Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Lets Talk 170grn Bullets In 303 savage

I had some real luck and picked 400 bullets. Now I need to hit the reloading bench.

I was impressed with what ive read about LEVERevolution powder seems like its made for the old 303, unfortunately does'nt seem available down here. Looking at H4895 ( ADI 2206H)

My main question would be can you safely substitute 30-30 data for 303sav? Will the savage 99 handle higher presure than say win 94?

Thanks
Johno

Yes, you can use .30-30 data for loading the .303. The case capacities are identical.

The 99 will "handle" higher pressures than the 94, but the action is springy, and loading to higher pressures will probably stretch the brass, shortening case life..303 brass isn't exceptionally strong or available, and loading to higher pressures will probably shorten case life.

Also, I think it has been recommended here that pressures not be raised for rifles made before they started heat treating the receivers, at serial # 90.000

Are we talking 170gr .308 bullets, or 170gr .311 bullets? For any .308 bullet, simply load like a 30-30 from a starting load and work up to what works for you (don't exceed max loads for 30-30). Pressures shouldn't exceed the 30-30, definitely not to a dangerous amount (but I don't use max loads).

For .311 bullets, use the reduced charges you find in manuals like Lee's.

Del its 1923 manufacture, Rick has told me until 1926 only the 250 & 300 were hardened.

Rory will stick 308"

Johno

Thanks.

Has anybody actually encountered a .303 with a .311 bore? I have a late 20s .303 with a .308 bore. Were the older rifles bored larger?

PS - Older reloading manuals such as Lymans have .303 data.

I think the general consensus was that Savage initially made .303 bullets at .311" to be used in the bores which have always been .308" nominally- to generate a little extra "squeeze" and perhaps some more power for the uninitiated to dwell upon. Fairly quickly, bullet diameter was reduced to .308, and has remained as such to date.

(Exception to the rule: cast bullets in the .303 may well be sized larger than .308 for a perfect fit and best accuracy/no leading. The throat diameter will determine that. That applies to all .30 rifles though, not just .303 Savages.)

Is it just my theory (or did I read it some place) that Savage called it the ".303" to capitalize on the popularity of the then relatively new .303 British military cartridge? (Which coincidentally used a .311 bullet too, but for legitimate reasons.)

I have thought the same thing a lot so maybe we read it in the same place? I was thinking associating the .303 Savage with the .303 British in the 1899 buyer's head would have been a good marketing move at the time also.

Hope the recovery is going well Gary.

johno, I tried the Leverevolution in a couple .303s without much luck. I seem to get my highest "book" velocities and best accuracy with IMR 4320 when shooting 170 grain bullets. To be honest, the first few loads I tried with 4320 worked so well I never saw the point of further experimentation. I thought the Leverevolution could possibly give me a couple of hundred fps more, but that was a pipe dream and the accuracy sucked. Your results may vary.

Looks like its not available here mate. Also IMR powders are no longer imported.

Thales Australia ( ADI) makes many of your Hodgdon powders where ist re badged in the US IE H 4198 is AR 2207, H 4895 is H 2206, this looks the powder I will have to use

Johno