new savage 50cal, which loads would you try first?

[cumminscowboy]

I finally have all the parts to get my savage up and going, simms pad, xs sites rod, thanks tar12, hex breach plug, ken farrell base rear bedded to receiver. haverster and mmp sabots

my goal is to have this puppy ready to shoot to 250 yards and beyond, I want to run a 250 grn bullet into the 2550-2600 range, what combos would you try first to accomplish this??

[dans]

See the tips and hints section. Several of the slower powders will get you there. H-4198 comes to mind. I would probably start out with a 250 SST or Shockwave, A CCI 209m primer, an MMP short black sabot and the appropriate charge of H-4198. Keep in mind rb's recent post as letting your rifle tell you what it likes. Your goal and the rifles goal may not be on the same page.

[Chris Champion]

250g SST or Shockwave with which ever sabot gives you a tight fit. But I suggest that before you jump right in at 2500-2600 fps that you shoot this combo with a book powder at 2200-2300 fps to make sure your gun is a shooter and to get accustomed to it before you step up to the higher velocities. If there is something going on with your rifle it will show up with a book load. If you start right out going fast and can't find decent accuracy then you might start chasing your tail tweaking loads when you might have some other issue going on. IMR SR4759 or N110 would be my choice at 40-44g. If it doesn't shoot with one of these two powders at 40-44g with a snug fitting sabot with adequate waiting between shots then something is wrong. I found that my 50cal barrel just didn't like to shoot at 2500-2600 fps. It seems its sweet spot was 2400 fps regardless of the load.

As far as your higher velocity loads H4198 at 72-76g will get you there. Duplex is probably the most efficient way to get there and you can fine tune your loads. Check out the loads in the load database that KerryB and CraigF put together.

[Dave W]

I also think you should find a load that shoots with one of the "book powders" before jumping to a harder recoiling load. A base load that shoots well gives you something to revert back to if you are not having luck finding a sweet spot with a new load. If you are having accuracy problems such as scope, worn vent, etc. the base load can tell you something is amiss if it is not grouping either.

I agree with the others H4198 will get you the speed you are looking for with a 250 SST but my gun has never showed a distinct like for it as far as accuracy and consistency so I'm biased towards duplex which shoots tighter and is more consistent in my gun, you will just have to experiment to see what your gun likes.