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January 20, 2023
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Does anyone have a favorite 250-3000 Savage recipe for the 87 grain bullet?
I can work.up with 3031, 4064, 4198, 4350. All IMR.
Thanks
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
August 8, 2024
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Zebulon, I have used a load that I got out of a 1980s IMR Hand loaders Guide. It is a 87 grain bullet with 34 grains of IMR 3031. With a 24 inch barrel it is listed at 3055 FPS, 44200 CUP. I have not choreographed it. It does shoot accurately out of my Savage 1920 rifle, and my Savage 99 R with out any pressure problems.
January 20, 2023
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Bo, That sounds like what I’m looking for. Thanks a bunch and I will follow up on the recipe. I’m working with a 1947 99EG, which has a 24″ 1-14 barrel. I just want to replicate factory velocities with rear-locking lever gun pressures. I’ll work up a ladder and report back.
Bill
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Zeb-
I just enjoyed Ken Waters’ August 1995 article on the 250 Savage. His max load for an 87gr Sierra using IMR 3031 is 34grs (lining up nicely with Bo’s experience) but he cautioned that his max loads were developed for a custom 1903 in a Mannlicher stock. He cautioned against using them in a lever gun so your plan to work up to 34 grains is sound, as always. Unless you have some VV N135 or RL-15 lying around the IMR 3031 seems to be a good choice. I don’t know if you have Waters’ Pet Loads in your library, the article made for interesting reading but I wish he had stumbled across a nice 99 to test loads in as I had no experience with this or any quarter bore. Let me know if you can’t find his article, looking forward to spotting for you when you shoot this little rifle.
Mike
August 8, 2024
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TXGunNut, I have always enjoyed Ken Water’s as a Writer. I too have a copy of his Pet Loads book. I think that we would agree that no matter what you are shooting. You should always work your load up. I have shot guns in the same chambering , and one would show pressure much earlier then the other. A example would be that I have two Model 88s chambered in . 243. My one just can’t handle the loads that I can put through the other rifle? Ken’s 1903, May of had a tight barrel, or the lead to the rifling may have been short. Or, some other factor that could increase chamber pressure.
January 20, 2023
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Bo, it could be a short chamber. At one point Ruger Model 77 barrels in 250 Savage — including the one on my former 1985 77RSI — were the minimum SAAMI length from the bottleneck forward. I didn’t know that until I started reloading for it. Factory 100 grain Silvertip was fine.
I loaded up a ladder with Olin 760 ball and the lowest rung locked the bolt up to where I bruised my hand hammering to open it. Flattened, extruded primer and impressive recoil.
After that I became much more cautious about chamber dimensions and OAL.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Bo-
Most amusing part of the article is that Waters’ 250 Savage project started out because of poor accuracy and he blamed the existing barrel. After a difficult barrel change it was discovered that the poor accuracy was due to the scope mount. I don’t think his data are going to help Zeb much as the 1903 rifle had very little in common with Zeb’s 99. I believe the barrel was shorter as well. The fact that he arrived at a very similar load to your load is actually quite remarkable.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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We are fortunate to live in a time when really good chronographs are affordable. They won’t give a direct indication of pressure but, if the recipe says X grains of a powder with Y bullet should get you Z foot.seconds of velocity — and you are getting Z + 300 fs, don’t consider it a happy magical accident! Back off the grains until you get the published velocity.
Of course, if you’ve worked up as you should, you’ll reach Z by titrating up to it and won’t have to fire any blue pills that test your rifle’s bolt strength.
One African PH, discussing dangerous game cartridges, said he would trade some velocity for easy bolt lift.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 3, 2018
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Bill:
Especially in the African or W. Texas sun…
I have used the same 33-34 grs of 3031 with my 1954 99 EG. Accurate.
Nosler recommends 35 grs of 4895 for just over 3000 fps at 3020.
I am working also with the newer Accurate LT 30.
Its not necessary to push the 250-3000 too hard in the Savage 99. 3K is plenty enough for coyotes and Arizona whitetails.
Ridge
January 20, 2023
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Concur. All of my 250-3000 experience to date has been with a short-barreled bolt gun that delivered velocities well below 3K – but it regularly produced DRT Texas Whitetails.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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