Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hornady 117 RN in 250-3000 Savage

Good Evening, and Happy New Year to All,

I need some advice on loading the 117 Hornady RN. I finally got the time to load some heavier bullets for testing in my 99 in 250. When chambering my dummy (sizing) rounds the 117 spitzers chambered, tight, but they chambered. The 117 RN however wouldn't. I used the recommended OAL of 2.515 for the roundnose and 2.650 for the spitzer and ran both through a Lee Factory Crimp die. After the failure to chamber I ran a non-crimped 117 RN also at 2.515. I extracted the round and the measured OAL was 2.445. I have five reloading manuals and none has a load for the 117 at this OAL or shorter. Has anyone else run into this problem when loading 117 Hornady RN in Savage 99 and do you have any loads for this OAL that you would be willing to share?

You gots to match the throat, don't worry about the books.

Thank you for the reply Steelhead. I know I have to match the throat, but frankly I don't know what load to start with. I've never had to start this much lower than the recommended OAL.

When I loaded for my Savage 99A that was built in the '70s, it digested the Horn. 117RN no problem. I sold that rifle long ago, so the records are gone, but I do remember I seated the bullets to the cannelure. Win 760 was the powder that mine liked with those bullets.

I have a 77rsi and load that bullet to 2.415 OAL because that's what the throat allows. Over a case full of H4831 SC, it gets tiny groups at about 2550. I figure it's a non-issue.

Thank you castnblast and old70. Apparently I have a short throat in my 99 or maybe a batch of over sized bullets. Hope it's not the latter cause those roundnose are hard to come by. Old 70, H4831 has been my go to powder for 100 grain bullets. I'm leery of the shorter OAL because its a lever action. Savage 99 actions are very strong but they're not quite as strong as a bolt action and they don't extract sticky cases as well. Guess I'll have start from scratch and develop some new loads.

Drop down a grain or two, and work up you should be fine. H4895 is my go to for 100 gr.