Savage 99 bullet tumbling?

gunbug

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Hi: My friend called last night with an accuracy problem. The gun is a savage 99 250-300 [i think it is a takedown model i will find out tonight ]that hits the paper at 38 meters in a small cluster but when he moves the target out 110 meters it does not even hit the target. I will see it tonight but i don't have a bore scope so all i can do is use white paper to look at the bore and check and see that everything is tight. Any ideas or experience like this? Any help is appreciated. Dan
 
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As a guess I'd venture that the rifle is a 250-3000 with the 1/14 barrel twist and he's shooting 100 grain or heavier bullets. If so get him to try 87-90 grain bullets. The 1/14 twist was marginal (bullet stabilization) for the heavier weight bullets. They usually will stabilize a 100 grain round nose bullet if you can find any as that form of bullet is generally shorter than a same weight spitzer. There are some good premium hunting bullets available in the 90 grain category.
 
bullet tumbling

Thank You Stocker . I was just about to change my post as i did forget to say it is a 250-3000 and i think he is using 117gr spitzers.
 
gunbug: tell him not to dismiss using 100 grain bullets until he's actually tried them. Some of the rifles handled them and some didn't. Doesn't seem to be anything constant about this so bullet shape may be a factor. If he could try different makes of 100 grain bullets he might find what he needs in that weight.
 
rate of twist is important when reloading heavier 22 bulets not a good choice in most .222's although few rifles were made with a fast twist and will do. Heavy 6.5's in the norwegian Krag not only make funny groups but the down range noise will have Londeners looking for the V bomb.
 
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As someone else said...117gr. bullets may be too long. Early 99's were quite famous for this, still are, I'd try a 100gr. round nose or 87gr.sp.
 
I agree. The 99 I used had 14 in. twist, shot 100 gr and smaller just great, but 117 spitzer hit target sideways at 25 yds! Never tried round nose 117s.
 
If you can find the old CIL/Dominion 100gr RN they will shoot fine in a 1-14 twist.I ragged at Hornady to make their 87gr bullet in an inter lock instead of varmint.I shoot deer with the 87gr but stay away from the shoulders.Speer makes a 87gr .257 bonded core bullet that holds up on deer............Harold the Speer 100gr is the shortest 100gr slug made try them
 
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