250-3000 18 year project.

[Code4]

Here finally is my .250-3000 Varmint/Spotlighting/Truck rifle.



I started handloading 20 years ago and my B-I-L asked me to develop a load for his .243W Churchill (Mauser '98) rifle. I did, but found the 22" barrel produced far too much muzzle blast (and at night) muzzle flash for my liking.

I looked for a cartridge with a smaller powder capacity and a longer barrel. I played with a 6mm250 wildcat on a Mauser action but the 26" barrel was too thin, it was not bedded and I never got it to shoot satisfactorily. That barrel is now on AFRO408's excellent .243Myra.

250-3000 with Sierra 87 Spitzer next to a .243 with 100 Sierra SptBt.


I decided on the 250-3000. A 23 1/4" C/M #4 barrel was fitted to a 1952 R.Famage '98 action. I have measured the twist numerous times and it comes in at 1 in 11" ??? The muzzle measures .700" with a recessed target crown. It was fitted to a sporterised ex-mil stock with the standard trigger. Despite taking a large number of animals it never chambered and extracted reliably and was a pain to use. I gave it to a mate getting into shooting, but he never used it and ten years later asked if I wanted it back. I had this size cartridge gap in my armoury so I happily took it back home.



I had fitted and bedded a Boyds thumbole stock and a Sako trigger fitted and set at 2 1/2 pounds. AFRO408 fixed the chambering and extraction problems with three hand files and a high speed polisher.

Load development was intersting. It hates 100 grain projectiles, shoots 87 grainers regularly into 1" at 100 yards and any 75 grainer into less than 1" at 100 yards. I have a large supply of 75 V-Max and 75 Sierra HP's. Scope is my old Leupold Vari X-III 3.5-10x40AO which may get sent away for a B&C reticle.

The impetus to get this finished was the success my son has had with his .243W on our recent outback Camel hunt

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat ... Post185704

and I can't stand by and let the young shine with these modern cartridges.

[LoneRider]

very mice mate.
btw,use the img instead of image

[johno1]

You will love the calibre, great looking rifle. Look forward to range reports. I shoot rem 700 classic in 250-3000. All I used on red a fallow deer in N.Z. Have'nt fired a shot here, was going out today but rain and wind stuffed that up. I use reloader 15 with 100grn bullets

I was going to try 2209 today with some 90grn sierra game kings for fun

Welcome to the enlightened worl of the 250-3000

Just re read your post, it should be the opposite re the twist. The old sav 99s were 1-14 and shot the 87s fine but struggled with 100grn, except the old rem corelokt. My rem 700 is 1-12 and handles the 100 just fine, yours being a bit faster twist should work a treat with 100grn bullets

Johno

[fenring]

Pics fixed for you mate.

Very nice, and nice to see the old .250 Savage still going strong.

[LoneRider]

thanks fen,much nicer

[Code4]

Well I've completed load development.

I realise the twist should stabilise 100 grainers but accuracy is just over an inch at 100 yards. That's useable but more consistant and better accuracy inspires more confidence. 2206H, 2208 and 2209 were trialed with the 100 grain Speer Spt's and Nosler 100 BT's..

Best accuracy went to the 75 V-Max over 38 of 2208. Chronographed velocity is 3,235 fps
The sierra 75 HP also shoots very well with this load. The Sierra 87 Spt over 36.5 grains of 2208 also gave good acuracy and a velocity of 3,031 fps. The 75 V-Max and 87 Spt share an almost identical BC.

I did a rudimentary penetration test with a tightly stacked and completely soaked bundle of new newspapers.
The 75 V-Max and 75 HP penetrated the same distance with the HP opening first.
The 87 Sierra Spt penetrated a little bit furthur and did not expand as much as the other two. A totally predictable result.

The 75 V-Max is on at 100 yards and 150 yards and 2 1/2" low at 200 yards in my rifle. Good enough for a top of the head hold as ranges increase.

The bolt handle needs changing to a more range/tactical style and it will be finished.

Now to again shoot something.

[Code4]

Well after posting I decided to revisit the 100 grain weight as a possibility. I dug through old load data from 18 years ago (it is worth writing everything down) and found 36.5 grains of 2009 under the Nosler 100 BT had worked well for the original field class format competition. Muzzle velocity was just over 2,700 fps.

I loaded 36.5 2209 under the 100 Speer Hot Cor Spt and took those loads and the 75 V-Max loads into the field this afternoon for real life testing.

The 75 V-max lived up to its marketing, being very frangible and expansion was initiated immediately upon contact. Large entry wounds were observed yet penetration was still achieved. For fox, hare and rabbit this projectile was perfect. I would not rely on it for ferals over approx 10kg weight.

The 100 grain Speer spitzer was as expected a different story. Expansion occured within all animals and no exits were observed. Death was instantanious in all cases.

[Camel]

Have you tried the Hornady 100gn spire points, I used heaps of them in my old Ruger 257rob years ago, they held together pretty good, and complete penetration if thats what you're after. Best was three billie goats side by side, but the third was just alive, when I got to it. Range about 120mtrs. Tried the Speer spire points, asccurate enough but bit too soft for my liking. Then again the Roberts had a bit more velocity than the 250.3000

[Code4]

I'll certainly try the Hornadys. Thx for the tip. I found the Speers did expand quickly on rather low weight game.

[bigfellascott]

Hi fellas,

Just a question about ammo for the 250-3000 is it still available or not, I saw a post on another forum about a guy having trouble trying to find factory ammo for it. If not what about cases can they be sources here or not? What do you guys do for cases?

It would be nice to help this fella out if I can as it was passed down to him from his dad, but as he can't find ammo for it its pretty much just left in the safe, which seems a shame.

Thanks in advance for any info, not sure if he reloads I suspect not but it might have to be done if factory ammo isn't avalable for it, which I suspect is the case.

cheers

[Con]

Ammo is available through Winchester ... but I think it may be a seasonal run. Cases are also available, but smart money is on opening 22/250 brass and shooting that.
Cheers...
Con

[RayG]

Hi fellas,

Just a question about ammo for the 250-3000 is it still available or not, I saw a post on another forum about a guy having trouble trying to find factory ammo for it. If not what about cases can they be sources here or not? What do you guys do for cases?

It would be nice to help this fella out if I can as it was passed down to him from his dad, but as he can't find ammo for it its pretty much just left in the safe, which seems a shame.

Thanks in advance for any info, not sure if he reloads I suspect not but it might have to be done if factory ammo isn't avalable for it, which I suspect is the case.

cheers

I got new Winchester 250 Savage cases from Cleavers back in april,they have had them for the last couple of years,give them a call.
Ray.

[johno1]

I have 100 genuine Remington UMC cases here, was going to sell them to a bloke in the US. This is said to be the best 250 brass you can buy, if you can find it. Just amazes me what I uncover in my little hide aways

Johno

[RayG]

Johno,
You have a PM,
Ray.

[johno1]

All sorted Ray

Johno