Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Reloading for a 30-30 model 99

Folks ,

I've got a 99 built in 1928 . It's a take down model in 30-30 Win. .
I'd like to try it in Pennsylvania this year deer hunting so I'm going to work up a load that works.
My question is since I've got to buy dies for it do any of you neck size only or do you full length size?
Normally I use Reddings and the difference between the deluxe set with the extra neck sizer is more money . I'll spend the money but if the best way to go is full length sizing I just get a regular set . Maybe even RCBS .
What are youall using .
If anybody has a set for sale please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Have a nice and safe Independence Day Holiday !!!
Semper Fi
Soup

I full length resize. I've also done the neck resize, and I like it because it's easier but I never could see a difference in accuracy in my 99's (did help some of my bolt funs).

Killed my biggest buck ever this last deer season with my dad's Marlin 336 in 30-30 and factory Federal. It doesn't take much beyond getting a chance to shoot and putting the bullet where it counts.

Calhoun, what grain bullet was the Federal loaded with? powdr

Close your eyes and pick a .30-30 cartridge and it'll be dandy for killing deer, 150 or 170 just doesn't matter either. They've been perfecting that cartridge for 120 years now- they've got it right.

As for bullets for handloading, again any .30 bullet marketed as being for .30-30 is A-ok. Eenie meenie minie mo works pretty good there too.

The only time I full length size .30-30 or .303 Savage is when loading hunting ammo.

To me the only excitement derived from loading .30-30's comes from ditching jacketed bullets and switching to cast bullets, where the possibilities are endless.

Almost sure it was a 170gr..

If you do decide to neck size I strongly recommend the Lee collet die over any conventional neck sizer.

For the 30-30 I would full length resize. 150 or 170 grain bullets, which ever your gun likes or both if you get lucky. I like IMR 3031 powder too.

I went with 140gr. lead free Monoflex bullets from Hornady.

Full length and I would give a 125 Ballistic Tip a shot. If twist is wrong for the longer bullet try a 125 Sierra.

Would be a dandy in that little rifle since you can shoot a spitzer.

I use a full length sizing die but adjust it so it just sets the neck back enough to chamber easily. No need to overwork the brass. I've got .303 brass that's gone around 10 times and more.

I've never tried pointed bullets in a .30-30 but they don't load well for the .303. Lighter weight ones might be short enough to fit though.

Plus it's a crap shoot whether 150+ grain spitzers will perform reliably at .30-30 velocities, especially if the range gets a little long. (And long range is where spitzers shine. Up close and personal in the deer woods and I don't see any logical reason to try them, no matter that the 99's rotary magazine doesn't require RN or FN bullets for safety reasons. There's lots more for me to worry about than an inch or so less drop at 200 yards.)

Full length resize, and Lee dies here.

I like a 150 grain flat nose bullet, brand not important, and IMR 3031, 4064 or WW748 powders work wonderfully. 170 grain bullets work fine as well.

Although they would work fine in a Savage, I never load pointed bullets in the 30-30 because were something happen to me, someone less knowledgeable might load them into one of my tube fed levers.

Honestly, I've yet to make a load that didn't shoot well in 30-30.

Honestly, 30-30 ammunition is inexpensive and widely available. You'd be hard pressed to load a superior round to the factory Remington 150 grain stuff at WalMart or Academy Sports.

i have a sister to the op gun. 1926 TD in 3030.it seems to like 170g silver tips best of course as they are not on every shelf. just loaded some 160 gummie tips with 28g 4064 and it liked them. about 2 inch at 60 yards with a buggered front sight and eyes that mistake a lawn chair for a bear at night. the TD's sure a sweet lite carrying little thing. think i will have to have some more!

I have a 1923 vintage 99 featherweight takedown that I hunt with now and then. Redfield reciever sight, worn to bare metal on the reciever and the bluing thin on the barrel. Beautifully slick action after a little over 90 yrs of breaking in. Great walking around rifle. Will group most factory ammo as well as I can shoot with iron sights. Settled on 170 gr federal stuff many years ago. Tried the 170 gr fusion ammo when it came out, shoots to same point as the blue box federal, so use them interchangeably.