H380 in a 250-300 Savage - any experience?

[cloverleaf]

Well- afetr doing a bunch of looking and then sme research on the Hogdon web site standing an the store I came home w/ a poud of H380. Will be looking to load some 100 Gr BT's. as listed in the Nosler reloading data. as well Also see loads for the 87 Gr and 75 Gr in the Hornady load data. All of which I use in my 250's. IS temp sensitivity a big issue with this powder? I think there are a couple folks on here who have used H380, if I remember correctly? Insights/ thoughts ? Thanks CL

 

[Blkram]

You got me curious...
SAAMI's specs for the 250 Savage is 45,000 CUP, which is 50,318 psi.
QuickLoad suggests that max in a 22" barrel (sorry, I do not recall your rifle's barrel length) with the 100 gr BT, would be 35.7 gr of H380, producing 2848 fps and 1800 ft lbs of energy.
Although on another site, it shows that the SAAMI pressure limit for the Savage Model 99 action was reduced to 47,000 psi. (Which is interesting, as this action was also chambered in the 284 Win and the SAAMI max pressure was set for 56,000 psi. I know that I have read articles in the past that gave the max design pressure for the Savage Model 99 and Winchester Model 88 rifles, but could not find it this morning in my search...and I am still looking.)
QL shows max load as 34.9 gr of H380 for 47K psi, producing 2781 fps and 1718 ft lbs of energy.

And H380 is not an Extreme powder so will be temp sensitive.

 

[cloverleaf]

I share your "confusion". Noslers own data currently lists 38,5 grains of H380 as a max load with a 22 inch barrel, 2,802 fps. In my Mauser, Im not to worried, and anyway I wont load for Max any more anyway.
Speer shows 35gr of 380 as Max with the 100 Gr hot core, at 2,604
Conversely they list CFE 223 at a max of 38 Gr. at 3,026

Theres got to be some pressure difference there!


I currently load my friends 99 with 87gr. Speers, with 39 Gr of 4350 which is right in the middle of the range (37-41gr). Speer lists H380 with an 87gr hot core between 38 amd 42 grains.

Realize I'm throwing around different bullet weights here. One thing I know is reloading for this one has never been straight forward. If I lved a little closer I pay Fotis to find me a load. Feels like "best guess" when I do it. CL

 

[cloverleaf]

You got me curious...
SAAMI's specs for the 250 Savage is 45,000 CUP, which is 50,318 psi.
QuickLoad suggests that max in a 22" barrel (sorry, I do not recall your rifle's barrel length) with the 100 gr BT, would be 35.7 gr of H380, producing 2848 fps and 1800 ft lbs of energy.
Although on another site, it shows that the SAAMI pressure limit for the Savage Model 99 action was reduced to 47,000 psi. (Which is interesting, as this action was also chambered in the 284 Win and the SAAMI max pressure was set for 56,000 psi. I know that I have read articles in the past that gave the max design pressure for the Savage Model 99 and Winchester Model 88 rifles, but could not find it this morning in my search...and I am still looking.)
QL shows max load as 34.9 gr of H380 for 47K psi, producing 2781 fps and 1718 ft lbs of energy.

And H380 is not an Extreme powder so will be temp sensitive.

BTW- I asume you are still running your 250 Savage (AI)? Whats working for you. H4350 seemed to have fewer load options listed for the 250. That and $10 less a pound made me take a chance. Maybe I made a mistke? CL

 

[Blkram]

BTW- I asume you are still running your 250 Savage (AI)? Whats working for you. H4350 seemed to have fewer load options listed for the 250. That and $10 less a pound made me take a chance. Maybe I made a mistke? CL

Hate to admit, but I haven't pulled the AI out of the safe for a while, and I still need to finalize a load in it with the 110 gr AB,
But I do have load data for both Re-26 and H-4350 to try (I have both powders in stock). Max loads in my LH Rem 700 and 24" barrel according to QuickLoad suggest 50.0 gr of Re-26 for about 3200 fps, and 41.5 gr of H4350 for about 3000 fps. We'll see which produces the best accuracy. (Note - Ackley's book showed a potential of 3200 fps in the 250AI with a 100 gr bullet, using IMR4350. QL shows that his data was very optimistic! Be interested if I can actually achieve this velocity with the Re-26!)

Back to the 250 Savage, H4350 with the 100 gr BT, QL showed a max with my Model 88's 22" barrel at 56,000 psi at 38.9 gr for about 2914 fps.
For the 100 gr SGK, the Vihtavouri powders showed the following in my rifle:

• N550: max of 40.3 gr for 3023 fps
• N160: max of 40.2 gr for 2981 fps
• N150: max of 38.1 gr for 2938 fps

 

[salmonchaser]

I had a 250 savage 99 years ago. Traded the gun for a Walther PPK backup when I went into law enforcement. Dumb! I know I used H380 in that rifle but no recollection of how much or what bullet weight.
H380 was also one of the favorites in the 257 Roberts. I still have some on hand and am using it up launching 100gr Ballistic Tips. I don’t get the velocity with 380 that I do with other powders but accuracy is just over 1moa in my #1. Good enough for banging steel out to 300 for practice. I don’t think you made a mistake buying it.

 

[cloverleaf]

Thanks Chaser- I am hopeful. Also hopeful (but not optomistic) that it will warm up enough so I can reload before April. Yet another reason for me to get out of Commysota. CL

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I load H380 in Dad’s .250-3000 Troy. His is an early ‘30’s vintage Savage 99 RS. The 1-14” twist precludes anything heavier than the old 87 grain Flat base spitzers so we have used the Sierra Varminter exclusively. The 39 grain charge gives us right at 3000 fps in that 24” barrel.

We have used it on lots of coyotes and mule deer over the years. With deer as long as one stays away from the shoulder (broadside ribs okay) it works very well.

The .250-3000 is a grand old cartridge that needs to make a comeback, though unfortunately it is unlikely to do so.

 

[cloverleaf]

I load H380 in Dad’s .250-3000 Troy. His is an early ‘30’s vintage Savage 99 RS. The 1-14” twist precludes anything heavier than the old 87 grain Flat base spitzers so we have used the Sierra Varminter exclusively. The 39 grain charge gives us right at 3000 fps in that 24” barrel.

We have used it on lots of coyotes and mule deer over the years. With deer as long as one stays away from the shoulder (broadside ribs okay) it works very well.

The .250-3000 is a grand old cartridge that needs to make a comeback, though unfortunately it is unlikely to do so.

Thanks- I appreciate the confirmation and positive word. Yup, as Ive noted here ad-neasuam, its a sentimental and very useful favorite, with more cool factor than the venerable 30-30. I have been able to get reasonable accuracy in my friends 99 (also a 1:14) with 39.5 gr of IMR 4350 and an 87gr speer hot core. CL