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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 79
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 79 |
Hello all, I am brand new to this website and my purpose for being here is because I just received my vintage savage model 99 303. I have reloaded in the past for two or three of my hunting rifles. RCBS is my reloader, and I am looking for a good load using 150 grain Barnes bullet. I have located a set of two dies on eBay but they are pretty pricey. $120. Any information that you could give me will be muchly appreciated. My brief story is that in 1955,when I was 12 years old, I shot my first deer with a 303 savage. It was a borrowed gun And my dad returned it to its owner. I have not held one in my hands for all these years, until now. I'm pretty excited. Thanks for your help. Tellumnothing
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,084
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,084 |
Keep your eyes peeled for a set of used dies. They turn up on eBay and aren't expensive. As for data, just use .30-30 data and all will be well.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,935
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,935 |
Just pick up some Lee dies, they're around $35 or so online at a number of places.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436 |
You should be well armed for adventure. Frank Buck's rifle.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,437
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,437 |
Ditto on the Lee dies. Try FS reloading.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740 |
The Lee dies work great for me. I prefer them to the RCBS even (blasphemy, I know).
As gnoahh said, use .308 bullets and the 30-30 load data - starting from minimum loads - and you should be fine. I've taken a couple of deer and it works great.
“ The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 299
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 299 |
I would not recommend Barnes bullets for use at 303 savage velocities. I tried them in my savage 99 308 but the copper fouling turned me off to them. Good hunting.
Life is too short to hunt with ugly guns.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 518
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 518 |
I would not recommend Barnes bullets for use at 303 savage velocities. I tried them in my savage 99 308 but the copper fouling turned me off to them. Good hunting. Even the 190 grain? Maybe in the .308 it was due to the velocity.
Home for wayward neglected 99's.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,313
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,313 |
I found a set of RCBS dies used for a good price, and use 33.5 gr. of W748 with the 170 gr. Speer load that I also use in my .30-30s. One nice point about this load is that it was also published in an early 90's Winchester handbook for the 303 Savage.
Brushbuster: "Is this thread about the dear heard or there Jeans?" Plugger: "If you cant be safe at strip club in Detroit at 2am is anywhere safe?" Deer are somewhere all the time To report a post you disagree with, please push Alt + F4. Thank You.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,222
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,222 |
Those old 99s are neat. Especially the .303. I have one and it's a keeper. Very accurate if you feed it what it likes. I think besides the problem with the expansion of the Barnes bullet that you are going to find the magazine length is your greatest limitation. Those are long bullets. I suppose you could single load them but that would take out all the fun. I am a Lee fan also - for everything. After much experimentation with my .303, I found it was happiest with flat point .30-30 bullets, either 150 or 170 gr. and a good charge of 3031. That's just like every lever action .30-30 i've ever shot. Not much difference exept the nostalgia and trying something new. Good luck.
"That God could and would, if He were sought."
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,610
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,610 |
Well, although this thread is almost 2 years old, my preferred load for my 99H carbine is the RCBS 30-180 FN ( 189 grains) and 30 grains of IMR-4320 which gives a little over 1800 fps. Second choice is Lyman 311407 (186 grains) and 34 grains of H-414 going slightly less than 1800 fps. Love to load the .303 Savage with it's long neck!
Shew me thy ways, O LORD: teach me thy paths. "there are few better cartridges on Earth than the 7 x 57mm Mauser" "the .30 Springfield is light, accurate, penetrating, and has surprising stopping power"
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