Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Loading for a savage 99 300 Savage

i have a friend who has a Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Since he can not find factory ammo he has asked me to load a few rounds for him. I have acquired 300 Savage dies & some Rem 165 gr bullets. Hodgon data shows 38grs of 4895 as a max load with the 165gr bullet for 2341 fps. . I am a very experienced loaded but have never loaded for a 99. Was just wondering if there is anything special I should be aware of when loading for this rifle ?

The only time I've loaded 165 grain bullets in my .300 I used Reloader 12 which doesn't help for your question but, if you have 150 grain I can definitely recommend 40 grains of IMR-4064. Start at 38 grains and work up.

The only time I've loaded 165 grain bullets in my .300 I used Reloader 12 which doesn't help for your question but, if you have 150 grain I can definitely recommend 40 grains of IMR-4064. Start at 38 grains and work up.

Thanks Joe. I have 150gr bullets , but my old friend insists on 165gr. We are hunting elk also, so the 165 is preferred. I have had no problem finding loading info . Was just wondering if there was anything special I should know about the Savage 99. I would assume it is straight forward , just like for my bolt actions. I have Varget, 4064.H335 & 4895 to choose from, for this 300.

My 300 Savage likes factory more than my hand loads. The 150 grain Hornady's have worked well on white tail for me. I didn't have enough TSX's on hand to use on deer at the time.

300 Savage - Savage 99, Remington Factory, 150 grain, 1.15 MOA
300 Savage - Savage 99, Hornady FB, 150 Grain, Rem 9 ½ 39 grains H4895, 1.50 MOA
300 Savage - Savage 99, Hornady FB, 150 Grain, Rem 9 1/2 ? grains Varget, 1.18 MOA
300 Savage - Savage 99, Barnes TTSX 130 Grain, Rem 9 ½, 43 grains H4895, 1.28 MOA

My 300 didn't shoot 165's as well. The best group was 1.77 MOA (41 grains of Varget)

Varget was the best powder in the loads I tried other than the TTSX's.

It's my opinion that a 150 grain Nosler Partition would work for elk. I had some 150 grain CT (combined Technology bullets that would have worked too.

If the rifle is in good shape you should be able to approach 2600 fps with Varget.

My 300 Savage 99 shot well enough. I found it easy to collapse the neck into the shoulder. I also found cases stretched with hotter loads. I used the 150 grain Speer flat nosed 30-30 bullet for deer pushed to 2500 fps and I had it as a backup rifle hunting Elk in Washington state. I loaded the Speer 180 gr. Hotcor for that hunt but never carried the rifle. This was back in 1986 and my powder choice was IMR 3031. My rifle was an older one and I liked the way it looked. But as in every M99 Savage I have owned someone wanted to buy it more than I wanted to keep it.

How did you manage that?

" f 4064

My accuracy load uses "one more grain" @ 41.0 grs of 4064 with a Remington 150 gr core-lokt. My brother started load development with this rifle at first and it wouldn't group. Out of frustration he gave up and gifted the rifle to me, I used his last load seating the bullets 10 thousands deeper...now 3 bullet holes touching in now the norm. BOY....was my brother pissed and yes I still have the rifle.

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/300-savage?ar=1

Also
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...source=ammo-seek&utm_campaign=203697

Lots of Remington core-lokt in 150's can be found but they are running $40 box, you just missed out on Midwayusa'a free shipping if you spent $49 or more so 2 boxes would have had free shipping..

Using a regular RCBS full length sizing die the I lost more than a few cases when the die tried to size the neck it would push the neck down onto the case. Could have been some soft brass I guess but it was the first time it ever happened to anything I have loaded.

If the serial number is below 900,000, the action limits max OAL to 2.6”, 900k or above 2.8”

My answer is do not load published max loads for the .300 Savage in your Savage M99. The cases will stretch too much. Back off any PUBISHED max loads 1 1/2 to 2 grains. My go to powder for bullets from 150 to 170 grs. is AA2520. Accurate and easy to load!

Hip

Full length size your cases and run them through the rifle before you load them to be sure they are sized enough. Don't load hot! I haven't loaded 165 grain bullets for my 300 Savage rifles. I use WW-748 for 150 and 180 grain bullets. The 300 Savage case is limited in capacity by the short neck and 2.6" overall length of the action.

Ffor 150 grain bullets, use 40 grains of either IMR 4895 or 4064, or 42 grains of WW-748. I use 41 grains of WW-748 with 180 grain round nose bullets. I have recently been using CFE223 and LEVERevolution powders in my 300 Savage loads and those powders work well.

For 165s I would split the difference in powder charges between the loads for 150s and 180s.

Those of you that actually load for a 99 - do you use small base dies or just full length size and trim?

I haven't found a set of dies I want to buy yet and have wondered about the small base and the lack of camming power in the lever action. I don't intend to run max book loads - I don't see the need and the rifle will last longer for it.

So, small base dies? Whatta ya say?

I don't have small base dies and have never had a problem. But I don;t push the 99 very hard, either.

Thanks ST,

I’ll probably just pick up a full length set then.
I have a few boxes of 150’s of one type or another and a big bunch of 170 flat nose Sierra’s to shoot up.

A lot of "book" data for the little 300 is pretty wimpy, even for a 99.

Of course if very moderate loads suit your purpose there's no reason to go hotter. Most of the time I'm not shooting full throttle stuff for various cartridges in my rifles.

I have a buddy that needs small base dies for two of his 300's.

Hmm, I think I’ll borrow a FL die from a friend and see how they fit and compare to fired, unfired and resized...

Thanks guys.