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.300 Savage Favorites?

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Adobe Walls View Drop Down
.30/06 SpringField
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    Posted: 28 August 2004 at 02:20

A few months ago the old .300 Savage seemed to be a hot topic on lots of boards. Didn't keep notes like I should, and now would like to hear some more pet loads. I have only dabbled with 150 grain bullets and IMR4064 so far. I think the 150's are likely the best general purpose weight, but am curious about lighter and heavier bullets for special applications. I'm  convinced the old cartridge has a lot more to offer than the current factory ammo offerings would indidcate.AW



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 August 2004 at 06:08

AW,

The 300 Savage is a very nice deer round.  I was hunting a creek bottom on the last day of the season, and a friend was about 125 yds away working the bottom parallel to me.  We were still hunting with the thought that spooked deer by on might circle to the other, both of us had empty doe tags left.  I spooked a group of 4 does and sure they ran 75 yds and stopped in thick creek brush.  My friend hadn't seen them, and I really didn't have a great shot.  So i just watched, as they slowly came clear of the brush and worked past me heading straight to my friend.  i really like to watch others hunt as much (maybe more) than hunting myself.  well at about 125 yds out my friend spotted the deer and i saw his Savage 99 with a 4x Weaver come up.  When he fired the big doe just fell straight down like she had been pole-axed.  You could not have asked for better cartridge/bullet performance.  Factory Remington, yellow and green box W-mart ammo.

the 300 Savage is usually loaded a little light on the pressure side because of the rifles that were chambered for it.  Not all 99s are equal.  the later ones were chambered for the 308 and 358, so they surely would take the 55k pressures of hotter loads.  But the ones made earlier, were designed for 30-30, 25-35, etc a lot of lower pressure cartridges, I suspect the metal was not to a higher standard.

I don't think the brass is the limiting factor in reloading the cartridge, the rifle is.

The point is that the standard low pressure 300 Savage loads are great deer killers.  Some one has a thread "does velocity kill", my read is that on poor shots it may help, but on well placed shots it actually hurts.  the 2200-2500 fps range seems to me to be the best killing velocity (assuming you have enough bullet weight).  just my thoughts, let the flames beginWink.

BEAR

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.30/06 SpringField
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adobe Walls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 August 2004 at 10:02

Bear,

Thanks for the response and hunting story. I agree that the "need for speed" is a questionable need at best. The old .30/30 kills all out of proportion to it's numbers, yet we still have the magnum hunger it seems. I've been impressed with how well slow stuff kills and yet doesn't dynamite a carcass to smithereens at the same time. 

My  loads were about on par with the Remington 150's, and pressure was good too. I bumped the charges another half grain, and given the load density, I figure 42.0 grains of IMR4064 is pretty much the practical end of the road for 150 grain bullets. I'm guessing 2650 FPS or so, and that's plenty fast for any reasonable range.AW

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adobe Walls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 August 2004 at 12:58
After the range test, it appears that 42.0 gr of IMR 4064  under Hornady SP's is or could be warmer than the rifle likes. The 200 yard group was very workable but some of the primers are beginning to look a bit flatter than I care to see too. Probably back off 1/2 grain and leave it.AW
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adobe Walls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 September 2004 at 00:50
I scrounged around and found some 165 grain Hot Cores and some Grand Slams that I'd had for years. I think I'll try them with some Reloader 15 in the .300 Savage. This cartridge makes me wonder just what it's point of perfection really is. It'll shoot up to 180's with fair results on game by all reports; but I think it's probably better served with bullets no heavier than 165's. I'm betting that the 165's would penetrate very well on game as heavy as elk, since the velocity is going to be at least 200 FPS slower than the same bullets from an '06. Less expansion should equal more penetration. (up to a point) Comments?AW
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eagleye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 September 2004 at 21:19
I have a 700 "Classic" chambered in 300 Savage. It is a very, very accurate rifle, and will probably digest loads a bit warmer than the 99's, but I don't believe there is much point in hotrodding the 300 Savage. I have had terrific success with Reloder 15, Vihtavuori N-135 and 140, as well as Nobel 104. My rifle has a 24" tube and will make just over 2700 with the 150 and 2625 with the 165. It kills like lightning, I shot two deer with it last fall, and both dropped like they had been hit with a lot more gun. I would not bother with bullets heavier than 165 grains in the 300, since there are many chamberings better suited to the heavier bullets. That being said, I would not hesitate to smack a moose or an Elk within reasonable distance, say 250 yards, with this rifle loaded with a 165 Partition or Interbond. I'm sure that many standard bullets would perform just fine at 300 Savage velocities also. Regards, Eagleye.2004-09-20_031945_300_Savage_Group_100_meters.jpg
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adobe Walls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 October 2004 at 12:32

I really do like hearing about field success with the .300 Savage. I think it's an obsolete sleeper of a cartridge. The .308 stole away it's rightful fame and glory, and now years after the fact, it's finally getting a little respect once again. There has to be a balance point for this cartridge, and I'm inclined to believe that bullets heavier than 165 grains simply do not make sense for this little gem. I'm still wavering a bit on whether the 150 or the 165 should get the nod for "balance", but I am sure that a 150 is indeed the optimum bullet weight for deer. I suppose if you lived and hunted "mixed bag" country, then the 165's just might be the logical choice. I will probably be obsessed with this one for a long time.AW

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adobe Walls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 November 2004 at 13:22
Tried 41.5 grains of Reloader 15 under 165 grain Hornady bullets with Winchester large rifle primers in Winchester cases. WOW! Now need to load some more and try them at 200 yards. Wouldn't hurt to chrono them either. Velocity should be around 2550. This load would hunt right now without changing my current zero. +2" at 100 yards and centered perfectly. AW
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote drinksgin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 November 2004 at 13:20
The biggest problem I know of with the .300 Savage is that most of the people who own them are hunters, not gun nuts and reloaders, so there are not a lot of people doing anything except shooting bunches of game with ammo from Walmart.
A very nice cartridge, just not that popular anymore.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Timberghozt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 November 2004 at 13:31

the 2200-2500 fps range seems to me to be the best killing velocity (assuming you have enough bullet weight).  just my thoughts

Bear,Excellent post.I agree to the max.I like velocity in certain things but the more I go,THE MORE I LIKE MY 7MM MAUSER...



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adobe Walls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2004 at 14:13

Yes, the .300 Savage suffers from semi-obsolescence and a serious lack of flash, glitz, AND speed. All those detractions mean nothing when you can pile 8 out of ten bullets into a 1" center to center group at 100 yards. I'm still awe struck at what my 99 did that day.AW

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eagleye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 January 2005 at 16:42
I was digging around in my targets to put them in a 3-ring binder, and ran across this one from my 300 Savage. For you non-metricized folks, 250 meters is about 275 yards. FWIW, this group measures just .76"! Regards, Eagleye.
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level & then beat you with experience!
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