I've had a 250-3000 Savage for several years. I originally bought it for my wife, who is a lefty...but I end up shooting it the most. According to the serial number...it was manufactured in 1956.
I've taken 3 Antelope with this rifle...the closest being right at 200 yards. The farthest was just over 280 yards. I have a Leupold 6-20 scope on it...which makes it my lever action sniper rifle.
In my handloads, I've used both Hornady and Speer 87 grain soft point bullets. Accuracy was amazing on paper (sub moa) and the first two Antelope taken with this load, fell dead in their tracks.
On my most recent Antelope hunt, I had no reloads left and little time to load; so I bought a box of Winchester factory ammunition which makes use of a 100 grain silvertip bullet. I range tested it first, and accuracy was amazing...1.5 inches at 200 meters. The Antelope I took with this ammo was lung shot...and ran about 100 yards and fell over.
The significant difference between the factory 100 grain...vs...my 87 grain loads, is the trajectory. At 200 meters...with the rifle zeroed at 200 meters and 87 grain slugs, the factory 100 grain bullet impacted 11 inches lower on paper. I remember this because...thats a lot of clicks on the Leupold. Again, accuracy was excellent...so I adjusted accordingly and pressed on.
My hand load uses 35 grains of IMR 4320, with a Winchester primer. I've used both Speer and Hornady 87 grain bullets with equal accuracy. ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: I seated these bullets out to touch the rifling. In the Savage magazine, these fit fine...occasionaly though, this lengthy combo would make for feeding issues when making the climb into the chamber.
Personally, I feel the thin-skinned bullets such as those offered for varminting may be undesirable for use on deer-sized critters. Standard 87 grain slugs have proved very capable in my experience.
I blabber a lot...but hope you find this info helpfull. Good luck.
