300 savage bullets

[swapdonkey]

I'm looking to make up a round for my 300 savage. The rifle is a savage model 99. I was wondering what type of bullet I should use? I want a good quality bullet and the only one that I can load data for is the nosler partition. Does anyone have any inside on this bullet? I was wither thinking a 165 or 180 grain bullet. Any inside would be great. I will be usung this bullet for moose and black bear.

 

[Murphy]

The 300 Savage uses the same bullets as the 308 and 30-06. I'm not sure of what you're asking for here. But if you have only a Nosler loading data manual, you could use that data for the 300 Savage with any jacketed bullet of the same weight from any other maker. Standard rules apply in that you would start at the bottom loads and work up. The 99 is a strong action and will take modern loads.

As for which bullet weight this would depend more on what you intend to use it for. A 150 grain is more than enough for the various deer but something the size of a moose will take the heaviest and toughest. The 300 Savage does have some length restrictions and when using the heavier bullets you may find the shorter round nose design will fit the magazine and the cartridge case better.

My dad hunted with the 99 in 300 Savage and it was his favorite deer gun. I started loading for the caliber about 1971 and kept him in ammo for the old Savage. I have always preferred the round nose design for the gun and when shots are less than 200 yards, it matters not how pointed the bullet. I still like the 150 grain round nose Sierra for my 308 when hunting the woods and creek bottoms of my native southern Missouri. Speer used to make a 165 round nose but now I think only Sierra and Hornady make them and just in the 150 and 180 grain. The rifle will load and work fine with the 150 and 165 spitzers but the 180 spitzer sits too deeply in the case and with that and the limited capacity of the case 180 grain velocity is quite low and expansion lacking. I contend it is at its best with the 150 to 165 grain weight.

As for bullet type, at 300 Savage velocity, the only premium bullet that I would trust to expand reliably would be the partition or possibly the Kodiak. The partition used to be available in a 170 grain, .308" diameter round nose design. I still have a few boxes back home on my loading bench in my cabin on the old farm. I doubt you could find them now and I won't give mine up. These have crimp grooves for the correct overall length of the 300 Savage. I think your best bet would be to use the 165 and it is available in the protected point from Kodiak or semi spitzer design in the partition and that would probably make the 300 Savage into all it can be. Black bear will succomb quite quickly to well placed shots from what is generally considered deer loads and bullets, moose will be a bit more demanding. They will respond to well placed shots from a 165 partition. That would be my pick.

If you have loaded for the 99 Savage rifle before you probably already know that you may want to use small based dies. After a few firings you will need the body sized a little smaller to feed easily. The 99 has very little camming force to chamber a round and they will be tight for those that have been fired a couple of times. Good luck with that fine old caliber it is a joy to load for it.

 

[pinehavensredrocket]

The 300 Savage uses the same bullets as the 308 and 30-06. I'm not sure of what you're asking for here. But if you have only a Nosler loading data manual, you could use that data for the 300 Savage with any jacketed bullet of the same weight from any other maker. Standard rules apply in that you would start at the bottom loads and work up. The 99 is a strong action and will take modern loads.

As for which bullet weight this would depend more on what you intend to use it for. A 150 grain is more than enough for the various deer but something the size of a moose will take the heaviest and toughest. The 300 Savage does have some length restrictions and when using the heavier bullets you may find the shorter round nose design will fit the magazine and the cartridge case better.

My dad hunted with the 99 in 300 Savage and it was his favorite deer gun. I started loading for the caliber about 1971 and kept him in ammo for the old Savage. I have always preferred the round nose design for the gun and when shots are less than 200 yards, it matters not how pointed the bullet. I still like the 150 grain round nose Sierra for my 308 when hunting the woods and creek bottoms of my native southern Missouri. Speer used to make a 165 round nose but now I think only Sierra and Hornady make them and just in the 150 and 180 grain. The rifle will load and work fine with the 150 and 165 spitzers but the 180 spitzer sits too deeply in the case and with that and the limited capacity of the case 180 grain velocity is quite low and expansion lacking. I contend it is at its best with the 150 to 165 grain weight.

As for bullet type, at 300 Savage velocity, the only premium bullet that I would trust to expand reliably would be the partition or possibly the Kodiak. The partition used to be available in a 170 grain, .308" diameter round nose design. I still have a few boxes back home on my loading bench in my cabin on the old farm. I doubt you could find them now and I won't give mine up. These have crimp grooves for the correct overall length of the 300 Savage. I think your best bet would be to use the 165 and it is available in the protected point from Kodiak or semi spitzer design in the partition and that would probably make the 300 Savage into all it can be. Black bear will succomb quite quickly to well placed shots from what is generally considered deer loads and bullets, moose will be a bit more demanding. They will respond to well placed shots from a 165 partition. That would be my pick.

If you have loaded for the 99 Savage rifle before you probably already know that you may want to use small based dies. After a few firings you will need the body sized a little smaller to feed easily. The 99 has very little camming force to chamber a round and they will be tight for those that have been fired a couple of times. Good luck with that fine old caliber it is a joy to load for it.

i agree with the murphy....but would add. until the '60's when folks talked of hunting with the three hundred they meant the .300sav. this cartridge has proved itself too many times to be subject to a debate. it is still useful and plain bullets will work very well. cor-locts or power points in 165gr are still a deadly combination.

with my 99 the issue wasn't the "small base" die but rather the additional case stretch from the decapper. if you hear a squeak as the case is released it's already too late. extra care inside the case neck with lube solved the problem.

good luck with a great gun!

 

[Murphy]

I agree jh, I didn't mean to imply we needed premium just thought that was what he wanted. The old core-lokts were great at 300 Savage velocity as are the standard cup and core from various makers. And you're right about stretching that short neck. I've found with the 300 and other calibers that just tumbling in normal brass polishing media will clean the inside of the neck and leave a slight deposit of that polishing compound (car wax) and that eliminates the need for inside neck lube in most cases.

 

[pinehavensredrocket]

I agree jh, I didn't mean to imply we needed premium just thought that was what he wanted. The old core-lokts were great at 300 Savage velocity as are the standard cup and core from various makers. And you're right about stretching that short neck. I've found with the 300 and other calibers that just tumbling in normal brass polishing media will clean the inside of the neck and leave a slight deposit of that polishing compound (car wax) and that eliminates the need for inside neck lube in most cases.

murphy (happy belated st pat's day!) your replies are always thoughtful and experience based. my tumbling experiences required me to take an extra step with this rifle, and lube the inside of the case neck. perhaps my sizer is different so our experiences are different. anyway..good advice!