The cartridge was introduced as the .250-3000 to advertised its 3000 fps muzzle velocity which at the time was outstanding. The trouble is to get 3,000 fps they had to drop the bullet weight to 87 grains. The basic idea was to make a longer range deer cartridge than the .30-30 by using a spitzer bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient. At range the cartridge shows better numbers with a 100 grain bullet and even better with the less common 120 grain load.