Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 300 savage bullet selection???

just aquired a 99sav. in .300... i am curious if anyone who has experience with the cartridge sees any use for the premium bullets... partition, etc...

if i thought that a premium bullet would give me any advantage i would use it... i wonder though if, given the tamer velocities of the .300 savage, the premiums might not be on the tough side... resulting in insufficient expansion..... john w

I am using a 700 "Classic" bolt action chambered in 300 Savage, and have shot several different bullets, but the 150 Partition shoots better than any other so I used it to whack a couple of deer last fall. The Partition is designed to expand easily in the front area, so I had no problems, even on a 125 lb yearling forkhorn. The exit was about 1�" in diameter, and the internal damage was severe. The deer only travelled about 20 yards. However, Partitions are probably not necessary with this rather mild chambering, and I suspect other bullets of non-premium design will work fine. Regards, Eagleye.

My deer rifle is a Model 99 Savage in .300 Savage caliber, too... a 1953 "late EG" model.

Using 4 different rifle powders, 4 different brands of primer and two different brands of bullets, I developed a very accurate, high-velocity (for a .300 Savage) hunting load using a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullet over 41.5 grains of IMR4895 using a standard Winchester large rifle primer in Winchester brass.

This is a maximum load, so reduce it 10% and "work back up" according to normal reloading procedures. This load, in my rifle, yielded an average muzzle velocity (chronograph 15' from the muzzle) of 2680 fps and consistently averaged 3/4 inch, 3-shot groups @ 100 yards off a bench rest.

Here�s the Savage .300 ballistics for a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullet @ 2680 fps muzzle velocity:

25 yards = + 0.05 inches/velocity = 2625 fps/ bullet energy = 2295 ft-lbs.
50 yards = + 1.28 inches / 2576 fps / 2210 ft-lbs.
100 yards = + 2.75 inches / 2480 fps / 2048 ft-lbs.
130 yards = + 2.98 inches / 2423 fps / 1955 ft-lbs. (high point on the ballistic curve)
150 yards = + 2.84 inches / 2385 fps / 1894 ft-lbs.
200 yards = + 1.36 inches / 2293 fps / 1751 ft-lbs.
225 yards = � 0.00 inches / 2247 fps / 1682 ft-lbs. (�zero� range)
250 yards = - 1.79 inches / 2202 fps / 1615 ft-lbs.
265 yards = - 3.00 inches / 2175 fps / 1573 ft-lbs. (maximum point-blank range)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Not a .300 savage, but my son's new .308(Remington 7600 pump) LOVES the hornady bullets(any of the interlocks we've tried) might be something to look at??? Their performance on game has been reported to be great and the price is certainly right! Just thought it might be something to try/look at...

I've used the Speer 165gr flat based spitzers almost exclusively in my 300 Sav for quite a while now. No complaints or problems. I believe they came out of the barrel at about 2550 fps and, in a calm wind, would place 3 shots within 1.5" at 200 yards. Don't remember the other load specifics right now, but I haven't changed anything in the last 8 years. I think that standard (non-premium) bullets are just fine with this cartridge as long as you use a quality one. At these velocities you aren't going to over stress the bullets. Find one that's accurate and go with it.

I have been working on a 165gr Speer Grand Slam load but haven't found a load that will print less than an inch. I have a REM 700 Classic but I put it in a BDL stock (I prefer it over the classic stock). It likes the 150gr factory loads so I may have to go with a 150gr Grand Slam.

SPAD

Spad; What did you do with the Classic Stock? I happen to prefer them over the BDL. Regards, Eagleye.

One of the Sierra people says the 150 grain Round Nose is the best for the 300 Savage velocities. I'm still looking for MY 300 Savage rifle. Good shootin' RustyZipper <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

EagleEye, I'm using it as a surrogate stock right. Looking to get one of those composite Painted Mcmillans in a white w/black web for a winter coyote rifle.

SPAD

My best luck in my Savage 99G and both my EG's have been with the Speer Hot Cor 165 gr flat base. Getting an inch at 100 yds with all but the G whch hovers around 1.25 (Not enough to worry about) IMR-4350 has worked well and nothing has gone more then 20 yds when shot in the boiler room and expansion has been very good but best of all consistant. No blow ups and none have failed to expand either. Great bullet for the price. It is the same bullet I shoot in my 30-06 and have used it from Caribou-Elk-Black Bear-Mule deer. Good Luck. Ryan

Spad; If you decide you want to unload the Classic stock in the future, PM me and let me know if we can work something out. Thanks, Eagleye.

John,
I have yet to hunt with my Savage '99,in 300 Sav,but I have a lot of experience with the 30/40 Krag. The ballistics are prettyclose. For Whitetails,I suggest that you use Hornady 150 grain Interlocks.You can spend more,as I have done,but you probably will not get any better.
Frank

johnw:

The 300 Savage does not need a premium bullet in my experience. I also avoid any boat tailed bullet in this cartridge. The short neck means a boat tail does encroach further into the case and pressures will be higher with the same load compared to a flat based bullet if my tests hold true for other rifles. This pressure variation may have more import for shooters of the 99 than they do for bolt guns but I don't know from lack of experience using a bolt gun in the chambering. Pressure in the 99 must be kept at a point where extraction of the fired case remains slick and sure.

The Hornady should be fine but my particular favorites are the 150 grain Remingtons in either pointed or round nosed configuration. They seem to be well suited for that velocity range and expand, penetrate and kill deer very well. The bonus is they are relatively inexpensive bought in quantity (500-1000 bulk) and shoot plenty accurate for the purpose.

first off, thanks to ever body for the replies... i'm kinda covering new reloading ground , for me, on this one.

as to the sierra tech who advised the RN bullet, i'm sure that his intentions are good, and he may be right as far as a thick woods deer rifle is concerned... but, the way that i see it, a primary advantage of the 99 is its ability to handle sleek pointy bullets... true, the velocity may not be all that high to begin with, but why not conserve what you have...

the .300 savage in my mind is not strictly a whitetail rifle, either. in high school, i used my uncles for an elk and a mule deer... in my 20s i used it to take a black bear..... with the one that i own now i hope to take a moose..... we'll see how it works on deer first..... johnw

Ron T what was the barrel length for the example you quoted on that savage 300
Thanks NC

Well,a deer hunter with savvy. Congratulations. The 300 Savage is,well as good as it gets for up to 300 yard deer hunting. I have used 4895 and 4064 powders mostly. I have settled on 4895 at about 2550 fps. As bullets go,I use the premium bullet for non magnum common sense 30 cals rifles. Remington 150 grain cor lokts. No need to get fancy with a 300 Savage. It's a kin to Case knives, wool shirts,a compass,and kitcken matches.

4pwr Thanks for the come back , Having grown up on a homestead in western Canada
I can relate to the case knife, the kitchen matches, wool shirts, but that compass "bit" I didn't
even know such a thing existed until I joined the Airforce, we just knew the "lay of the land
and found our own way back".I appreciate the input for loading but still don't know the barrel length
for any of the loadings given? Cheers for now NC

NorthCountry...



My Savage Model 99 is a 1953 "late model EG" and has a 24" barrel. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />





Ron T.

Ron T thanks that is the info I was looking for: mine is also a 24" so now I
have an idea of what to expect. mucdh appreciated Cheers NC