Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors reloading data for 303 savage

The data i've seen for the 303 seems primarily to be 30-30 data reduced by 5%. The 303 has slightly more case capacity than the 30-30 and is chambered in a stronger action. Why is the 303 loaded to lower pressures? Thanks for any answers you may have.

My Lyman #44 lists the min/max charges as almost identical for equal weight bullets. I don't think many of the newer manuals list the .303 Savage and I have heard comments about subbing .30-30 data less 5%. The .303 data usually includes a loading for a heavier bullet than for the .30-30. I'm not sure how the pressure is affected.

Ballistically, the .303 Savage is similar, but slightly superior to the .30/30 Winchester cartridge. In fact, according to my old reloading manual, the .303 Savage uses .308-inch JACKETED bullets just like most .30 caliber U.S. cartridges and indicates that SOME .303 Savage rifles might use .311 CAST bullets, but that no JACKETED bullet larger than .308 should be used in any .303 Savage rifle. If in doubt, you should have your individual rifle�s bore size checked by a competent gunsmith.

My old Reloading Handbook (circa 1970) indicates the .303 Savage will put out a 150 grain bullet in the 2400-2450 feet/per/second velocity range yielding a muzzle energy of approximately 2,000 ft/lbs.

A big advantage the Model 99 Savage has over most other lever-action rifles is it's rotary magazine which allows you to use spitzer (pointed) bullet rather than the blunt nosed bullets that most lever action rifles must use. These ballistically-superior pointed bullets are aerodynamically superior compared to blunt-nosed bullets and retain their downrange velocity much better thus increasing the downrange striking power of your .303 Savage Rifle.

Rick99 will probably be able to give you more statistics on the rifle, itself... but your .303 Savage cartridge is still an excellent deer cartridge.

Below, I�ve listed some loads for the .303 Savage cartridge. NOTE: THE MAXIMUM LOADS MAY BE DANGEROUS IN YOUR RIFLE, APPROACH THEM WITH CAUTION.


Firearm used: Savage Model 99, 26-inch barrel
.308 inch Groove Diameter
Twist: 1-12
Remington Cases
Rem.9� primers, large rifle primer
Bullet diameter, jacketed or cast = .308 inches
Maximum Case Length = 2.015�
Maximum Overall Length (with bullet) = 2.520�



150 GRAIN JACKETED BULLET

IMR 3031 - Starting load = 30.0 grains, Muzzle Velocity = 2169 fps
Maximum load 33.0 gr. = 33.0 grains, MV = 2392 fps

IMR4895 - Starting load = 33.0 grains, MV = 2202 fps
Max. load 36.0* grains, MV = 2392 fps

IMR4064 - Starting load = 32.0 grains, MV = 2123 fps
Max. load 36.0* grains, MV = 2403 fps

IMR4320 � Starting load =32.0 grains, MV = 2105 fps
Max. load 36.0* grains, MV = 2444 fps

* indicates a compressed load

ACCURACY LOAD � IMR4895, 33.0 grains = 2202 fps




170 GRAIN JACKETED BULLET

IMR3031 � Starting load = 28.0 grains, MV = 1949 fps
Max. load 31.0 grains, MV = 2173

IMR4895 � Starting load = 30.0 grains, MV = 1949 fps
Max. load 33.0* grains, MV = 2136 fps

IMR4064 � Starting load = 30.0 grains, MV = 1930 fps
Max. load 33.0* grains, MV = 2132 fps

IMR4320 � Starting load = 30.0 grains, MV = 1886 fps
Max. load 33.0 grains, MV = 2105 fps

* indicates compressed load

ACCURACY LOAD � IMR3031, 28.0 grains, MV = 1949 fps.



190 JACKETED BULLET

IMR4895- Starting load = 30.0 grains, MV = 1870 fps
Maximum load = 33.0 grains, MV = 2005 fps

IMR3031- Starting load = 28.0 grains, MV = 1835 fps
Max. load = 31.0 grains, MV = 1980 fps

IMR4064- Starting load = 30.0 grains, MV = 1855 fps
Max. load = 32.0 grains, MV = 2025 fps

IMR4320- Starting load = 32.0 grains, MV = 1875 fps
Max. load = 36.0 grains, MV = 2145 fps


I recommend using the 150 grain, .308-inch Nosler Ballistic Tip or Partition bullet in front of your choice of rifle powder for deer hunting.

Good Hunting... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Strength & Honor�

Ron T.

Hi.I reload for the 303. and use 308 jacketed bullets, the savage & stevens arms collector edition,by Jay Kimmel, on page 232 says that all 303 barrels were made with 308 bores,and I am inclined to believe that, I use lead bullets in that and other rifles,and pistols and as every one knows you must use an 2 to 3 thousand over size bullet for max, accurcy when using lead bullets, and I beleive that is where the myth of 311 bullets began,as there was lead bullets loaded for the 303. as Ron T says cast bullets not jacketed. if any one finds a rifle with a larger bore than 308,I and most everyone on this forum would probly like to know. Hubert <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I owned a 303 before but gave it to one of my kids. I was getting poor velocity and accuracy. I had the barrel slugged and it measured .3105. I then used 180 gr. Speer bullets in .311 and had good results. My Lee loading dies had load information as did a Winchester loading manual which list bullet diameter as .311. Is it possible that Savage produced rifles in .311 for at least a short period of time? Thanks for the great loading data,those are the numbers that I thought should be produced.

Do you know the serial range of your .303?

Hi,

Have read an article in regards to the 303 Savage and its bullets.

Apparently, the following factory loadings showed the following bullet dia. (1948):

Western - .3088"
Winchester - .3085"
USCo. - .3085"
Peters - .3084" (prior to the Inner-Belted)
Remington - .3110"

Also, I have acquired a few boxes of 190Gr KKSP bullets made by CIL that are listed as a .311 bullet but actually are .310" bullets. They are supposedto be for the 303 Savage, and look identical to the old Imperial / CIL bullets in the factory loads.

I will be pulling a few bullets from some old ammo and will be posting my findings.

I will be also scanning the article I have and will compile a pdf file to share with the group.

The article goes on to say that the 303 Sav. is a .308" barrrel but was loaded with larger bullets to increase pressure and velocity.

Would like to see the data that someone mentioned using the 311" bullets.

Chris

i'm with kyle..my 303 is .310". and it's at the back of the safe, so i don't want to dig it out to tell the serial number. the older loading books lists the 303 savage as using .311 bullets too. so i tried to use .308".....wouldn't hit the barn wall! switched to 180 .311" and 2" 100yd groups common.......
so tell like you want to....but as for mine, it takes .311" bullets at better than 30-30 velocity's too!

Chris,

What is the artical that listed Remington using .311 bullets and does it say what year(s) it was done?

Rick,

The article is from Handloader May/June 1985.

The list of 303 Bullets from factory loads was apparently compiled in 1948. The factory loads had to be pre-1949. The article makes reference to Philip Sharp's "Complete Guide To Handloading" for this data.

On a side note, I have not slugged the barrels of my 303 Savages, but they both shoot .308 bullets just fine. About 2"-3" groups at 100 yards with a peep sight.

I believe the 303 Savages were made with .308 barrels but oversized bullets were loaded to increase pressures and velocities.

I suspect guns with a lot of these oversized bullets thru them are now showing signs of larger dia barrels.

I am working on getting this article scanned at a decent size for distribution. My bullet puller will be here tomorrow and I will be gathering data for factory loads of the following bullets:

Remington 180Gr - (two different boxes of different years)
Dominion / CIL / Imperial - 190 Gr. (three differnet boxes of different years)
Winchester / Western - 190 Gr. (two different boxes of different years)

Chris

Kyle,

Could you share the Winchester and Lee Load data for .311 bullets if you still have it?

Chris

The only listing in the Winchester manual is for a 170 gr. bullet. Itis 33.5 W748 at 2090 fps, at 32,000 C.U.P. The 30 30 load is at 36,000 C.U.P. The Lee listings are quite extensive. My e-mail is [email]catkyleuci.net.[/email] E-mail me your address and I'll mail you a copy.

I called my son and he said the seial # is 200973. He said the first # is badly worn and be a 1.

Looks like 1910 or 1920's range. I think Chris might be correct in that wear might be the case for the larger bores.

JMO

Chris,

I'm very interested in seeing what you find. Please post the headstamp and the box pattern of the rounds you measure.

Rick, I have several 303's ser# from 1044x to 336xxx in C's,B's,A's,an F,H,and a couple of G's and one of my C's has 310 bore, ser#92xxx. It doesn't shoot that great with 308 pills. But up here in Maine we don't shoot'em much over fifty yards away. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />



just a little more info for Ya Plab

See the results of my bullet pulling of 303 factory ammo here:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/c_wereley/303s.htm

Chris

Nice work Chris. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyone know of a study of the effects of shooting over sized bullets in relation to barrel wear?

I have an old 1899 sn 14xxx in 303. Loaded a few rounds with 33grn IMR4895 behind some hornady 308 150grn rn in new norma cases, uncrimped. 8 of 10 primers show signs of excess pressure (protruding, slight bulging). My bore isn't the greatest looking thing but I don't see what could be causing the pressures. What should I be looking for?

An interesting note, the RCBS dies I bought for this round had a 311 dia neck sizer.

That is a minimum load for 4895. Doesn't sound like a pressure problem. Maybe soft primers? Does the die size down for the .308 bullet? If you are only using these cases in this rifle I would use a .308 neck expander and neck size only.

There are more experianced loader here than me. May be we will get some more in put.

2004 posting...you been doing some back reading! Welcome to the group.