Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting New life in an old friend

[Jeff L]

Over the years I've owned a half-dozen or more rifles chambered in .300 Savage, most were Savage 99's, two were Remington bolt action rifles. Like any chambering where lever action rifles are a consideration, factory loads, and load data for reloading result in pressures designed to be safe for lever guns, as a result bullet velocity suffers. In short, the loads don't take full advantage of the much stronger actions of bolt (or many single shot) actions. So it was for the .300 Savage for many decades - great round, just not loaded to "modern" pressures, or velocities.

Well, that all changed. Sierra pressure tested loads for the .300 Savage using Varget powder, and Sierra 150-grain jacketed bullets (Pro Hunter). Ramshot (formerly Western Powders) followed suit and developed loads for 150-grain bullets using their TAC powder. The resulting loads transform the old cartridge. I carefully worked up loads following Sierra's load data, and was able to achieve nearly 2,800 fps with the 150-grain Pro Hunter. Accuracy was equal to or better than the loads I'd been using for many years, but the velocity gain is over 200 fps. Big deal? Normally I say "no", however in this case when you look at exterior ballistic tables, it allows velocity for penetration and expansion out to 400 yards. That's a 100 yard advantage over the responsible capabilities of previous loads, and takes the .300 Savage out of the "brush gun" category, and makes it a legitimate long range rifle.

All this in rifles that were the original "lightweights" - Savage 99, and Remington 722 - I like it.

 

[GHarman]

The .300 Savage is a Fantastic cartridge. Even in My Dads 99 Savage Lever action I can get 2700 FPS with AA-2460 powder and real credible accuracy with Nosler 150 Gr. Ballistic Tips! The old round nosed factory loads were minute of pie pan. The hand loads shoot minute of angle, if I can do my part.
Have Fun!
GregH

 

[Jeff L]

I tip my cap to your Nosler BT - a fantastic bullet for deer and such.

Chucklin' at your reference to "minute of pie pan". Without much effort I can recall a tin saucer that hung by a length of cable on a corner post at the far end of the pasture behind the barn. Every fall Dad would fire two or three shots from his Enfield .30-06 at that saucer. As soon as one would rip a new hole through it, he was "sighted in" for deer hunting.

Needless to say, Dad and I shared very different views about shooting. He considered me wasteful to the inth degree, I thought he was so tight he needed an oil can to get out of bed.

 

[GHarman]

My Folks Lived through the depression. Grandparents were Farmers in Old West Virginia.
Back in those days there was not much cash money to be had. Ammo for a .30/06 cost $0.25 each, when I was Young!
That was huge money, back then! Course, when no one is paying you to shoot, you work with what ya have! =)
GregH

 

[GHarman]

PS,
I forgot to mention that the last Elk I killed was with the .300 Savage using the Nosler 150 Gr. Partition in a hand load.
It was a 75 yard shot and it took out both lungs! Complete penetration of the lung cavity with a large exit hole.
GregH

 

[Jeff L]

Dad grew up during the depression as well. To the day he died, he was frugal (never had a new home, or vehicle).

I've taken several critters with .300 Savage rifles. In fact I carried a Rem 722 for a few days this fall. The last deer I took with one has been a few years ago now, a big doe that was across an open slough at over 200 yards. The Lyman peep sight on a model G 99 did exactly what it was supposed to, and put a 150-grain Hornady spire point right into her boiler room. No tracking required.