie

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I have a slow-twist (1:14) Model 99 in .250 Savage. It shoots Speer 100 flatbases and Rem 100 Corelokts very accurately, and Sierra 100 BT's poorly. I've read that the length of some premium bullets, specifically Partitions, Barnes X, and anything boattailed, precludes their use in these rifles...they just won't stabilize. At the range I plan to hunt with this rifle a premium bullet isn't relly necessary, but couldn't hurt. Anyone got experience? Thanks!
 
something short and stout (haha @ BCWill) would be good for deer, Ive heard alot of good things from Sierra's 85 grain HPBT GameKing in 243, so the 90 grain 25 cal HPBT GameKing might be a good one to try in a slow twist 250
 
The GameKing isn't really a premium bullet though, is it? I'd be just as well off with the 100 Speer or CoreLokt I'm using already. I've heard good things about the Barnes 90 gr. as well. 87 gr Hornadys group very tightly from this rifle; unfortunately it's not a deer bullet. Once I get some H4831SC I want to try the 117 Hornady RN; it showed some promise but I was running out of case room using H4831, the SC should pack a bit denser. That would certainly make a nice woods load if it groups well. John Barsness was kind enough to supply the recipe. Says he gets minute-of-whitetail accuracy from his slow-twist Savage.
 
maybe H4350 would be a better choice with 117 gr round noses in that 250

the GameKing isnt a controlled expansion bullet but @ 2900 fps it should do well on deer as long as you're not trying to pull off any extreme angle shots

if the 100 grain Speer is working, why switch?
 
Ouch, no, don't listen to Tod, he must be drunk again.:eek: :D

The older 99's with the 1-14" twist were originally meant to shoot the factory 87 gr pills and this went from when the 250-3000 was first born right up to 1960 when the gun was made with a 1-10" twist. The new twist stabilized the 100 gr bullets alot better than the 1-14". Now I'm not saying you won't get good groups with 100 gr bullets but you will get better groups with the ones Tod first mentioned (85 gr) or the 87 gr offerings but 117 is kinda overkill and probably will throw your groups way off.
 
Shooting 117s out of my 99s was like throwing a handfull of stones! Some hit & some miss :D
Any 99 I have played with shot 87 Sierra's the best, I don't know whether there heavy enough for deer or not??
My experience with Speers in other calibers is they tend to make nasty holes!
If your gun shoots 100 Corelocks well that's what I'd be using:)
 
.........what senior said. The heavy bullets will probably be an interesting experiment, but ultimately a waste of gunpwoder and bullets if you are hoping to find a hunting load.

A very long time ago I had some 70.5 grain HP bullets, no idea whose make, but they did not pattern worth a hoot out of an older 99 either.

Doug
 
I may try the Partitions. If they shoot poorly, I'll try 'em in my Bob.
Just to be a little more precise, the rifle, scoped, will shoot about 1.2 inch 3-shot groups from a bench, consistently with 100 Corelokts. But they aren't always available for me to buy locally; I usually order from Wholesale Sports. 87 gr Hornady's will do MOA or a hair better on a good day. Pretty good for an 80-odd year old takedown lever gun.
The best I've done with the 117 roundnose was about 2.5 inches. That's great if shots will be short...but for me anyway, Mr Whelen was right. Only accurate rifles are interesting. Thanks for all replies.
 
If your gun shoots 100 Corelocks that well I don't understand why your still lookin?? It's unlikely you'll find a 100 bullets that'll shoot that well! Wholesale sells bulk packs of Corelocks so there is no reason to search gun shops for bullets. Personally I'd play with 87gn bullets for fun & save that 100gn load for deer :)
 
If you are looking for a heavier bullet you need to get the 117's made fopr the 25-35, they will be round noses. Hit like a hammer and I get about 2" groups from my 1899 Model 250-3000. By the way, Joe has a good point, these up until they went to the 1-10 twist were designed for the 87 grain pill. I get steller accuracy with mine using 75 gr Sierra Hollowpoints for prarie dogs if this is any help. Les
 
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