Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 300 Savage effective range

Planning on doing a barren ground caribou hunt in 2016. The hunt will be in Manitoba and the shot opportunities range from 30 to possibly 400 yards. I really want to use one of my 300's but I am second guessing it because of the long shots. What is the farthest anyone has killed anything with a 300 ?

370 Yards Cow Elk

Well, for me---about 40 feet. I know thats no help......

Handloading or factory? Factory 150's would be pushing it at 400, in my opinion. Just not as much oomph left at 400 as I like to have, but I'm sure it's plenty to do the deed if you can put the bullet where it belongs.

Handloaded 125gr TTSX's on the other hand (ask Steelhead) I would think would be awesome for caribou out to 400. Haven't looked at the ballistic charts for it tho.

I know this is the 99 forum, but will the rifle in question be a 99?

Yes more than likely it would be one of my 99's. I also have a Savage Weather Warrior in 300 that might possibly go.

One of the 155gr VLD's in a bolt action would work well I'd think.

The 130gr TTSX will still be going a little over 2K at 400 yards if you push close to 3K at the muzzle.

The load for the TTSXs sounds good. My Model 14 Classic chambered for 300 Sav. will do just fine if the short neck and case capacity allows for enough powder to attain prescribed 3000 FPS.

Thanks for all the info guys ! I am going to try some of the loads suggested.

Steelhead was writing from experience, using H4895 I believe.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._Your_preferred_300_Savage_b#Post9240994

440 yards cow elk. 165grain Sierra Game King H-4895.36 grains. COAL 2.56 inches

It will send them way out there, but what you need to study up on is the bullets terminal performance at the different ranges (velocities) that they would hit the caribou at.

Talk to knowledgeable caribou hunters, determine what's required to kill one effectively, choose the bullet and maximum range that the 300 can provide that at, and limit yourself to that range.

People kill them every year with muzzle loaders and bows. So you're 300 should be able to do the job. Pick a favorite deer load and practice.

This is GREAT advice...............




This is also GREAT thought.

Not the best example to cite.

Mathman whats the deal? First you tell me velocity in bullets is not correlated to point of impact on a target, now I should not cite what I did? How is Steve's 370 yard cow citeable and mine not? And please explain how slower bullets hit higher on a target. Thanks! John

300 yards on antelope.

I'd show you a picture of him but my photobucket is down.

I've been to Manitoba 3x to hunt caribou and I can tell you this: The wind is usually howling on the tundra cause there ain't nothing to slow it down. It sure ain't no place for a 250 Savage or 257 Roberts or 25-06. I'd consider the 300 Savage shooting 150-180 grain bullets a 300 yard weapon up their not because caribou are hard to kill but because the difference between a 300 yard gun and a 400+ yard gun is substantial under those conditions.

If I was going to shoot 400 yards in a 30-40 mph wind I'd want (can't beleive I am even saying this) a 300 mag of one sort or another.

Just sayin...

I don't know the details of Steve's shot, nor the load he used. So I can't really comment on it. I know both for your shot, you told all of us.

If you recall my comments, I did a little reverse load engineering and figured out your load was anemic. Furthermore you described for us how, without real knowledge of the ballistics of your load, you had to walk the shots in to finally connect. That's why I don't see it as a good example. True, it eventually was effective, but not after a bit of a rodeo.


As to slower bullets hitting higher, that can happen for a variety of reasons. Sight in a rifle with a 150 at 100 yards, and a slower 180 could hit higher on the same target. Or lower. Or wherever.

Nice goat/shot/99!

I agree with the others, a scoped .300 Savage is pretty much a 300 yard gun, give or take. If you "need" to shoot 400 yards, don't and get closer instead or wait for another animal that affords a better opportunity. I'm not trying to be flippant, just practical. I've only hunted caribou once. Spotted a good bull at about a mile, shot him at 15 feet. If I ever go on another caribou hunt it's going be with my octagon barreled and iron sighted B in .303 Savage.