303 Savage ?

[Johnch]

Not my rifle
But one of the 18 year old new club members bought the rifle thinking it took 303 Brit ammo
Luck was the rifle came with part of a box of old loaded ammo

He ask and I didn't know

The all knowing internet listed cases you CAN form into 303 Savage

But I would like to tell him what might be the right brass to start with

Best brass to start with ?

LOL No clue if he even has dies ... oh well not my mess up

John

[DocSavage]

You can form the cases from 30 30 win.

[Johnch]

Thanks
I will pass that along to him

John

[screwcutter]

Graf & Sons sells Prvi Partizan 303 Savage brass. 30-30 brass is too small for safe forming.

[Pavogrande]

donnelly says use 220 swift for conversion which is scarcer than 303 --
Nonte says to use 30/40 but since that is now scarce 303 br would seem a reasonable alternate - However 30/40 and 303 br is about .010 larger in diameter at the base - a simple ring die or short spin in the lathe wqould solve that issue -
In short -- buy the brass
my ha-penny

[Geezer in NH]

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/760?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/886358/prvi-partizan-reloading-brass-303-savage-bag-of-100

[dverna]

If he needs to ask, he is better off selling the rifle and buying a standard caliber.

Many old timers and aficionados like the .303 Savage. Put in up here or on GunBroker

Don Verna

[ascast]

.30-30 is NOT too small. I have lots that I have used for years with out incident. Don't full size unless you really have too. Such rumors....
Buy new! It's readily available. With a keen eye, you can score dies on evilbay for maybe $20, you will spend some time. New are available as well.
The .303 Sav is a better cartridge than to .30-30, straight across the board. The original load was for a 220 gr boolit. The rotary mags allows use of any pointed bullit you may want.
The case is bigger than the 30-30. The '99 is a stronger gun that the '94 win. With hand loading, you could always load it DOWN to .30-30 performance if you wish.

[Drm50]

I make 303Savage out of 30/30 for years. I don't have a 99 / 303 right now, but still have some
ammo on hand. For a guy that's just starting, if rifle has no sentimental value, selling or trading
it would probably be best option. The 30/30-30Rem-32Win-32 Rem- 303Sav are all very close in
performance. The 30/30 is the best for a new shooter, ammo readily available and will always be.
The 99 is nice for bullet choice and is a fine rifle. I shot a lot of cast out of mine with good results.
To shoot these old calibres to any extent, you have to load to afford it, unless you are rich.

[Shawlerbrook]

If he reloads, get the proper brass from Graf's. It is very reasonable. If not a reloader, although commercial ammo can be found, it would probably be better to sell it .

[Duckiller]

I have a piece of 303 Savage brass that was fired in a 303 British. New gun for them . wentinto some gunstore and asked the lady for a box of 303 ammo. Got 303 Savage. The y fired a few rounds before they figured out that they had the wrong ammo. Anyway I think you could convert 303 British into 303 Savage. Will take a bunch of case trimming and run through several dies. If the young man can find some new brass or ammo he should guard it and keep it.

[screwcutter]

186493186494

[blackthorn]

My conversion book says form from 30-40 brass.

[cordite]

Just get the brass from grafs and be done with it. It is very good strong brass. The 303 savage in the 1899 is a wonderful combination.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

303 SAVAGE Prvi brass - Powder Valley or Graf's, Lee 303 SAVAGE dies available new - Amazon, MidwayUSA, others, 303 Savage - head diameter 0.442 case length - 2.015; 30-30 head diameter - 0.422, case length - 2.039

[EDG]

The .303 Savage is chamber is way too large to make brass from the brass of the .30-30.
According to the CIP standards the .303 Savage chamber is .446 with a plus tolerance that would take it close to .448.
There are no SAAMI standards for the old .303 Savage.
.30-30 brass can be as small as .4135 going by SAAMI standards.

I have had a lot of experience loading for the 6.5 Jap and the .303 Brit. Both have chambers about .010 larger than commonly available brass.
The .303 Savage is much worse. Don't do it.

[26Charlie]

10 years ago I got a .303 Savage M1899, and started making brass for it by sleeving .30-30 brass at the base with a cutoff .40 S&W case. This was laborious, and involved sizing and fireforming, but it worked. Had some troublesome happenings - some brass was a bit too brittle, and gave perforations at the front of the sleeve. Got a sleeve stuck in the sizing die, which was hard to get out. I put up a thread on it, if you want to search under .303 Savage with my handle. I didn't know about Prvi Partizan brass, until I read this thread, and so I ordered 200 rounds three days ago, from Graf & Sons, which came today; it is beautiful stuff with a mouth anneal color on it. When the cold weather breaks I'll go out to the shop and start with the 22.0 gr. of 4197 and 311291 175 gr. G.C. that is good in the made brass. I can't use the Lubrisizer in the cold unless I turn a heat gun on it.

[Jedman]

I agree with buying the PRVI brass, I have a 99 H in 303 and it is great brass.
The 30-30 is to small at the head and 303 Brit and 30-40 is to large.
It is really no more expensive to load than most other 30 cals. The brass is a little more costly but really it will average about the same.

Jedman

[richhodg66]

Plus 1. I bought 100 rounds of the Privi brass for my .300, really didn't cost that much more than any other brass and it is good stuff. Loads just like a .30-30, if you have a suitable mold for the .30-30, you just need dies and you're set.

[skeettx]

Have him get the right stuff
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/886358/prvi-partizan-reloading-brass-303-savage-bag-of-100
and dies and have FUN with the gun
Mike

[richhodg66]

The .303 Savage was originally loaded with a 190 grain bullet at 1900 FPS, so not exactly a ballistic twin to the .30-30 as many think. Seems it had a better reputation as a big game killer because of that.

I want to hunt deer with mine and plan to use the RCBS 180 grain FP which comes out close to 195 for me. The original ballistics should be easily doable with that and for the way and conditions I deer hunt ought to be perfect.

When I was a young man stationed at fort Bliss, I ran into two buddies I didn't know were shooters who were there with a Lee Enfield and had shot .303 Savage ammo in it because they didn't know any better. Things turned out OK, but the cases were ruined. I knew what the .303 Savage was even then, but didn't think much about it, I cringe now when I think about it, ruining vintage ammo like that.

[68 couper]

Have him get the right stuff
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/886358/prvi-partizan-reloading-brass-303-savage-bag-of-100
and dies and have FUN with the gun
Mike

Yep- Load her up right or move into something else.

[Jedman]

For PRVI brass also check with Powder Valley Inc. There prices are about the best I have found on the PRVI brass and bullets. I just got some 8x50 Lebel from them.

Jedman