250 Savage or 250 AI
Just wanting some opinions. I have a 280 AI and love it. But I really like the 25 cal and the 250 looks like it could be fun.
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I and several of my friends all shoot the 250savage and like it as is. My take on your question is that if you want the extra velosity of the 250AI then you should consider the 257roberts. Likewise if you are considering the 257AI just get a 25-06. Dies for the reloading of the AI series of cartridges are usually very expensive compared to normal cartridges. Have fun with whichever you go for.... 0 -
Thanks for the input. Im looking at radinding for a ruger 77 in a 250 savage. What bullet wieghts are you shooting. I have owned a couple of 25-06s in the past and like them but the 250 has my intrest at the moment. 0 -
N8Will,
The .250 Savage is one of the great, mild cartridges that is under appreciated these days. It's perfectly suited to deer hunting at moderate distances and will handle all bullet weights from the lightest varmint bullets to heaviest bullets for deer hunting. Being of smallish capacity, it is easy on barrels. Fun is an understatement. The .250 Savage is just plain pleasant to shoot and easy to reload.
I have used both the standard .250 Savage and the Ackley version, preferring the Ackley version for reasons of efficiency and better selection of suitable powders. My favorite loads use the Barnes 100 gr. TSX for deer and the Hornady 75 gr. VMAX for varmints.
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ern,
Just picked up a short action Mauser action, Douglas Air Gauge 26" barrel, Mashburn trigger, lamenated stock, with a Luopold Pioneer 8X scope with Buehler mounts in 250 Savage. A real 60s vintage gun. Do you have a good load for 100gr bullets?
Thanks.
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I disagree one 250 rifle will handle all bullet weights. I have read it depends on the twist of the barrel or have I been misinformed?
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Sage1,
"I disagree one 250 rifle will handle all bullet weights. I have read it depends on the twist of the barrel or have I been misinformed?"
I think that this is just a simple misunderstanding.
I and many others will state that the very best accuracy is achieved when the twist rate is matched to the specific bullet length. This is for match, competition accuracy or specific single use mind you, not general shooting. In this situation, I would use a much slower twist for shooting the 75 gr. bullets on varmints IF that was the sole use for the rifle. But if I was shooting 1,000 yard benchrest, I would use a faster twist specifically for the longer bullets which obviates the shorter (lighter) bullets.
However, most .25 caliber barrels come with a 1:10" twist as general matter of fact. This twist has been tested to be able to maintain the stability of the longer (longest) bullets without compromising accuracy. It (1:10") is not severe enough to really damage the lighter bullet jackets so they will perform at least adequately in the faster twist rate. The .250 Savage is a cartridge that generates moderate velocities which bodes well for using a larger range of bullet lengths. Hyper-velocity cartridges have been known to vaporize shorter (lighter) bullets when fired at top end velocities in the faster twist barrels.
This does not state or imply that one twist rate will shoot every bullet length with the same degree of accuracy, although it can and does occur. Generally, the faster twist rates shoot the longer bullet better. If I'm building a rifle for a specific use such as Palma Match shooting, which usually uses a shorter (lighter 155 gr.-175 gr.) .30 caliber bullet, then I use a barrel with a slower twist rate such as 1:14" or even a pinch slower than that depending on the load. But then I'm limited to that small range of bullet lengths at that velocity.
I hope this is clear. If not, point out the questionable parts and let's try it again.
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The .250/3000 (AKA .250 Savage) is one of my favorite cartridges. I have seven rifles in that chambering; all bolt actions. Since your question refers to a Ruger, the best loads in my 77RSI consist of the 75 gr. Hornady V max with W748, and the 90 gr. Sierra HPBT over IMR4895. I find that factory loads are quite slow. 100 gr. Winchester silver tips, for example, chronograph 2530 fps in the RSI and 2690 fps in the Remington 700. Remington 100 gr. loads are slower yet. So you will need to reload to get the best performance from this cartridge. The 87 gr. Remington PLHP is quite accurate in my .250's but I can't find it listed anymore. 0 -
Thanks again, Im not able to have my cake and eat it to. So I have to decide, I can have a Model 7 action built into a 250, or buy a ruger. The funds are there for thr ruger but I will have to save awhile for the custom. If I go the custom route its sounds like a 1-10 twist would be the best all around for medium to heavier side of bullet wieghts. 0 -
Another bullet that's quite accurate in most of my rifles is the Speer 100 gr. hollow point. It might be that it's a little shorter being a hollow point and that makes it stabilize in the old rifles with the slower twist. I'm quite sure my Savage models 40 and 1920 are 1-14 and probably the Winchester model 70 too. 0 -
I have a model 70 Featherweigth with a Shilen barrel, in 250 Savage, (1 in 10 twist) that I built for my daughter as her first deer rifle. I just returned from Buffalo WY. where I took two Antelope. I tipped the buck over at 320yds. with a 100gr. Nosler Ballistic tip with Varget. But it also handle's heavier bulletss just fine. It is a real fun gun to shoot and is great as a kids starter rifle for deer.I plan on building a 250AI as my next project to see what it is capable of. Dale 0
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