Model 99 in .250 Savage

[Stick_man]

I have posession of an older .250 Savage Model 99 that I am considering shooting some cast boolits through. I am curious as to which weight boolit would likely work best in it. Although I haven't researched it out yet (or even checked it out), I believe it has either a 12" or 14" twist in it.

How are they for launching lead? It seems to do pretty well with the factory loaded j-words.

Thanks for any input

[NHlever]

Both the 65, and 88 grain cast bullets do well in my .257 Roberts which has a faster 10" twist so I expect that either of those boolits would work well for you. I would try them before the long 100+ grain boolits. Actually that is my .257 Roberts in my Avatar, and it is loaded with the Lyman 257420 boolits that day.

[9.3X62AL]

I have a Savage 99 in 250, made in 1930 and equipped with 1-14" twist. I use a 100 grain NEI mould that is a bore-rider resembling the 30 caliber RG-4 design, and it has shot SUPERBLY to 200 yards for me atop 12.0 grains of 2400.

[NHlever]

That is good to know Al. I've never cast any of the longer 6mm, or .257 boolits, and have limited experience with the various 140 +- 6.5's. Does that boolit look anything like the RCBS offerings?

[gnoahhh]

The 99's in .250-3000 were rifled with a 1-14" twist up until around 1960 and the one million serial # mark. After that, they went to a 1-10" twist (but 1-12" have turned up). I wouldn't go any heavier than around 100 gr., give or take, with either jacketed or cast bullets in the slower twist, and even then stick with shorter RN designs. It's the length of the bullet that'll get you in those slow twists, not weight. Of course there are always exceptions to that rule, but not many. 80-90 grainers rule in older 99's.

[quilbilly]

I had an older Mod. 99 250-3000 (made in the 1920's) and it would not stabilize anything over 100 grains. Stick with the 85-100 grainers. When the rifle became too valuable as a collector's gun to take out in the woods in the rain, I sold it but like the caliber so much I got an Encore in that caliber. It shoots the 120 grainers just fine due to the change in twist.

[wildwilly]

My 99 Savage/250 would only shoot accurately with anything less than 100gr. Lyman's 257464GC, cast from wheelwts. air-cooled, is very accurate in my rifle.

[Stick_man]

Thanks guys for all the responses. I am going to have to take a look at the rifle again and see if I can get a mfg date on it. I'll also run a wrapped cleaning rod through it to determine actual twist rate. I have a Ruger 6mm that I called Ruger for info on it's twist rate and was told it had a 12" twist. Actual testing with the rod showed a 10" twist.

Then, I may be looking for a good .25 cal mould for this model 99.

[gnoahhh]

It's simple Stick man, like I said in my posting above, pre-million serial #'s= 1-14" twist. Post-million serial #'s= 1-10".

[9.3X62AL]

That is good to know Al. I've never cast any of the longer 6mm, or .257 boolits, and have limited experience with the various 140 +- 6.5's. Does that boolit look anything like the RCBS offerings?

Not really. It most closely resembles a 30 caliber RG-4......cone point, a little over half bore-ride, the rest is drive band and gas check. As-cast length is .880", and the "12.0 grains of 2400" gives about 1650 FPS in my rifle.

ETA--if you go to the NEI site www.neihandtools.com look on Page 4 of the Old Catalog section. My mould is #20.

[dnepr]

It's simple Stick man, like I said in my posting above, pre-million serial #'s= 1-14" twist. Post-million serial #'s= 1-10".


There are exceptions I have a 70's era saddle carbine with a 1 in 14 twist , it should be a 1in 10 by everything I have read and talking to a 99 collector but I have measured it about 6 times and it is 1 in 14 .

[midnight]

My Savage M-1920 built in 1921 has 1-14 twist. I shoot 100grainers exclusively. The only mold I've got is the Saeco #257 which is a 100gr bullet. Havn't shot it yet.

Bob

[Dan Cash]

My 1950 vintage .250 M99 has the 14 twist. I get reasonable accuracy out of 117 Hornady round nose bullets. They run out of steam pretty quick so I have dropped back to Sierra 100 grain flat based soft points. Heavier spitzer bullets just disappear into never never land.

[gnoahhh]

Interesting, dnepr. Like they say "Never say never" with Savage! I'm wondering if they used an old barrel they found in the warehouse when they built that rifle. It' s the first Series A I've heard of like that.

[dnepr]

Interesting, dnepr. Like they say "Never say never" with Savage! I'm wondering if they used an old barrel they found in the warehouse when they built that rifle. It' s the first Series A I've heard of like that.

Yup it is an oddity, I am no expert but there was/is a guy on CanadianGunnutz.com called maddog who is a serious 99 collector and he also said that about the 99s never say never He had seen some odd ones . I don't know the story with this rifle and I probably never will , It is a difficult little rifle , odd rifling twist, difficult to get a scope set up on for some reason, my first attempts a Paper patched with it had the boolits hitting sideways at 10 yards[smilie=b: , but when you swing that little sweetheart on a running deer there will probably be venison in the freezer:-)

[9.3X62AL]

The Savage 99 is a wonderful lever rifle. My example has a Marble's tang sight on board, and using Sierra 100 grain flatbase spitzers it will shoot 1.5" groups at 100 yards.

[gnoahhh]

Yeah, dnepr, I know Joe (Mad Dog). He and I have dealt back and forth for years in small parts and sights for 99s. He knows his stuff, that's for sure.

Those little A-series 99's in .250 from the 70's are about the only post-mil 99 I would care to own. Them and the Brush Guns in big calibers. How does it shoot with 100 grain jacketed stuff? Everybody gets bent out of shape if their slow twist .250 doesn't perform with heavy bullets, but remember the cartridge made it's reputation way back when by firing 87 grain bullets at 3000 fps. Many a deer died from that load, and many a deer will die in the future too. I have a buddy who goes up to Anacostia Island every year and cleanly kills truly big deer with his collection of .250's, all with 87 grain bullets.

[dnepr]

Yeah, dnepr, I know Joe (Mad Dog). He and I have dealt back and forth for years in small parts and sights for 99s. He knows his stuff, that's for sure.

Those little A-series 99's in .250 from the 70's are about the only post-mil 99 I would care to own. Them and the Brush Guns in big calibers. How does it shoot with 100 grain jacketed stuff? Everybody gets bent out of shape if their slow twist .250 doesn't perform with heavy bullets, but remember the cartridge made it's reputation way back when by firing 87 grain bullets at 3000 fps. Many a deer died from that load, and many a deer will die in the future too. I have a buddy who goes up to Anacostia Island every year and cleanly kills truly big deer with his collection of .250's, all with 87 grain bullets.

it shot factory remington fodder 100's well , my first attempt at hornady 100's wasn't good , poor powder choice it doesn't like imr 4320 ,( all i could find here at the time that was close) I have a bunch loaded up with h4350 to try once the weather warms up , the Hornadys are longer than the remington factory fodder so they may not co-operate, if those don't work I will probably try the 80 gr barnes tsx . I am one of those guys that was hung up on the 100 gr thing too but I have finally given my head a shake . I still hope to make this thing work with paper patched but it has a very steep lead , so it may be tearing patches , I may have to settle for J-words for hunting and just shoot cast light loads for fun, I just picked up another 99 in .303 savage so maybe having another 99 in the gunsafe will make this one more co-operative:lol:

[gnoahhh]

I've been meaning to try the 80 tsx. Let us know how they work. I only shoot cast .25s at paper and tin cans. Have you hunted larger game with cast stuff in the .250?

That .303 is one of the most cast bullet friendly cartridges around.

[Lloyd Smale]

I load for two 250s with 1-14 twists and neigher will do exceptional well even with 100s. both like the 87 grain sierra and the 85 grain ballistic tip better then anything. I have to admit ive never tried cast in either though. I have some ammo loaded up to test this summer with the 80 tsx. I dont hold much hope for it though as the bullets are as long as a 100 grain lead core bullet and if you look on the barnes website they even state that that bullet isnt designed for 1-14 twist guns and should be shot in at least a 1-10

[dnepr]

I can't even kill paper with cast in the .250 so far:lol: but I hope that I can get these PP boolits up close to 2700- 2800 ish with good accuracy and give them a go on whitetail. , I am hoping bumping the PP cores to .252 will straighten will at least get them hitting nose first at least , I want to get out shooting and testing loads but it -25 celcius , so not today:lol: the 80 grain barnes X's are longer than I hoped but I will probably give them a go any way , 87 grain seirra's are next on my list for j-words,

[Stick_man]

Well, I believe I have the 14" twist, judging by the serial number (in the low 250k range). This also has the barrel that simply screws off once the fore-stock is removed (snapped off). I haven't fired it yet, but am hoping to as soon as the weather warms up a little and I have some available time.

[44 WCF]

I still have my first deer rifle, Savage 99 from the 1950's,,,,,,,guess what,,, try Mt Baldy 89 grn gas check bullet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,damn if I can beat it with anything I cast myself.................it will blow you away.....................................