Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors why do i want/need a 303, convince me

Another appeal of owning a .303 is the "what the hell is that" reaction at the rifle range. The marching to the beat of a different drummer attitude, if you will. Truth be told there is no earthly difference in efficiency whatsoever between it and the .30-30. It boils down to desire.

If a rank newbie asked me to recommend one over the other in two identical rifles he was looking at and if to him nostalgia/Savage lunacy weren't a factor, I would tell him to go with the .30-30 by all means. .30-30 ammo is everywhere, .303 ammo not so much (and the same for brass for reloading). That, mind you, is purely a pragmatic approach. Rifle/Savage loonies keep moving, nothing for you in that sentiment!

you guy's have me in a sweat to find one now. and the deal i had going on the henry fell through. maybe i can sell an AR.

So for years the 303 was the “red headed stepchild” to just about everything, including practically every discontinued cartridge ever made. I have a TD F I got about 20-years ago because nobody wanted anything to do with “that obsolete” cartridge. I’ve been a fan for a long time but are we now elevating the 303 to cult status like the 250-3000 and the recently rising in popularity 22HP?

Some 303's are just plain nice to gaze upon !

Should be wrapped in plastic, to protect it from drool!

Beautiful.

Nah, the 303 is what it is, the first Savage cartridge, a very serviceable cartridge, so every collector needs one. Just as they need a 22HP, 250, and 300. You need those 4 for the Savage Slam. The only one I don't have yet is a deer with the 303. I'd say the 22HP and 250 can be more Cultish. I only have 11-12 1899/99's and 5 of them are 250's. I think to the rest of the world it's still the red headed step child . To us, it's just the correct cartridge.

Got deer with the 303 and 300, antelope with the 250. Nothing with a 22HP yet. Some day I'll take one out for does.

Except ones like that one!^^^^^^^^^

These might be helpful. Sorry about the rotated images. If you download them they are readable.

PM me, might just have a duplicate 99 in 303 for trade. What cha got for trade?

Also the 75th Anniversary model 95 was available in 30-30, a blast to hunt with. A modern one but nice and fun to boot.

pm to you Harley

Ya gotta love the old Lyman reloading manuals!

75th Anniversay in 308 only. They stopped selling 99’s in 30-30 right at WW2. Just FYI.

i have numbers 1 through current . something else my wife calls clutter

I like the factory duplication load for 22.5-grains of IMR 4227 and the 193-grain 311334. 1934 FPS.

Awesome manuals thanks!

My point I was trying to make was this.

With the 303 savage ammo rare, buying a vintage 303 carbine/ rifle will more than likely be less " used" than a 30/30 of the same age.

Did someone say old Lyman manual.

I've been a believer in Lyman manuals for a long time, but sometimes in some of those old manuals they leave me scratching my head. Lump 170 and 180 grain under one heading and claim the the same velocity for both with the same charges? Extrapolation/guesswork filled a lot of the holes they hadn't the time/budget (or inclination) to actually research, I suppose.

Stop it, stop it! Just came home from an auction preview. Two beautiful 1899A's in .303. I don't need encouragement. Wife wants a new downstairs bathroom. Oh, man, I will be a wreck at the auction. Of course I could stay home and not bid but what is the fun in that. .Some body jump in here and tell us all how much .303 savages suck.
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If you can get your mitts on any 190 gr. Silvertips made for the .303 they are IMPRESSIVE killers...