180 grain in .300 Savage

[Doug B.]

I have a old Savage model 99 EG in .300 arriving in hopefully just over a week and I am needing to work up a load in a hurry. Our deer season starts Nov. 21st.

I have way too many 180 gr. Sierra  BTSP's that I would like to house/use up over IMR4895. Rem. 9 1/2 LRP.

I will also add that if I have a 100 yard shot, that would be max. It is VERY brushy where we hunt!

Any "pet loads" as suggestions?

[Steve P]

Pulling on the memory bank strings and not getting much.  I don't even have anything marked in my books as it has been so many years since I shot dad's ol' 99 at deer.  Seems like the 150s worked best for us, but since you have some 180s, we'll have to see what we can do.

I found some data.....35-38.5 grains of IMR 4895 with the 180s.  Start at the low end and work up.  With the 180s, you will be near 30-30 170 grain velocities.  With the lighter 150s, you can take advantage of your case capacity and push them hotter than 30-30 loads. 

Don't forget to set your OAL to the lands in the bore AND per the rotary magazine capacity.  Chances are the 180s that fit in the magazine will be short of the lands.

Good luck.

Steve 

[BBF]

FYI  that is a hard bullet, be prepared not to have much expansion at Savage velocities.

[jhalcott]

Depending on the load you can expect about 2200 to 2400 fps from your gun with a 180 grain bullet. A hard bullet MAY not expand at these speeds BUT should penetrate very well. THIS means you have to be quite accurate with bullet placement. Have you considered trading those 180's for 150 or 165's?  The 150's will get you as much as 2800 and the 160's around 2600.

[Blackhawk44]

Find someone who needs 180's and make a trade for 150's.

[BBF]

If you could trade for 180 gr. RN's that would be a better choice if you stay with that weight.

[Dave in WV]

A friend of mine loaded that bullet for his 99EG. If he loads any now he'll use 180gr Nosler BTs. IIRC he didn't have any issues wit the Sierra bullets. He gets better accuracy from the Noslers.

[Buckeye]

I always liked the Rem. 170gr. RN (made for 30-30) with a Savage 99 I once owned... (miss it)
Seemed to function great and opened up nice..

[Siskiyou]

I just checked the Sierra 5th addition Handloading manual and it shows the different 180-grain Sierra bullets being loaded using IMR4895 in the 300 Savage.

The bullet should do a good job out to a couple hundred yards. 

[Sweetwater]

"I will also add that if I have a 100 yard shot, that would be max. It is VERY brushy where we hunt!"

At these distances, you should have no problem with performance - your impact velecity at that range should be well within the requirements of that bullet.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[BBF]

The other issue to consider is the lenght of those BT espcially if they have a plastic "nose cone" on it. It will certainly reduce the powder capacity with a short necked case like the 300 Sav.

[Doug B.]

I shied away from the 180's in boat tail. I just got done loading 25 150 gr. Sierra Spitzers I got from my buddy in assorted IMR 4895 powder loads, figuring after all....that is one of the projectiles this rifle has been shooting since 1920-21. My loads range from 39 gr. up to 41gr. in half gr. increments, with the latter right at the base of the neck and NOT compressing the powder. I figure that I can at least get "in the ballpark" with these and then get down to the task of fine tuning. I guess I need to remember the firearm is only as good as the one squeezing the trigger.

Just received word that the rifle will ship this coming Monday. Needless to say I am anxious to receive it and take it to the range. I might just get it ready for our upcoming season yet! Still a receiver sight and sling mounts to install.   

Would still be interested in what you others might be loading for the 150 gr. Spitzers and IMR4895 powder however.

Thanks to everyone for the advise.

[Lone Star]

Congratulations on the "new" M99!  I currently have a 15" T/C Contener in .300 Savage, my best powders are W748 and H322 with 150-grain bullets.  I stupidly sold my 1935-vintage M99 years ago.     I caution you to be careful with other people's loads for your classic M99.  Pre-50s rifles were more prone to case stretching, so keep loads on the moderate side if your rifle is in that group.  Guys using newer M99s or bolt action rifles in .300 can load hotter, but not so with the older M99s.


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[Dand]

The new  November 2009 issue os American Rifleman has an article (p 42) about loading the 300 Savage.  It only lists 130 to 165 gr bullets and is geared more for the bolt rifle. Still you might find it helpful. One thing, I'd hesitate to load much ammo before getting the rifle. You might want to check head space on it and see how it chambers factory loads first. Also, I picked up some once fired 300 Sav cases at our range  and each one had the primer protruding a little like he may have a head space problem or something.

[res45]

I stick with the 150 FB bullets in my Sav.99 I like the Hornady SST.  Since I don't shoot it that much I've been thinking about trying some of the Barnes or the new Hornady GMX bullets just for kicks in the old savage.  I call it old but my brother bought it new gave it to me and I haven't put a 100 rds. through it since I had it.