Hello-
I am in the processing of developing loads for a Remington Model 722 bolt action in 300 Savage caliber. This rifle will shoot a 150 gr. Sierra Pro Hunter at around 2800 fps very well. My brother intends to use this rifle for cow elk this fall, so I have attempted to load heavier bullets. So far I have tried 180 gr. Sierra Game Kings, and 165 gr. Hornady Spire Points, but can't get decent accuracy. I have tried H4895, IMR 4064, and Varget. I have read that these rifle have a slow twist, so maybe this is the problem? Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe the 150 gr. bullets are okay? Thanks for the in put!
Of the three you mention, stick with the 165 Hornady. Get yourself some Reloder 15. In Federal brass, Speer shows 44 grains giving a little over 2600 fps from a Savage 99 with a 20" barrel. John Barsness, aka Mule Deer, recommends 42 grains under 165's to get 2600, and I think he's using Winchester brass.
If you can't get this powder, try working with the Varget. Based on my work in a couple of 308's I'd say its burn rate is similar to the Re-15. I'm not saying exchange them grain for grain however. Just work up carefully.
Ron T may chime in on this topic, and he's got a lot of good dope for the 300 Savage. He didn't get great results with Varget under 150's, but I found the charges where he maxed out to be a little light for optimum results. I'm loading for a Model 700, whereas he's working with a Savage 99, so he's liable to be a little more conservative than I with respect to this cartridge. That said, I don't like to push things that hard either. I've got bigger guns if I need more juice.
The 300 Savage is my pet cartridge. I don't know what range you are working with, but off the cuff I would go with a 180 grain flat base spitzer or round nose (like Hornadys) and charge it with Varget (see lyman 48 edition). The twist should be 1 in 12" and is good for stabilizing 180's. To tune the accuracy, you can try increasing your COL in .010" increments once you have a load with a velocity you like. Use care to stay out of the lands. My limited experience with the 150 pro hunters is that while super accurate in my 300 Savage, they are fairly frangible and I would not use them on elk. 50 years ago the 300 Savage was a common caliber for elk. Limit your shots to 200 yards and you should be OK IMHO. The 180's will give you the penetration.
300jimmy
I don't have a 300 Savage yet, but I would think a 150 grain Partition would do fine as well. I am looking for the right Model 99 to pick up in this caliber.
Start with a TSX or an NP in the grain weight your rifle likes, and think of it like a .308 in terms of location and distance. Can't see how that wouldn't work...
A 150 gr NP in a .300 Savage for elk?
I wouldn't take a shot through the hind quarter going away, like some dingbats suggest, but with a responsible shoot @ < 300yds you WILL eat elk meat.
I do a drop camphunt for elk every year with a older guy from Colorado. Gets an elk EVERY year with a beat up old .M94 .30-30. He uses the 170's. Any 170's, Federal, Winchester, Remington, etc. A .300 Savage with 150gr NP's has way more snot.
Load a 150 TSX, Partition, or TBBC and go hunting.
I have good luck with 150 Grain Horn SST in my Savage 99. I don't see why a 150 grain Horn. interbond wouldn't be even better. A 300 Savage has 2200 fps left at 200 yards(30-30 at the muzzle, so if a 30-30 will kill elk and deer at 100, why can't a 300 Sav. kill at 300? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I'd plant a 165 TSX in the boiler room at under 275 yrds. If I get around to it, I'll be doing one in with my .300sav.
Never hunted elk, but a 165 Hornady in the 300 Savage works great on moose and big mountain caribou bulls. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Ted