Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Load question: 300, IMR 4064 & 150 grain Hornady SST

I just started to work up a load for my 300 with IMR 4064. I have a Lee manual that was very conservative and I've hit it's max load with no signs of flattening the primer. I have an older Lyman manual that has a much higher load (43 grains of 4064 iirc) and this page: http://ataleoftwothirties.com/?p=740 is saying 44 grains! Now I've had great accuracy with the SST's, and I'm completely sold on them. I've used some cheaper cup and cores that were ok, partitions that have been good and some round noses designed probably for 30-30 that were almost all flyers (probably due to the very short oal and sitting so far off the lands).

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with 4064, sst's and a model 99 in 300 savage and could share what their results have been. No matter what, I'll be working the loads up slowly and carefully. I already have a bunch of partitions loaded up with H335 that will suffice for deer season this year, but I just might be a convert to SST's if the accuracy keeps up as I increase the load. One thing I noticed was a couple inches of increase in the vertical placement of the shot with each grain and a half increase in load while shooting test loads.

Have no experience with SSTs but have shot the max 4064 load listed in Speer #8 with a 150 Hornaday spire point for 40+ years in a M99G Deluxe with no problems. It's slightly hotter than the Lyman load. These days I wouldn't advise or recommend it but it has worked well for me. Keep in mind that every rifle is different due to production tolerances.

.300 SAVAGE TEST RESULTS (6/17/02)
(temps 73� to 75�)
PRIMER TESTS (6/17/02):
40.0 gr. IMR3031 (max. load), 150 gr. Nosler Bal.Tip, 2X-fired Winchester cases

CCI-Bench rest: 2681, 2657, 2657 fps. (Avg. 2667 fps) (2 velocities unknown)

FEDERAL: 2659, 2648, 2652, 2648 & 2661 fps. (Avg. 2654 fps.)
Std. Deviation: 13 fps., (+7 fps., -6 fps.)

REMINGTON: 2618, 2610, 2623, 2603 & 2640 (Avg. 2618 fps.)

WINCHESTER STD: 2646, 2636, 2638, 2648 & 2653 (Avg. 2644 fps.)
Std. Deviation: 17 fps. (+9 fps., -8 fps.)


VELOCITY RESULTS using IMR4064, Rem.9� primer & Win. Cases
41.8 grains gave a 5-shot average of 2598 fps,
42.0 gr. = 2608 fps,
42.2 gr = 2635 fps,
42.4 gr. = 2628 fps,
42.6 gr. = 2623 fps,
42.8 gr. = 2609 fps
43.0 gr. = 2634 fps. (maximum load)

Accuracy was just "fair" with most loads printing (at 50 yards) 3-shot groups of 3/8th inch and 4-shot groups of 3/4th inch. However, there was always one �flier�� and occasionally 2 �fliers�.

Note the unusual variation in these loads wherein more powder yields less velocity with all other components remaining the same. Since this is normally unlikely, it is possible the relatively heavy crushing of powder granules during bullet seating may account for this unusual velocity differential.


CONCLUSION-IMR4064 RIFLE POWDER

The last 5 velocities attained in this test, from 42.2 grains to 43.0 grains are questionable. The 43.0 grain load IS definitely a �maximum load� and yields only 2634 fps.

It is a heavily compressed load & this may be the reason for the unusual velocity readings. I doubt that IMR4064 is the best powder for my particular M-99 (1953 EG-24" barrel) in .300 Savage caliber. Of course, it�s also possible a different primer (Rem. 9� was used) may yield different results.


PRESSURE INDICATIONS: 6/17/02 (74�)

IMR4064- Loaded 5 rounds at each load-level starting at 41.8 grains increasing in .2 grain increments to 43.0 grains. The first 2 of 5 rounds @ 43.0 grains using Remington 9� primers had 100% flatten primers. This is definitely a �maximum load� at 2634 fps average velocity. The last 3 rounds flatten 90% , but still had some �rounding� to them. Next lighter loaded rounds (42.8 grains) showed no flatten of primers.

Ultimately, after testing and finding older (pre-2007) lots of IMR4895 rifle powder yielding excellent muzzle velocity (2665-2685 fps @ 85� F, 2630 fps @ 20� F) and excellent accuracy (.177" @ 50 yards off the bench-rest using a MAXIMUM 41.5 grain load of IMR4895), the can of IMR4895 I purchased in 2007 yielded ONLY 2547 fps muzzle velocity and only "fair" accuracy. Therefore, I tested H4895.

H4895 yielded good accuracy (1 minute of angle) and very consistent muzzle velocity (2635 fps � 3 fps) at all temperatures. This powder is one of Hodgdon's "EXTREME" rifle powders meaning it is UNAFFECTED by outside air temperatures.

Thus, this powder (H4895) will maintain your rifle's muzzle velocity regardless of air temperature and, therefore, it will maintain your bullet's consistent point-of-impact regardless of whether you're checking your rifle's zero at hot Summer temperatures or shooting at a deer in cold Winter temperatures... a real advantage for any hunter.

My hand-load using H4895 is my current deer-hunting load and is:
40.8 grains of H4895 (.2 of a grain BELOW the maximum "book" load)
150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet
Standard Winchester Large Rifle Primer
Winchester-Western Super-X cartridge cases (once-fired)

I hope this helps you determine your rifle's "best load".


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

The only jacketed loads I do (mainly for my BIL) in the .300 are with 4064 and 150 Sierra spitzers (I shoot mainly cast loads as you might guess). In my M1920, 40 grains exhibited pressure signs (highly flattened primers and sticky bolt lift), as they did too in his Super Sporter. Granted, those are poor indicators of high pressure but reducing the charge to 38� grains eliminated them, so that's where I stay. Just goes to show, every rifle is a law unto itself and it's always wise to start low and work up, and use common sense about where to stop. Loading manuals are a guide, not a bible.

(Note: headspace is tight in both rifles, all brass was/is from the same batch of W-W, OAL a tad longer than specified but short enough to feed through the magazine and remain shy of the rifling. Accuracy is much better than I ever achieved with factory ammo. I don't know the velocity, nor do I care. My BIL has killed a pickup load of deer with it.)

IMR4064 doesn't settle into the case as well as something like 4895. The regular 150 grain SST is pretty long for use in the little 300 at standard overall lengths. Put these two things together and you'll be into heavily compressed loads when you near max charges.

Are you using the 300 Savage specific SST?

What is the max charge in the Lee manual?

A quick correction - the Lyman manual I have (43rd) lists 42 grains, looks like I got the edition and the load mixed up. Lee has 40, which I'd assume is to avoid compressed loads. Thank you all for your input, especially Ron T. for the extensive data. I've been keeping my eyes open for a couple years for H4895, but to no avail. I'd also like to try Accurate 2520.

Gnoahhh: thanks for the advice. I always start low and work up. When I see receiver marks I back off.

mathman: No, it's not the Savage specific SST. This one feeds ok as long as you load it into the magazine carefully. I'd expect the slightly stubbier (and lower bc) Savage specific round to be a less picky loader but slightly poorer ballistics. It wasn't available locally.

That regular SST will eat case capacity, especially if you're limited to 2.6" in a '99.

I load for a Rem. 700 Classic, so my cartridge lengths aren't so limited. One nifty looking combination involves a long seated Berger VLD.

Unless you just have to have a tipped, boat tail bullet, I highly recommend the flat base 150 gr. Interlock for the 300 Savage. It doesn't eat powder capacity, has a relatively short bearing surface and can be loaded a bit stiffer w/o pressure issues, and it's really good on deer/pigs.

Or do as I do and load the 130gr TTSX

That would seem to be the better alternative. (Short of a 180 grain cast lead slug! )