Need you gents thoughts.

I have a 25/20 Marlin I use for plinking and Cowboy action shooting. I want a larger 25 cal rifle for cast bullets and hunting etc. I am torn between the following choices.

I have found for sale a M99 Savage 250-3000. Has 24 inch barrel with 14 inch twist. I have one M99 and love these guns.

I have also found a Ruger #1 in 257 roberts with 26 inch barrel and 10 inch twist. I also like the Ruger single shot.

Here are some of my thoughts I have debated. I will probably shoot this rifle from the bench with cast bullets far more that it will be used in the field for deer.

While the M99 is classic as is the 250-3000, it is primarily limited to lighter bullets due to the 14inch twist. The caliber is fine for deer hunting at the ranges I would be shooting at game.

The Ruger is just a single shot but can levered and reloaded almost as fast as the M99. It can handled bullets up to 120 with ease and can be uploaded to a rather impressive cartidge however most of the shooting with be done from the bench with 100gr beartooth 100gr flat point. Will the larger case of the 257 roberts be a detriment in cast bullet loads?

My wife to be is expressing some interest in shooting and has shot my Ruger # 1 in 223 and like its. She has never shot the M99 in 358 winc.

If you gents were considering such a purchase what you be your thoughts on either choice?

Thanks in advance for you input.

Centex Bill

Well, that's a tough decision, two very different guns. However, the cartridges themselves offer similar performance.

I have a 99 Savage .250 and a Ruger 77 .257 Rob. The 99, by the way, handles 100 grain bullets just fine. So up through that weight, no problem. I'm guessing it will be OK with the 117gr. roundnoses, but haven't tried them yet.

Just on a practical basis - I think I'd go with the #1. Cast bullets in rifles means experimenting, and sometimes experiments don't go well and you end up with a lot of lead in the barrel. The #1 sure will be easier to clean.

In theory, however, the slower twist of the Savage will lend itself better to shooting cast, at least at the upper velocity limit.

Tough choice you have to make there!

If you run across an MR-7 in 25-06 grab it. This calibur has the ability to take any game animal in the USA, very flat, lots of punch, and having shot mine at the range today, very easy to handle and lots of fun.

Personally,m would have to ignore caliber as I've a real soft spot for the little 250savage and would make my selection on that one factor.

Ruger #1's are great experimental rifles...if they don't chamber, you're never in doubt between a mechanical problem or the ammo being at fault: it's the ammo. Wihtout any real camming action and only your thumb as a loading tool, you pay attemtion to the details before you try to shoot it. Wide OAL abilities as there is no magazine to sadisfy...super strength without flex/streach worries.

The old 99 is a classic in a classic chambering...the .300 and .250Savage are not well represented today, but they were big steps in the rifle world and pretty much made the Savage 99 popular.

Buy both?

If your primary purpose, as you have stated, is to shoot cast loads from the bench, then I would suggest you go with the .257 Roberts in the Ruger No. 1. The 99 is a great hunting rifle, as is the .250 Savage.
But, the .257 Roberts is an even better hunting cartridge. And for cast bullet experimenting, it is still a better bet. The case neck is longer than the .250, and that will allow you to have more flexibility in seating cast bullets without pushing them into the powder area. Not that it is an issue with using up the powder capacity, rather, it is a matter of then having to worry about powder sticking to the lubrication and potential gas cutting of the exposed bullet.
I have used cast bullets in my .257 Roberts for years, using an old Lyman 117 grain round nose with gas check. I use the cast loads for practice, and easily shoot nice groups around 1600-1700 fps without any problem, and without leading.

A 25-35 Win or a 25-36 Marlin make nice cast bullet rifles. Mine is a Model 1893 Marlin in 25-36 Marlin, Ammo can be formed from 30-30 cases, 25-35 cases, or 7MM Waters.

Lee L.