My hand-loads in my 1953 Model 99 (EG) from all the different powders I've tried all the IMR powders from IMR3031 through IMR4320 + H4895 which have yielded 2630 fps to 2685 fps and no game I've shot with it ever "complained" it was a "tad" slower muzzle velocity than a .308 Winchester which was designed FROM the .300 Savage cartridge.
The highest "consistent" muzzle velocity I ever got outta my Model 99 was a 5-shot average of 2707 fps using powder I bought in 1995. After 1995, every can of IMR4895 I bought yielded a little lower average muzzle velocity until 2007 when the IMR4895 only yielded a M.V. of just 2547 fps with a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet.
That's when I changed from IMR4895 to H4895 and got a very consistent 2635 fps � 3 fps, regardless of the outside air temperature, with very good accuracy. I still use 40.8 grains of H4895 as my deer hunting load... .2 grains UNDER the "maximum" book load for the .300 Savage cartridge.
The SAAMI maximum chamber pressure listed for the .300 Savage is 46,000 C.U.P. (Copper Units of Pressure).
As concerns the year of manufacture, here is some excerpts from my files on Model 99 ages. Draw your own conclusions. Note the inclusion of comments from Rick99 in
RED. Rick99 is our resident Savage Guru:
:
1948: 494,000
, 513996 (It would be a 1948 production-Rick 99)( Ref: #5160xx-no LBC-"I would say 1948. Most have a "*" or "3" stamped on them. The date code (Lever Boss Code or LBC) started around the 517xxx range."-Rick 991949: 528,000 (
The change to the LBC with number and letter started at around 520,000 which I think was near the start of 1949.-Rick 99)
1950: 566,000 581260, 582xxx
As concerns Lever Boss Codes (LBC's). The most accurate way to determine the age of a Model 99 made from 1949 to 1968 was the LBC. Here is an explanation:
Savage began using what we call the Lever Boss Code ("LBC") in 1949. The LBC begins with a number (the inspector's number) followed by a letter which indicated the year of manufacture. In 1949, the letter used was "A". In 1950, they went to "B", in 1951 to "C", in 1952 to "D" and so on to the letter "Y" in 1971. The letters "O" and "Q" were skipped due to their similarity.
Apparently... and for unknown reasons, some rifles were pulled off the assembly line and set aside. Then, later, they were put back on the line and the manufacturing process was finished. This created a situation wherein the rifle's serial number may not accurately ascertain the year of manufacture for SURE. Thus, we can fall back on the Lever Boss Code to determine the year of manufacture if the rifle has one.
All the Model 99s (to the best of my knowledge) manufactured from 1949 through 1968 (inclusive) had Lever Boss Codes inside a small, lightly embossed OVAL located on the lower front side of the receiver opposite and just above where the lever rotates. Often, the OVAL in which the LBC is stamped and the LBC itself are so lightly impressed that it requires a magnifying glass to see them... and then, some of the OVAL and/or the LBC may be too lightly stamped to be fully determined.
I hope this further helps you....
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.