Range day LTDIII and Grandpa's Model 70, 250-3000

[2ndovc]

Since I my Dad's is off on his extended cruise I get to look
after his collection too.

In with that stuff is my Grandfather's Winchester Model 70 250-3000
that dates to 1948..
Having recently gotten bitten by the 99 Savage bug and have been looking
for another to go with my .30-30 I've been looking for a 250 Savage since
it's a round that we already have components for.
That got me thinking that it's been a long time since the Model 70 has been out.

I have yet to make any of my own loads for the 250 since my grandfather had made hundreds or reloads
for it. Now I'm down to just a few and need to start making my own.
I've got plenty of bullets, LOTS of cast .258s that he made for this rifle and his 257 Roberts. He had a second Model
70 in .257 Rbts. that was stolen from my Uncle's house many years ago. I have a custom Arisaka that he had re-woeked into a
great little 257 carbine.
I noticed that both his reloads for the 87 Gr Sierra and 100 Grain bullets were both a full
grain over what my Lyman manuals say and three grains for what the Sierra book says for Max. Charge.
Grandpa liked to hotrod his hunting loads a bit

Here's the 250-3000 with an older box of Remington SPs.


I didn't keep the target as I was really just goofing around, checking zero and
having fun! There were several nice tight little clusters of holes though
It seems to like the 87 gr. bullets better but I'll have to try both as well.
The ammo I was shooting was easilly 30 + years old.
One setback though was one of the adjustment knobs on the old Redfield scope was frozen and wouldn't budge.
i didn't have a proper fitting screwdriver so I left as it was untl I got home.
I did get it moving again. I remembered that Grandpa would go to his gun cabinet
and hose everything down with WD-40 about once a month.
Took forever to get that gunk out of his guns. I hit the scope with a heat gun for about
30 seconds and it loosened up the knob enough to get it moving again.

Grandpa was a ig fan of accurate bolt guns in .25 and .30 calibers.
He was into the .250 and .257 back whet they were still wildcats.
Here's some early brass he used for cast loads.
They are made from Mil. 30-06 cases and remarked 250.


I did get in some practice with the 45-70 as well.


Funny how the loads that my Win. '86 likes the Marlin throws out a 4" group.

Another good day at the range.

jb

[kimwcook]

That's really neat you have those memories and guns around from your family. I don't have any of my Dad's cool guns because he really wasn't a gun guy. He does have a Win. 70 in 270 I'm waiting to see what he does with. I've let him know I'd like to have it, but I also have a brother and sister.

[TedH]

Oh man that little 250 is sweet! I would love to find one like that.

[2ndovc]

Startin' to think I've offended you guys

Last couple posts have only had a couple responses but have been
on topic....



I know it's mostly a post about a boltgun but it was more about the
cartridge that was originally levergun round.

Was hoping to get some info about the 250 Savage from those that knw something about it.

jb

[86er]

I have always been intrigued by the 250-3000 cartridge. I don't necessarily want one but I think they're cool and would like to use one to hunt one day. I didn't know the M70 was chambered in that caliber. It sounds like you had a pretty good day at the range. Oh and the 1886 grouping better than the Marlins - well that's to be expected

[Sixgun]

Jason,
First-Can I have it? (the model 70).
Second--If the ammo on the stump was what you were shooting, it dates from the forties and fifties.

The classic Model 70 fits right in here. There's not a whole lot of Model 70's in 250 Savage floating around. Ya done good!

Oh, just to remind you---Can I have the Winchester?-------------Sixgun

[2ndovc]

I have always been intrigued by the 250-3000 cartridge. I don't necessarily want one but I think they're cool and would like to use one to hunt one day. I didn't know the M70 was chambered in that caliber. It sounds like you had a pretty good day at the range. Oh and the 1886 grouping better than the Marlins - well that's to be expected

It is one of the more scarce cals in the Model 70. I hate to use the word rare but the Blue Book doesn't list it with the others but says will command a premium.
Not that I'd ever part with it.
I know Granpa took a couple antelope and white tail with it
but it still looks like new.

As far as the Win. '86/ '95 Marlin. I shot the best levergun group ever with the Marlin LTD III but with a very different load. Varget and a 350 SP.

Sixgun,

No you can't have it I keep a very tight grip on family guns.
The box of shells were reloads, Granpa liked to reuse the original boxes.
He would write the load info in pencil on the side of the box but a lot of
it has faded over the years. There isn't much left. I can't complain,, it's taken
me almost 30 years to shoot through it all.
I still have his Hollywood press and some other stuff.
Best of all I have his Three favorite rifles and his Model 12 twenty gage.


jb

[3leggedturtle]

What bullet mold did he use, just got a Lyman 257464. wish it was flat nose instead of round for my 256. Are you casting them or just using up whats left.

[2ndovc]

I have two a 70 gr and 100 gr fpgc but they are old Cramer molds that haven't been made in some time.

I have attempted to cast a few but still have some learning to do.

I know he had a couple .30 cal molds but those have dissapeared.
I just recently used up the last of the .30 bullets he made but I still
have several thousand of the .25 cal.

jb

[86er]

Ok maybe Jason is a little slow these days. 'Gee - I really would love to hunt with a 250-3000" .... like I said in my previous post

[2ndovc]

Joe I was responding to you Doggin' my Marlin

You have any varmints down there? I'll bring the .250 along for the Feb. hunt.

jb

[mescalero1]

2ndovc,
It's Texas, varmits is what they have more than anything else.
Jackrabbits @ 300 yards should provide some entertainment.

[surveyor527]

Go to ebay and find a copy of Lawrence Koller's "Shots at Whitetails". It was written in 1948, he died in the 60's, and there are some updates by his wife & gun authors in the 1970-something reprint. It is full of whitetail hunting craft, hunting camp & hunting club life in New York's Adirondack Mtn. Region.
To get to the point, Koller was a BIG fan of the Savage, especially the smaller caliber 250-3000. Several interesting stories about this gun are among the shooting chapters.

[cshold]

That is one fine rifle.

[2ndovc]

2ndovc,
It's Texas, varmits is what they have more than anything else.
Jackrabbits @ 300 yards should provide some entertainment.

Hey Dude! Glad to see you back!!

Best shot I ever made was with a .222 @ 436 paces on a woodchuck!

I'm planning on taking the 250 or one of the other
.257 bores that Grandpa was so fond of.

jb