.25 caliber... .250 Savage Ackley??

gil_wy

gil_wy

New member
I'm going to turn my Remington 700adl 22-250 into something in .25 caliber. It's going to be my boy's first big game rifle (and dad's contest gun and antelope gun
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). I was really wanting to build a 257 AI but I'm concerned about magazine length with 117 gr. bullets... a little research shows that the 250 savage AI performs at least as well but will fit in the ADL magazine. I can get some 250 brass or neck up some 22-250 brass so I'm not worried about that. Just wondering if anyone has some experience with this caliber or a similar performing round in .257 or .264 I guess, for bullet weight... Thanks guys!
 
It's a great little round. Very light recoil and easy to load for. I am getting just under 3200 fps with a 100 gr. NBT.

I don't know about running a 117 through it. Most guys that I have talked to about it, shoot 100gr for deer and 87 or 75 for coyotes.
 
Why not a 25 souper 243 necked up. Plenty of good bullets without needing to go to the 117

And no fire forming that came being a real pain
 
Originally Posted By: nitis And no fire forming that came being a real pain

I have heard this statement several times and never really understood it. What is the drudgery of going to the range and shooting your rifle.

I don't think any of us can say that we send too much time behind the trigger working on our mechanics of shooting.

I could see it if you were a PD shooter and needed 1000 pcs. of brass fireformed, but fireforming 50 pcs. for a hunting rifle just doesn't seem like that bad a way to send a couple of hrs.
 
I'd take a long, hard look at the .260 remington if you're not dead set on .25 caliber. . .equals the .250 ai with light weight bullets, plus has heavier options (up to 160gr), factory available ammo and brass, better selection of bullets, better ballistic coefficients, etc.
 
Thanks for the replies! I will check into those other calibers mentioned... fireforming is a non-issue as Brent says... kind of enjoy it! But the reason I mention 117 gr. bullets is simply because this will likely be the first gun my son uses on elk as well so I'd like that option...
 
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If elk are on the list, I would definitely bump up to a 6.5mm of some flavor, the 140-160gr bullet options are much better suited to larger animals than any .25 caliber!
 
Might look at a 9 twist for that AI, lots of regular 257 Roberts don't do that well with the 120s in a 1-10 twist, mine included. I'd like to run the 115 Partition but don't get the accuracy I do with the 100s. That said, I've not had one of the 100 Hornadys I use stay in a deer yet.
As for the use on elk, you'll get a lot of negative replys. However, my M99 250 Savage came from Wyoming and kept the previous owners family in elk meat while they were growing up.
 
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Originally Posted By: BrentWinOriginally Posted By: nitis And no fire forming that came being a real pain

I have heard this statement several times and never really understood it. What is the drudgery of going to the range and shooting your rifle.

I don't think any of us can say that we send too much time behind the trigger working on our mechanics of shooting.

I could see it if you were a PD shooter and needed 1000 pcs. of brass fireformed, but fireforming 50 pcs. for a hunting rifle just doesn't seem like that bad a way to send a couple of hrs.

I actually just had this conversation with my uncle and I totally respect all AI tyoe rounds but I just do not have the time to put into them I want to get a load and see it perform. Not spend a day loading a bunch of brass then another at teh range and then start load work

to the OP why the affection with the 25 cal? sounds like he needs a 7mm-08 to me they can be loaded down and you will have many more better bullets for that elk hunt.

My theory has always been to give youngsters a larger maybe slower projectile with hopes of breaking more bone or causing more damage rather than punching a hole.
 
I have a 257 Roberts and shoot either 87 or 117 grain bullets, both work on deer. I think the 250 savage is the best of the Ackley conversions but I don't have one yet.
 
Since you have a short action and what to hunt elk, I agree with earlier poster you should consider the 260. You also might consider the 7-08, but now we are getting up there in some much heavier bullets, like 120-130 grain. All the 308 parent case cartridges would be great for what you want.

I wanted a .250AI but could not find a reasonably priced short action. I had a Rem 700 long action (30-06)in the safe, so I am in the process of having it made into a 257AI. I think the 257AI needs a long action to have the versatility to feed longer-heavier bullets. I have seen a few short actions that fed OK, but my gunsmith did not recommend it.
 
How about a .257 WBY? If you handload, you could easily make the brass and make one heck of a varminter out of that one!
 
Originally Posted By: mikethehunterI'm pretty sure the OP has a SHORT action since its a .22-250. . .which would rule out the .25/06imp and the .257 weatherby.

Sorry, I meant a suggestion for a NEW rifle all together
 
I have a 250Ai and it is a great round, accurate and fun to shoot. It is great as a deer round but there are better rounds for larger game. You could kill elk with it but more power is better. With 85gr ballistic tips mine dumps coyotes in a hurry with very little recoil and muzzle blast. This round is just fun to have around. It is one if not the round that is enhanced the most from Ackley improving.
 
Originally Posted By: MongoMike
I wanted a .250AI but could not find a reasonably priced short action. I had a Rem 700 long action (30-06)in the safe, so I am in the process of having it made into a 257AI. I think the 257AI needs a long action to have the versatility to feed longer-heavier bullets. I have seen a few short actions that fed OK, but my gunsmith did not recommend it.


If you are going with a long action, at least go with a 25-06. If you want max speed go with a 25-06AI. 3600 fps with a 100 gr. NBT will run with any 257 Weatherby and the brass isn't $2.00 a pc.
 
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