There are a couple variables with the Savage 99 and the 300 Savage cartridge. Rifles produced after about 1954 have a .308 Win magazine that allows a longer OAL and simplifies concerns over length. The savage 99 .300's that shoot a lot, both short action - 2.6 or less magazine, and the more modern with 2.78 magazines, all have very long throats so cartridge length is normally based on what will feed through a magazine... and eject when not fired. I have a 99 .300 that will feed a longer cartridge than it would eject. I notched the receiver where the bullet would hit for full-function. I have owned this rifle since the 70's, and it was not a 'collector' even then but it will shoot 1.5 MOA for 10 shots with 150 Hornady spire points and 4064 or Varget. I have shot many antelope and deer with it. I would use the rifle to determine actual maximum cartridge length, seating your chosen bullet deeper until all feed smoothly from the magazine. This older rifle takes a 2.6 inch cartridge in the magazine, so 2.55" would probably work. clearing the receiver when ejecting a loaded cartridge is something to be checked. In my newer '308 action' Savage 99's I get 2500 fps with a Nosler 180 Partition and RLDR 15 and excellent accuracy, about the same as my .308 Savage 99's. I use Redding Competition shellholders to prevent oversizing cases and extending case length considerably. The a Savage 99 in .300 is still a very useful hunting rifle and certainly as good or better than the 6.6 Creedmoor at honest hunting ranges or if elk are part of the plan.
I would not load cartridges for a rifle I could not test personally.
Last edited by MostlyLeverGuns; 09-25-2020 at 10:33 AM.
When you test your handloads for accuracy, here's a couple tips. First remove the fore end to make sure the tenon (the round plug at the rear of the fore end) doesn't bind in the receiver. Secondly, don't rest the fore end on a hard rest. That would be like resting the barrel on a hard rest. Either rest the receiver on the sand bag or use a soft rest like a rolled up sleeping bag. Both I and my range's chief safety officer (he owns a 1972 Savage 99 in 250 Savage) have learned this.
If a 99 shoots better with the receiver resting on the sand bag, then there's something amiss with the fore arm bedding. POI will be different too, when field shooting with gun held normally after sighting in with the receiver on the bag, if somethings off with the bedding.
My 1952-vintage 99 EG's fore arm is screwed to the barrel.
This thread has me really confused. You guys are making it seem like the 300 Savage is hard to load for and the published loads aren’t safe. This couldn’t be dirty from the truth, especially w/ jacketed bullets. Load them so they function in your rifle w/ a published load and you’re good to go. It’s really that simple.
One of the first guns I loaded for was my 99 EG. Grandfather helped me along but basically said exactly what I said above. I still have the rifle, my eyes and all my digits a couple decades later. I also have a lot of 99s and a bunch of them are chambered in 300 Savage. It’s not a hard rifle to load for.
Just for what it's worth, the .300 Savage works well with cast bullets too. My 99 EG in .300 shot the 311041 well when I used it to deer hunt a few years ago, the short neck problems everybody talks about seem more academic than real.
The Savage 99 in 300 Savage is not hard to load for, but no gun should ever be loaded for without the gun being on site with the person loading for it.
From minute one I need ANY gun I am loading for, period!
I take the bullet and case, place my first powder charge, seat the bullet and find the seating depth that matches the lands. Note that! Next I will seat the bullet deeper, the amount depending on what gun and the desired use of what cartridge. Then I check the magazine limitations if any and seat to that restriction.
All this before I ever fire a single round. All done outside with gun pointed in a safe direction in case I were to get an accidental discharge!
Start at the minimum and gradually work up! Do not load to far ahead. I like to load up to the middle of the charge range (between the start and maximum) and the fire those various charges from the start towards the middle charges.
I am lucky because I literally shoot right out my back door but the price of being hasty because of difficulty getting to a range is what it is.
Three44s
Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207
“There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”
I'm afraid I'll add to this with one other consideration/suggestion. I don't know your Father's physical condition, nor if he might have developed a lowered tolerance for recoil over the years. If he has, and desires a load that is more in the .30-30 Winchester - .30-40 Krag spectrum of performance, consult Hodgdon about some SLIGHTLY reduced loads for .300 Savage, using H4895. Hodgdon touts this propellant as being able to tolerate "underloading" by as much as 40% of the maximum charge in each bullet weight (though this may require the use of cast projectiles, which is STILL no biggy).Lots of over complicated posts here. It seems many folks enjoy complicating simple tasks. Rock on and have fun.
Their "max" load for a 150 gr. projectile is 40.0/H4895, which delivers ~2400 f/s (already in the spectrum I mentioned). BUT (and I would consult Hodgdon for confirmation), you SHOULD be able to start with 24.0/H4895/150 (CAST! Until you know different.) And work up to whatever you want.
The Hodgdon starting load for .300 Savage is 37.0/H4895/150 J-word, and gives ~ 2190 f/s, which is about what a .30-30 will do from a carbine.
The only "fly in the ointment" I see is that Hodgdon uses an overall length of 2.520", which is 5% over the 2.400" length mentioned in other posts. I SURMISE that, at starting loads, the difference in O.A.L.s will elevate pressures (and, perhaps, velocities) A LITTLE, but not enough to exceed SAAMI max for the round. But ask Hodgdon about this, also. Just explain to them that you're a relatively inexperienced reloader, and tell them what you are trying to do. I'm betting you'll find them very thorough and immensely helpful with ANY questions you have about this project (which sounds like a really GOOD one!).
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool become servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs 11:29
...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40
Carpe SCOTCH!
I’ve been working up a load for 300 savage too. For hunting I’m planning on using 150 grn nosler partitions, but I’ve also shot core lokt with good results. I may try some 130 grain bullets, as I’ve seen them recommended in several places. Honestly, in three or for powders, and different bullet combinations it seems to like most anything you give it. At least mine has. My best luck has been with varget, which I think you mentioned having. My only problem with it right now is that nobody has any in stock. I use a decent bit of it, but am running low. I hate using something I can’t replace. I’ve also had good luck with IMR4895, and 3031.
It really doesn’t seem to be a hard round to load for, but I wouldn’t do much without the rifle in hand.
I currently own a 1952 vintage 99 in a 300 Savage. I also own a 1899 in a 30/30 and did not ever measure either magazine, but always check my loaded rounds that they will feed and eject before use. (MLG, thanks for the info on the magazine length!) My two favorite (read accurate) powders with 150gr bullets for my particular rifle are AA2520 and RL12. I've owned a Remington 722 in the same caliber, but not at the same time, and let the Remington go to my brother. I've owned several 99's over the years in various calibers and always loaded them down from the maximum loads listed in any of the manuals due to their designs. Because of the (mentioned) brass stretch problem caused by the rear lock up of its bolt, brass does not last long if approaching maximum pressures.
Most of the older manuals list the Savage 99 as the test gun for their data for the "300", as they did for other such "oldies" as the 250/3000. My 99, for some reason, likes the 150SBT from Sierra better than any other make or design bullet for accuracy. While the lighter weight bullets can be driven faster, the .300Sav makes for an easy shooting cartridge in the 99 at about 2600fps with less recoil than even the .308. The Remington 722 could be loaded up close to .308 velocities, but my thinking was, why bother when .308 brass is so much easier to obtain than the .300 Savage. (I do miss that rifle, but my bother shows it to me every time I visit LOL.) I have not had a problem getting .300 Savage brass until the "virus" hit, which limited gun show access; but will try the resizing techniques outlined on this site if it becomes a problem.
If you find the bullet and powder (medium burn works the best) your 99 likes, you'll have a winning combination in a "classy" rifle that you will enjoy shooting; remembering its previous owner makes it "priceless". You certainly don't need to "hot rod" any loadings for it to be as effective on the game you're after than say a .308 or an '06 at normal hunting distances. My .02
There are You tube videos showing how to shorten 308 brass so it will fit a 300 Savage resizing die (besides a power trimmer). Once shortened, sizing the brass down to 300 Savage requires good lubricant, but is easy.
I’m 99% certain I formed LC 308 brass in a 300 Savage F/L sizing die and then trimmed to final length. It’s been years since I formed any. But I don’t remember trimming first. Did have to use a small base due to get them to feed and chamber properly.
Loading the 300 Savage is not particularly tricky, but as I and many others have said, having the rifle available for initial load developmwnt is important. Cutting off LC or other .308 brass is a simple way to get good brass for the 300 Savage. I have not found any problems in more than a dozen 'long and short' magazine 99's in 300 Savage when 308 brass ( mostly LC) was simply shortened and of course sized for the .300. I have not found Neck reaming necessary in any Savage 99 300's, old or recent. I've used RLDR 15, 2520, Varget, IMR 4064, H4895, IMR 4895, BL-C2 and others without any problems. With jacketed 125, 150, 180 grain and 311413, 311332, RCBS 150 GC FN, Matt's .310 185gr pointed bullet, others with good results. Again the .300 Savage is not HARD to load - YOU NEED the RIFLE to get it right.
Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207
“There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”
I use .300 Savage load data in my Browning BLR .308. 37 grains of 4895 or 4064 under a 180 grain Winchester Power Point is lotsa fun and accurate.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF.
Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry for the late response we were not able to go up the weekend we planned on. And then I got sick(not the rona).
Work called and i was supposed to leave the country and had to get ready in a few days but then got pushed back into next week time frame so was busy with that and trying to get everything else squared away. I meant to respond sooner but kept forgetting.
So sadly it will probably have to wait until I get back from my next work deployment. I am saving all the responses here as it is some great info.
I do have one question though, it seems the consensus is that it would be dangerous to make rounds for a gun i dont have. I get that of i was pushing more power or trying to max it out. But of I am staying at low to mid power and doing it by the book for weights and OAL etc, shouldn't it be safe?
I mean how is it different than just buying off the shelf 300 savage rounds? The gun is in good condition and i talked to my brother, he actually had some 300 savage rounds he bought last year and shot a few, gun worked fine.
The concern was not about the safety of the loads, just the fact that they might not FIT the chamber or magazine correctly. If the gun is in hand when you seat the first bullet, you find out right then if all is well. All dies and all chambers and all magazines are not the same. It just flat stinks to load 50 rounds for a distant gun to later find it hard to squeeze them in.
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BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |