Charles Newton, the famous ballistician developed the .250/3000 for Savage. The cartridge was introduced by Savage in their Model 1899 (later changed to simply the "Model 99") rifle in 1914 and was the first factory cartridge to exceed 3,000 fps (feet per second) using an 87 grain bullet.
I wonder if the owner of that rifle isn't confusing the year the cartridge was first chambered in a rifle (1914) with the year the rifle was manufactured?
To be manufactured in 1914, the rifle would have to have a serial number ranging from approximately 146,500 to 162,000. If the serial number on the rifle is higher than 162,000... then it wasn't made in 1914.
The Model 1899s of that age, as well as the later Model 99's, came out of the factory with a 1 in 14 ("1:14") twist barrel meaning it possibly will NOT stablilize bullets heavier than 100 grains.
I believe the twist was changed from 1:14 to 1:10 in 1955 when Savage made some design changes in order to introduced the .308 Winchester cartridge in the Model 99. A Model 99 with a 1:10 twist barrel WILL stabilize the 115 grain and 120 grain .25 caliber bullets.
Rifles with a 1:14 twist also may NOT stablize the longer 100 grain bullets that have polymer tips like the Nosler Ballistic Tip and some of the bonded core 100 grain .25 caliber bullets that incorporate a polymer tip.
For that reason, I'd recommend you try the 100 grain Nosler Partition bullet. The Partition always gives excellent performance and the bullet's "inner belt" guarantees deep penetration regardless of the bullet's terminal velocity at anything even close to "reasonable" hunting ranges.
Below are some loads I found in one of my old reloading books (circa 1970) for the .250/3000 Savage. There was no mention in the reloading manual of any problems with the 117 grain bullets in their test rifle which had a 1:14 twist barrel.
These loads may NOT be safe in your rifle. Reduce these maximum loads by 10% for use as starting loads. DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LISTED LOADS BELOW:
CARTRIDGE SPECIFICATION:
Bullet diameter: .257
Maximum case length: 1.912
Trim-to-length: 1.902
Maximum Overall length with bullet: 2.515
Primer size: Large rifle
TEST COMPONENTS:
Remington cases
Remington 9½ primers
TEST SPECIFICATION:
Firearm used: Custom Mauser 98
Barrel length: 24
Twist: 1 14
Groove diameter: .257
75 GRAIN BULLET
IMR3031 Maximum load = 36.0 grains = 3470 feet/per/second
IMR4895 Maximum load = 37.0 grains = 3300 fps
IMR4064 Maximum load = 38.0*grains= 3320 fps
IMR4320 Maximum load = 39.0 grains = 3425 fps
* = compressed load
Accuracy load: IMR4320 powder, 35.0 grains = 2975 fps
87 GRAIN BULLET
IMR3031 Maximum load = 35.0 grains = 3245 fps
IMR4895 Maximum load = 36.5 grains = 3195 fps
IMR4064 Maximum load = 37.0*grains= 3200 fps
IMR4320 Maximum load = 38.0 grains = 3235 fps
* = compressed load
Accuracy load = IMR4064, 33.0 grains = 2815 fps
Factory duplication load = IMR3031, 32.5 grains = 3030 fps
100 GRAIN BULLET
IMR3031 Maximum load = 33.0 grains = 3010 fps
IMR4895 - = 35.5 grains = 3000 fps
IMR4064 - = 35.5 grains = 3020 fps
IMR4320 - = 37.0 grains = 3110 fps
Accuracy load: IMR3031, 31.0 grains = 2800 fps
Factory duplication load = IMR3031, 31.2 grains = 2815 fps
117 GRAIN BULLET
IMR3031 Maximum Load = 31.0 grains = 2670 fps
IMR4895 - = 33.5 grains = 2750 fps
IMR4064 - = 33.5 grains = 2710 fps
IMR4320 - = 35.0 grains = 2790 fps
Accuracy load: IMR4320, 32.0 grains = 2550 fps
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.
