Savage 99F

[jjnpg317]

A friend owns a Savage 99F in 308 and wants to shoot cast boolits in it. I think it was made after the 50's only because of the caliber it is. I have the Lyman 311466 & 311041 and want to use them with H4895. Does the combination of molds and powder sound acceptable , or is there trouble ahead of us. Neither of us have loaded for a 99. It won't be used for hunting , only shooting paper targets & skeet on a bank. Any recommendations would be welcomed.

Thanks

[fatnhappy]

You're in very good territory. I have basically 2 loads for my savage 99F in .308. I load the 311291 to about 1500 fps over 15 grains of 2400 or I load a 311041 over 28 grains of IMR 4895. I didn't chrono the 4895 load, however accuracy started to fall off if I loaded anything heavier so I figured why bother.

I thought about puting together a heavyweight boolit load with the 311290 or 311284 but haven't gotten around to it. I also have the 311332 I might try.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/v/t1.0-9/1000366_224024677775133_437516507_n.jpg?oh=3da9a17 1c3b6660e75e569283fc4f694&oe=57136857

[TXGunNut]

Sounds like fun. Fine little hunting rifle but it could be a fun plinker with light loads.

[richhodg66]

My hunting load in my .308 99E was the Ranchdog 165 grain .30-30 bullet and 28 grains of IMR 4895 with a tuft of dacron. Shoots well in my rifle.

[jjnpg317]

After getting home from work, I found three molds that I used for a 30 Carbine rifle ; 311576 ( approximately 125 grains) , 311465 ( 127 Grains) & Noe 311-115 Grains. Could these be used at our distance of 125 yards , or should we stay with heavier molds?

Thanks

[gnoahhh]

One way to find out- load a bunch and try them. I suspect they'll do just fine for 100 yard plinking. Heavier bullets would probably work a tad better at that range and farther, but unless you're looking to set the new world record or hunt deer, the lightweights should give passably good accuracy and save on lead to boot.

[fatnhappy]

My take on it, and this is just my opinion, boolit weight is cheap insurance. If you're limited in velocity with cast boolits, why not be limited with the heaviest boolit possible? Put another way, if you can only get 1800 to 2000 fps out of a boolit, would you rather that boolit be 125 grains or 190 grains.

It's a simplistic approach but I can emphatically state that my boolits lose velocity as they travel downrange while retaining all of their mass.

So if the question remains, will the 125 grain boolit in a .308 kill deer, I would posit yes.

[waksupi]

A very good rule of thumb with any bore size and cast, as Dean says, always go to heavy weight. Proven excellent performance on game. In thirty bore, for minimum is 180, with 200_220gr. if they will fit.

[gnoahhh]

The OP mentioned that his quest was for a target bullet. My reply reflects that. (Mind you light bullets are far from ideal as target bullets, but sometimes you get surprised/lucky.) I totally agree that a heavy bullet is better for hunting, preferably with a wide meplat or hollow point. As heavy a bullet you can get your hands on, driven as fast as you dare with accuracy. A heavy .30 bullet is a dandy killer, but even that pales in comparison to a real heavyweight such as found in .35 and up calibers.

[Gray Fox]

I've been playing with the same rifle in .308, but what seems to limit me is the short case neck and the use of gas checks. Loaded short enough the gas check is way below the neck with the RD 165 or the 311041. Any comments? GF

[robg]

i use lee 160 and 180 molds seat with the gas check in the neck no problem in my savage116

[Ric-san]

Good info here...may have to find an old 99 in .308

[Maineboy]

I have a 99F in 308 but have very limited cast boolit experience with this particular rifle. I've only tried one load, a Lyman 311291 sized .311 in WW cases, CCI200 primers, and 17.5 grains of 2400 powder. It chronographed at 1675 fps and grouped 1.5 inches at 50 yards. I really enjoy this rifle and it's the one I hunt with the most. However the bulk of my shooting has been with jacketed bullets. Shame on me for not shooting more cast boolits in it.

[dragon813gt]

I've been playing with the same rifle in .308, but what seems to limit me is the short case neck and the use of gas checks. Loaded short enough the gas check is way below the neck with the RD 165 or the 311041. Any comments? GF

Yeah, load them and shoot them. I've had no issues w/ checks being below the neck. It seems that this discussion is always academic w/ no real world examples of problems occurring. I try not to load them below the neck and in 308 it's usually easily achieved. Step down to 300 Savage and you will be loading them below the neck.

[10x]

I have a 99 in 308 win. Cast Bullets of any weight shoot well in it up to 1750 fps. I powder coat my cast Bullets and size them to 0.310" for this particular gun. That is the largest diameter bullet that will chamber in that 99. Other Savage 99s may require a smaller diameter bullet for the case to chamber freely.
Groups average about 2.5" or less depending on the load and if I do my part. Slower velocities will result in a lower point of impact.
Powder coated Bullets usually seem to give equal to or smaller groups than Alox lubed

[fatnhappy]

The OP mentioned that his quest was for a target bullet. Wow, just wow. I must have been asleep at the wheel when I read the OP the first time.

[Andy]

I just came across a 99F in .308 as well, and I have access to those same molds so this thread is particularly relevant for me. Anyone know the twist rate on the barrel for this gun?

here's a list of manufacture dates based on lever boss codes if anyone wants to see when their 99 was made: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304218 it's in the second post down

[Maineboy]

[QUOTE=Andy;3497911]I just came across a 99F in .308 as well, and I have access to those same molds so this thread is particularly relevant for me. Anyone know the twist rate on the barrel for this gun?

I believe it is 1 in 12 inches

[OverMax]

Don't know much about the 308 being shot in a savage lever. But there is a NOE mold currently made that was designed specifically for use in the Sav 300 caliber.. Its a Tumble lube boolit designed by Ranch Dog for NOE production. Since the 308 & 300 are quite similar in performance and I suspect barrel twist also. I think such a Bore Riding Cast would be worth a try. Don't work out you could always sell it.

Item #: TLC310-165-RF

https://www.google.com/search?q=noe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=Noe+molds

[jjnpg317]

Went to the range yesterday and shot with the following loads; Lyman 311466 sized at 311 & 26.0 grains H4895 with 1/2 grain filler and then the NOE 311041 sized at 312 with 26.0 grains of H4895 with 1/2 grain filler. 5 shot groups of both boolits were under 2" for each. Have decided to stay with 311466 load because of less recoil & good accuracy.