I was only able to find that it supposedly an push a 100 gr. bullet over 3000 fps.
As JamesB mentions... 250-3000 orig came w/87gr bullet, so it
could reach that lofty (for the day) 3000fps.
I think 250-3000 is a neat cartridge, with more panache than the .243 -- as far as which for Dad... what does he want? I think that 30-30 should do just as well at likely ranges