Anyone cast for a Savage 99-375 Win

[KeithNyst]

I recently picked up a Savage 99-375 (375 Win, Brush Gun model). Does anyone have experience/recommendation for a good cast bullet and load for this rifle?

I have no experience with cast bullets, but do reload several pistol and rifle calibers. I have heard that the 375 Win is a good candidate for cast bullets.

Thanks in advance, Keith

[onceabull]

KeithNyst: I had one of those for a while and wish I still did,but someone wanted it $1275 worth.. Anyway,at the time I first bought it,I had nada for halfway appropriate moulds, so bough Bullets from one of these two guys,(too long ago for my memory cells), Look up: Western Bullets,out of Missoula,Mt. or Bullshop,out of Dell,Mt. those are the only commercial casters I've erver used for rifle bullets...Jon @ Western has some negative stuff posted here/there,usually relating to wait time after sending $, but I'm not aware of any failure to deliever eventually,,,Dan C. might do up a selection assortment for you,given some incentive.. --Oh,just remembered Marshall Stanton @ Beartooth bullets in No.Idaho has a lot of fans and has been there a LONG time,but I have not personally used any of his castings..He does maintain a pretty active website,too.... Onceabull.

[KeithNyst]

Thanks, OnceaBull
This Savage 99-375 Brush Gun seems to have a very long combined free bore & leade. I put a Vollmer 220 grain bullet in an empty expanded 375 Win case and loaded it three times. I repeated 3 times and each time it came out at 2.713" oal. That bullet loads to an OAL of 2.560" ... so there's a big jump to the rifling ... 0.153". (it's not the bullet ... it's similar with a Hornady 220)
I don't have a tool to measure the freebore and leade ... has anyone ever done it on a 99-375? ... or actually cast the chamber on one?
I think I'll be searching for a 250-260ish grain bullet that may load to a longer OAL to get closer to the rifling, and still fit in the Savage's bullet rotor.

[dragon813gt]

You're shooting that rifle? Don't you know what they're worth :)

[KeithNyst]

You're shooting that rifle? Don't you know what they're worth :)

Yes, north of $1k for sure.
I have to at least put a few rounds through it and put it back in the safe.:-)

It won't go to the deer stand (as much as I'd like to take it there). Here is a picture of it:
http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy263/KeithNyst/Savage%2099-375/D366307%20-%20Left%20full.jpg (http://s798.photobucket.com/user/KeithNyst/media/Savage%2099-375/D366307%20-%20Left%20full.jpg.html)

[dragon813gt]

I wish mine was in that shape so I could shoot it. Still has the hang tag on it so it's worth to much to shoot. I need to move it on. Very nice rifle by the way.

I don't know if it's to long to work in a 99 but I have NOE 379-279 which is a clone of the Lyman 379449. It's one of the go to bullets in 375 H&H. Hope you have brass because it's almost as hard to find, at a reasonable price, as the rifle itself.

[richhodg66]

Haven't used a .375, but in my experience, 99s like cast. I have the Brush Gun in .358 Winchester and love it.

[Idaho Mule]

Kieth, just send it to me and I'll get it all worked out for you. Proper boolits, loads, size, length, lube, etc.... JW

[helice]

Kieth,
Saw your original post and thought "Boy I hope he's pictured that thing." 99s are so sweet.
Thanks