Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 300 Savage Article

Hi all:
I seem to remember an article a few years ago (maybe by JB?) that had some reloading data for the 300 Savage but I can’t remember where I saw it. Any help what publication and date would be appreciated. I have an old 99, a bunch of brass, and some 165 partitions that I’d like to combine.
Thanks!
Paul

Terry Wieland maybe?

PBR,

I did publish a .300 Savage article sometime in the past. Back when I was using one quite a bit, my favorite all-around big game load was 42.0
grains of Reloder 15 and the 165 Partition, for 2600+ fps from the 24" barrel of a 99EG.

Thanks to both of you!
Paul

Are there any possible gains to be made with heavier loads in a modern bolt action over a 99?

Maybe 100 fps, which ain't much. New powders still won't turn it into a .308.

That's the load I usually shoot in my .308, except I use BT and AB blems. RL 15 is tough to find just now, so I may switch to H4895 or I4064, or even that Varget stuff I read about someplace.

If you run across some Norma 203-B, it's the same powder as RL-15.

Thanks!

My M99 likes 4064. 165 gr Deep Curls for hogs and 150 Hornady (the ones made specifically for the 300 Savage) for deer.

I have great luck with those 150 Horns on deer and hogs. I've used 4064, 4895, and 4320 and all have worked well.

Probably Terry Weiland's article in Handloader magazine. In it he used Varget, 748, and one of the Vitahouri (sp?) powders. He used 150 gr bullets, Speer round nose if I remember correctly. I recently dull out the article as I have some 748 to burn up and my supply of 300 Savage rounds is lower than I like.

Link to similar thread.


https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...s/9379488/Re_Mule_Deer_300_Savage_articl


41

Thanks .... You're right. No use trying to turn a 300 into a 308.

The reason for the question was I've seen +P loading data for the 35Rem to be used in bolt guns and 760s that saw gains of about 200 fps or more. Was wondering if the same could be had for the 300Savage in a bolt action.

Back around 1967 when I was young and bullet proof, I bought a like new Remington 722 in .300 Savage. I loaded it with IMR-4064 and 150 grain bullets. The books at that time listed 44 grains as max with a velocity of 2800 fps. I worked up to that charge and used it without any problems but, have no idea of the actual velocity because a chrono was several years in my future. Eight or 9 years later I bought a 99 Savage and found 40 grains to be just the ticket for it.

PBR,

The article of mine you might have seen appeared in HANDLOADER--and was about loading ALL the Savage rounds, the .22 HP, .250-3000, .300 and .303. That's where I included the RL-15/165 load, which I got from the Speer manual at the time. But that was quite a while ago. but I reprinted it a couple years ago, with a little added info, as a chapter in GUN GACK 2.

A lot of published data for the little 300 is anemic in my 700 Classic.

Mule Deer:
Yup, I think that must have been the article. Guess I’ll have to pick up a copy of the book, especially if you tell me it has data for the 22 hp to turn it into a 22 wmr clone.
Thanks again!
Paul

PBR,

The Savage chapter doesn't have that info--but there's another chapter on reduced loads that will tell you how to work up your own 22 magnum equivalents in various centerfire .22 rounds.

I hear you there mathman I have a savage 110 wle and my 150's are closer to 2800 fps. MB

Heck, I'm not even looking to go that fast. Full on original 300 ballistics is beyond some data listings.

Does one of the books cover reduced velocity lead bullet loads? Looking for 32 Winchester special class cartridges.

41

Not a specific chapter, but there's quite a bit of cast bullet data in both Gack books, including the chapter in GG2 on reduced loads.

mathman,

Had a 722 Remington in .300 Savage for a while, and found the same thing.

And yes, some the published data for the .300 is even more anemic than it needs to be for 99s....

Bingo! Scored 2 pounds.

Thanks again.🤗

I haven't loaded for the old .300 in quite a few years, as I figured a good way to stock up on brass was to shoot factory loads while I could still get them. Several years ago I chronographed some of my old H335 loads, and was surprised to find I was only getting 2550 fps with 150 grain bullets. At first I was disappointed...then I remember the dead deer and a couple of dead coyotes from the 17 years I hunted with that rifle. Guess they were ok at that. I've wondered about newer powders, and have the articles on loading the .300 saved, so I might have to make a few up this summer.

Has anyone tried the 130 Barnes in the 300 Savage? I loaded some for a 99. They shot well, but haven’t had a chance to try them on deer or pigs.

Not in the .300, but the load my wife uses in her .308 Winchester is the 130 TTSX at around 2850 fps, which would be easily achievable in the .300. The last animal she took with it was the biggest cow elk either of us has ever taken, so I reckon it would work on deer or pigs.

Rummaging around for Weiland's article on the 300 Savage, I found Mule Deer's article on the Savage rounds. If looking for it one will have to go back to the December 2005 issue of Handloader.

Weiland' article isn't that far back though it could be 5 years or so back. He was looking to get 2600 fps from a 150 gr bullet without locking up a Savage 99. 41.0 grs of Varget seemed to get the job done in his 99 as did 41.0-42.0 grs of 748. I am careful of what level I load the 300 Savage as I shoot lever and semiauto rifles so chambered in addition to bolt and pump guns. Remington 81s are a pain to work on and parts aren't always easy to find.

There was another forum member who got great results with the TTSX and H4895 in the 300.

Steelhead, IIRC.

It was Steelhead. I have shot H4895 in several 300's with a variety of 150 bullets with excellent results.

I used H-4895 with the 130 TTSX. I really like that powder. Lots of good uses.

Used the 130 TTSX on Deer, with a rebarrel Kimber Montana, at around 2900FPS...Varget and W748....Wasn't surprised it worked well....

What would be a reasonable top end velocity with 130's in a 300 Savage 99? I don't think one would want to push it as hard as a bolt gun, although they are strong actions.

DF

Don't know with a 99....I've only used it in the Kimber......

Some of these new powders can make old rounds really shine and without excessive pressure.

I haven't studied the 300 Savage, as I don't have one.

I think the OP with his vintage 300 Savage 99 should load appropriate rounds, see what works and go kill stuff on his mini deer plot

And, I agree that tree stands would work well, shooting into the ground. Should have no issues outside his acreage...

DF

In my experience the .300 Savage (like the .308) works well with just about any powder in the 4895 burn-rate range. Have used both 4895s with typical deer-weight bullets, along with RL-15 and TAC--which also worked great with 125-grain Ballistic Tips, at right around 3000 fps.

My hunting buds and I have had great success with 125's, 130's in .30 cal rifles, shooting them at 3K+ in '06's and 308's on hogs and WT's.

We don't use them for long shots, mostly under 200 yds and they kill with authority, impressive results.

I think light, fast .30 cal bullets are often overlooked. They kick less and IME, tend to be very accurate, surprisingly so in some cases.

DF

The best two loads in my 300 are with 130 TTSX and 150 grain Hornady interlock sp.

I’ve only used 150 grain Hornady bullets on deer though.

How fast you pushing those 130 TTSX's. What's your best load?

DF

I have several 300 Sav rifles. All have done well with RL-15, Win 748, IMR 4064 and IMR 4895, which is great with 180s. As others have said, there is a ton of data out there. With 165s and my 99s, i seem to always end up with my best groups in the mid 2400 fps area. I had a 99 in 243 lock up on a less than max load so i now just accept that they are what they are and enjoy em just as much.

If you want hyper for caliber, get something with more case capacity and get a modern bolt gun. No need to hot rod a classic beauty. It'll kill just as many deer.

I'm picture posting challenged these days,, my wifes Rem 722 in 300 Savage has killed lots of moose 20+ and almost as many brown bears. Most with Hornady 165SP but in the last 10 yrs we switched to Nosler Partion,, its a short barreled rifle and depending on the batch is usually about 2450fps. She's perfectly content with her rifle and I have offered to build her another but it's a family heirloom and always works. A fine seal rifle as well!

44gr RL15 and the 150 Sierras shoot 1/2-3/4" groups in my 700 Classic. I loaded for a friend's older 99 a few years ago using Sierra's RL15 recipe with 150s. Maxed at 42gr, but accuracy was just as good with 40gr, and a bit easier on his bum shoulder. Works just fine.

Very few seem to be loading 3031. My 99 shoots pretty well with it at 38 grs with a 150 gr Hornady Interlock. I’ve had some good groups at 100 yds but since I shoot with a tang sight it’s more about how my eyesight is that day then how the rifle groups.
Is 3031 underrated or not a good choice? I use it because that’s the powder I use in my .45-70.

3031 is an excellent powder but, often overlooked because it is old and not the latest creation.

Terry Wieland has a great piece on it in the June/July Handloader.

LVR is outstanding in the 300 also. Works very well with the 170 gr Hornady RN. I haven't shot anything with it but I get over 2550 easily in a 760.

A neighbor, who is not a rifleman or reloader, but a helluva hunter, brought over his '99 last year to have me cook up a Calif legal copper bullet load, Barnes 130 and 41 grains of 3031 gave us nearly 2800 fps and 1 1/4" groups, with easy extraction, which may indicate safe pressures. We seated the 130's much deeper than I normally would, but no problems arose. And, it worked well for him last season, good guy that he is, he brought us a backstrap.