So I'm building rifle for larger varmints. Can't decide between the 250-3000 or the 6mm-250. I'd probably use a 75 gr HP in the former and a 70 gr HP in the latter. I have both of each already in sporter weight rifles, so the novelty criterion is void. Thoughts? Twist recommendations? TIA.

I'd go with the 6mm since bullet selection is all over the 25 caliber lines.

But what does a 6/250 offer that a 243 doesn't?

If choice was with the 87 grain bullet, or 85 Nosler BT the 250 Savage would be fine. I am thinking seriously in Re Barreling one of my Ruger VTs into 250 Savage and doing the 85/87 grain bullets.

If you custom barrel something for 6mm, I'd go with a one in 8 twist or even a one in 7, and you can shoot the 107 and 115 grain target bullets. That sure makes one long range flat shooting 6mm cartridge. I have done that, on 2 different 6 mm Remington cases, which is my hands down choice in 6mm.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

I don't own a 25 cal so cann't comment much on the 250 but since you already have one I'd do a 250AI to handle the 75 gr bullets. With the standard version and 6/250 you would get about the same velocity. I shot a 6HLS for awhile so am having a 6/22-250 with a 1/14 twist for the 68 gr bullets may even try some 65gr also. It's funny how things kind of come full circle since the 6/250 had been around since the late 50's and rem made the 40x in a 6 int and tubbs shoot a 6x. I'm hoping to get about 3400fps and a solid 400yd pd rifle and if it proves out I may have a AI done on that case. I've got a 6ppc,6br,6mmrem and 6/284 all with 1/14 twist barrels so I've got the velocity range pretty well covered but need something to fill the gap of the 6br and 6mmrem. Since they are starting to me get better bullets in the 25 cal I've kind of kicked around doing something around the 85 gr bullet as a pd rifle. What ever your choice keep us all posted. Good Luck!

9.3,

Either cartridge will work of course. The thing about wildcats is that they seem to accumulate. Thus I would lean towards the standard 250 even though the 6mm has a small advantage for varmints.

The 6mm-250's are popular here with the long range shooters. They use quick twists of course to spin the VLD bullets.

I would just chamber it to 243 and load it down. You can load them down but you can't load them up over the case capacity.

As to hollow point bullets for varmints I used them with great success for years but today the plastic tipped bullets have much better form and so do the lead tipped bullets for that matter. For instance the 75 gr Sierra in .25 cal has a Ci of .189!

http://sierrabullets.com/bullets/bc.cfm?Stock_Num=1600

Thanks for all the comments. I've gone back and forth on this many times, but I think I am finally leaning towards the 250-3000, mostly for nostalgic reasons. We'll see what happens when I go to order the barrel... many times I've made last minute changes...

9.3

I was reviewing my copy of P.O. Ackley's Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders, and his comments about the .250/3000 Improved were very interesting. He called it one of the best of the improved cartridges, showing a greater percentage increase in velocity than almost any other. His data showed velocity over 3200 fps with 100 grain bullet, and over 2900 with the 125 gr bullet. You could still shoot factory ammo in the improved chamber and wind up with the cool looking minimum taper case with 40� shoulder. And then reload them to the improved velocities! I know the dies are more expensive, but if I ever go to the trouble of ordering a custom barrel, you can bet it would be for something special. In this case, you would have that, and the ability, in a pinch to use factory ammo (with a slight loss in velocity) Maybe you should consider a barrel chambered for the .250-3000 Ackley Improved with 40� shoulder.

I doubt that there is a nickles worth of difference in either caliber, but I am hoplessly hung up on the 250-3000 Savage caliber, have been since childhood..

Shot a world of varmints, a lot of deer and more than a few elk with one in my mispent youth...I still have that old savage 99, and a nice Mauser custom rifle also in that caliber, that I may sell to a fellow that must have it...So I have been looking at those cute little Ruger Internationals in that caliber that show up from time to time in Gunlist...I think I must own one...Make a perfect home for my 2.5X Leupold Alaskan...

I have owned a multitude of 250 Savage varmint rifles in various forms..I have never seen a 250 that wouldn't shoot good groups, guess I have been lucky on that count.

What a versatile little gun...

Give the .257 DGR a try [.260 Rem necked down to .25 cal and slighly improved]. It has a bit more case capacity than the .250-3000 Improved and is 90% formed by an FL resize die using .260 Rem brass. You can also use Lake City National Match .308 brass, which is very strong and get very good velocities [so I am told].


Jordan

Go with the 250 AI. First it's cool, second its better, third if you decide to use it on deer sized game it is just better. On the last issue, I know others will say the 6mm's work just fine on deer, but to me they start at .257. I shoot a 250 in a custom contender, and have a 250AI on a VZ24 action, and it is a fox's bad day in the making. The 85gr Nosler is the way to go in my gun's. After owning several 243's, I am in love with the 25 cals, and think of the 243/6mm as varmit only guns. In this they are very good, but I think the 25's are better, and for larger much better.

Go with a .243 or a .257 Robert's, or .257 Ackley