Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 99 EG Accuracy

I have a 1952 eg in .300. It’s a nice well kept rifle. I’ve tried several different handloads from 150 to 180 grain bullets, powders from IMR 4895, 4320, Varget, and 4064. It seems the best group I’m getting is around 2 1/4 for 5 shots. Sierra 165 game kings seem to shoot best. I’m not calling flyers unless I call it when I break the shot. Bullets are Hornady, Sierra and Speer. Sights are a Redfield receiver sight and I’m shooting off bags, resting the receiver, not the forearm on the bags. Is this about the average accuracy for this gun?

Regards, Augustus

2 1/4 MOA at 100yds with peep sight is probably as good or better than most people can do.

Unless you regularly shoot much better with other peeps, I’d say you’re doing good.

Maybe with a 99? Other peeps sights, it's easy enough to shoot moa or thereabouts.

When developing a load for a rifle, I attach a Lightfoot mount with a good scope. Once I am happy with the recipe, I put on the sight I intend to use. That is the best way I know to separate the rifle's capability from the operator's capability.

Unfortunately I don’t have a way to mount a scope and I have no intention of drilling and tapping this gun. I did try the o ring trick, I’m wondering if if more or less tension might help. I would also like to install a front sling stud on the forearm. I also have a post 64 Winchester 94 that consistently shoots around 1 1/2 with peeps. I’ve always read the post 64’s were “junk” but this one shoots great.

Regards Augustus

Easy? Pleased to meet you Mr. Boone. 1" at a hundred with opens on a Sporting rifle? Kudo's to you.

Yeah...

1" at 100 yards with 5 shot groups is competition time.

Col. Whelen thought 2" groups at 100 yards was an exceptionally accurate rifle.

If Col Whelen had that opinion I might as well quit chasing my tail on this accuracy quest. Primers are too hard to come by right now and my loads are definitely minute of deer.

Regards Augustus

Whelen discussing the Savage 1920 in "The American Rifle", published 1918.

Side note: It's not named the Model 1920 in his book, since the gun hadn't been sold yet by Savage in 1918. Whelen obviously had advance experience with it, and titled it the "Savage High-Power Bolt-Action Rifle" in his book. I'd guess the Model 1920 was first slotted for sale by Savage in 1918, but production was shut down for WWI. 1919 was spent restarting all previous civilian arms production, and they introduced it in 1920.

They likely designed it in 1917 then?

Anyhow.. 10 shot groups at 100 yds into 2.5" is the best he can says he can do with a 1903 bolt action and best ammunition.

It goes to show how wrapped around the axle we get trying to wring that last little bit of accuracy out of whatever set up we have. A 99 with a Redfield receiver sight-2.25", I'll be very happy with that when I've finished with my own exercise with my 250-3000. I got about 2.5" with some old factory ammo and the folding Marble's rear sight that came on the rifle. I have added a Redfield 70LT, thanks to Rick, and am in the throes of load development right now.

I'll keep you posted. It's not the destination, but the journey.

LHS

Agree with the crowd here... 2" at 100 is pretty good without optics.

When I'm working loads for iron/peep sighted rifles, I always shoot my groups at 50-60 yards. Beyond that for me it's really just an indicator of my shooting/eyesight limitations more than the rifle/load.

Typically, if I'm doing my part behind the trigger, stuff that's cloverleafing/touching at 50yds will be in the 1.5-2.5" range @100, depending on the number of shots and the sights.

Some rifles are just a bit better shooters than others, too. The first EG I had in 300 would stack stack them right on top of each other at 50yds. The one I have now isn't quite as good, but still more than sufficient for potting deer at the ranges I'd dare take a crack at one with sights.

Thanks for all your responses. I do get somewhat obsessed going down the accuracy rabbit hole. Now I know that I’m right where I should be shooting with peeps and I can load some hunting rounds to last a while. Load development gets expensive and time consuming! I guess sometimes we read too many gun rags where every writer manages to hit the 1 moa goal.

Regards Augustus

The Lightfoot mount requites no drilling or other invasive procedures; that is why I use it on my vintage 99s. Ditto the Stith.

Find you a box or two of factory 150 grain Remington ammo and try it. I haven't able to load anything more accurate so far.

What have your results been with the factory Remington?

Sounds to me like you are doing good. I am a fan of the 300 Savage but keep in mind that short neck does not put it in the league of target rounds. Nor did Savage ever intend for it to do its best outside of the deer woods. In regards to reloading, I always thought the Hornady Spire Point would be a good match for the short necked 300.

I’ve tried the 150 gr Hornady, the 150 gr Sierra Pro Hunter, the 165 gr Sierra Gameking and the 150 gr Speer flat base. The 165 gr Sierra shoots around 2 inches for 5 shots, and all the rest will stay under 2 1/2” for 5 shots.

All my 99s will put 3 in 1" with factory ammo and rested on the action.

Are shooting peep sight too?

My 1952 EG in 300 Savage is very accurate with this factory ammunition. With a tang sight no less. I would never drill and tap it for a scope. They are accurate rifles, no doubt about it.

. Have to be smarter than the gear you operate…..I am not. 😁

Beautiful rifle and a very impressive group!

I would do a final zero with those 165 Sierras, and call it good.

That’s exactly what I’ve done. The load with 150 gr Sierras shoots a couple inches higher so I’m good with either load.

Nice groups. Better than my blind ass can do with a peep at 100 yards

Same here, my depth perception is terrible.

Thanks Gus.

All my 99s are scoped and I never drilled any of them.

Are you using the Stith or Lightfoot mounts? My first 99 was drilled and tapped, poorly. I sold it and found a nicer one that was unmolested.

Regards, Gus

Wise decision, not just for the sake of your primer stash, but also your peace of mind. Enjoy that nice rifle.

BTW, where the Hell are the pics?