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Author Topic: M77 in 250 savage  (Read 1948 times)

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Offline Rock_Steady

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M77 in 250 savage
« on: July 18, 2005, 03:19:51 PM »
Hello all, I recently inherited a Ruger M77 (made in 1976) chambered in .250/3000 or .250 savage.  I am interested in knowing what people think of the rifle, and the caliber.....drawbacks/raves to either?  I know what opinions are like, but I'm just looking for some general "stuff" about the new rifle crowding the rack.  I'm a guy who has slowly been accumulating some guns, and don't know much about this one.  I have been doing a bit of reading and know that the cartridge isn't made much anymore, so I might think about doing some reloading, too.  I think that this might become my new deer/varmint rifle.  Thoughts?
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Offline mag-check

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250/3000
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2005, 04:26:02 PM »
Great round the .250/3000 I wish Ruger was still making them I would'nt be shooting a .243 if they did!
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Offline TNrifleman

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2005, 12:58:17 AM »
Congratulations on getting a fine rifle (Ruger 77) in a great caliber. I have reloaded the 250 Savage for a friend's rifle for several years now. If I run across a nice 250 in a bolt gun or, a Savage 99 like my friends, I'll buy it in a hurry. I would encourage you to load for this fine varmit/big game caliber. Most guys that use it love it.
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Offline Lone Star

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2005, 01:19:43 AM »
The .250 is a fine light deer/varming cartridge, but only uf handloaded.  No decent varming loads exist for it, and the factory ammo is underloaded for the older M99 Savages.  In the M77 it can be handloaded to the equivalence of a .243, with the ability to use heavier bullets.
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Offline Lawdog

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2005, 09:21:39 AM »
Pay no attention to what others may say.  This is a rifle that needs to be disposed of in a safe manner.   :-D   PM me to make arrangements for ridding you of this weapon.  I am always glad to help a fellow poster here on Graybeards.  Lawdog
 :toast:
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Offline jhm

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2005, 12:26:19 PM »
Lawdog:  Now you are just being a DOG  :-D   They are a good rifle and a decent caliber enjoy the rifle for the many years it will searve you. :D    JIM
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Offline Rock_Steady

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2005, 02:47:58 PM »
Well, I guess I've really got some learning to do, since I have nothing to go by but the factory ammo right now.  I'm very new to even thinking about handloading........will this information be available in the reloading manual for whatever press I decide to buy, or where should I start looking for this kind of info?

Thanks for helping the newbie.
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Offline mag-check

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.250 Savage
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2005, 03:44:56 PM »
Who all loads factory ammo for the .250? I know Remington does but Winchester? You need to get into reloading for the old .250! A good bullet to start with would be a 100gr. Sierra Spitzer and some IMR 4064 should be good for the 77 Ruger. :grin:
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Offline Rock_Steady

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2005, 04:04:06 PM »
All it've been able to find locally is the remington.......Cheaperthandirt has the winchester available, but sold out.  I have been doing some homework and see that the .250 can handle bullet weights from 87 to 120 grains......all that is available comercially is 100 grain psp's.......

So now I need to learn how to handload!  Crap.......who knew a free gun could be so expensive?
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Offline oso45-70

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Ruger Firearms
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2005, 06:18:00 AM »
Rock_Steady

Don't pay any attention to those other guys, The 250 Savage is a great little round, If you ever get to shooting it you may never sell the rifle. And reloading is not that hard to do and for me its a source of relaxing. And if you do decide to get rid of it DON'T send it to Lawdog,,, I'm Much cloaser to you so just send it to me. Your 77-250 is a sought after Rifle, Don't let any one talk you out of it. Good luck.........Joe.........
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Offline Omaha-BeenGlockin

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2005, 06:58:54 AM »
Buy a reloading book to start---I recommend the Hornady 2 volume set.

Study the heck out of it---get your reloading tools and supplies as funds are available.

Its nice to learn new things -----right??
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Offline Lawdog

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2005, 08:59:35 AM »
Rock_Steady,

Try a charge of 34.8 gr. of H4895 behind a 100 gr. Barnes TSX bullet for 3,043 fps..  My youngest daughter uses a .250 Savage in a Centennial model M77 Ruger(the same year model that you are talking about) and this is the load she uses.  It is also the load I use in both of my .250 Savage rifles(Savage 99DL, M722 Remington).  I my opinion the .250 Savage is one of the best deer cartridges one can use.  Almost non-existent recoil, accurate and power to take even the largest Mule deer at any reasonable range(under 300 yards).  Reloading is easy and not that expensive to get started doing.  Lawdog
 :D

P.S. - But if you should decide to rid yourself of that .250 PLEASE keep me in mind.  LD
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Offline Rock_Steady

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Well
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2005, 02:52:39 PM »
Seeing as this is an inheritance from my wife's side of the family, I don't see that this is going to be one I'm getting rid of....but I'll keep you in mind.  

Thanks for all the information.  I got to go out and shoot today and was pretty impressed with the weapon even firing factory ammo - not as gentle as an M-16, but more pleasing to look at.  Good grouping considering how blasted hot it was, and the water-filled plastic pop bottle detonated quite nicely at 100 yards.  

Now how about varminters?  Anyone use this rifle for groundhog/coyote/what-have-you?  What's a good load for them?  I'm keeping an eye out for secondhand loading equipment.....wish I could make this ammo stuff cheaper.  :)
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Offline mag-check

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2005, 03:38:05 PM »
85gr. Nosler BT at around 3,000fps good for chucks good song doggies! Might be good for small deer :grin:
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Offline CzaRon

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M77 in 250 savage
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2005, 05:34:38 AM »
I have a .250 in a 77UL. nicest rifle to carry in the woods. Winchester 100gr. Silvertips will drop a deer like a tree fell on them and I'm speaking from personal experience. My nephews are fueding over who is going to inherit it when I'm gone and I got a lot of years to go, I hope. Got a #1 in .300win. with a museum quality stock on it but they just love that plain looking little .250. Hang on to it or you will regret parting with it.
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Offline Lawdog

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Re: Well
« Reply #15 on: July 21, 2005, 09:59:02 AM »
Quote from: Rock_Steady
Now how about varminters?  Anyone use this rifle for groundhog/coyote/what-have-you?  What's a good load for them?  I'm keeping an eye out for secondhand loading equipment.....wish I could make this ammo stuff cheaper.  :)


You have a wide variety of bullets & weights to choose from with the .257 caliber.  Weights from 60 gr. flat points(actually meant for the .25-20 and it's use in the .250 I have never had any luck getting accuracy that I wanted(also the 60 gr. flat point bullets tend to tumble)) all the way up to 120 gr.(used to be able to get a 125 gr. but haven't found any of these in years).  For varmints I would stick with the Hornady 75 gr. V-Max or the Sierra 75 gr. HP Varminter.  If you plan on saving Coyote pelts then good luck and have a excellent seamstress handy.  Even the 85 or 87 gr. bullets really tear up pelts.  My favorite “varmint” load is a 75 gr. Hornady V-Max ahead of 42.4 gr. of H4350 for 3,280 fps. out of my rebarreled M722(first barrel died five years ago).  Really accurate and what it does to Ground Squirrels and Jack Rabbits must be seem to be believed(really tears them up).  If you are thinking about getting into reloading and want some load information I would be glad to help.  Have a blast with that .250, it’s a good one.  Lawdog
 :D
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