Savage 99 .303 Questions?????

[Blowtorch53]

Hey Guys,

Have a neat 99 .303 carbine.  Two questions.  I don't want to spend a fortune for a scope.  I has an old variable that's not too great but has a straight tube with no bell on the front objective.

1.  I there a reasonalby priced scope to replace this one with a straight tube?  Could be a low power variable or fixed.  I would like to shoot a deer this season with it and it is a .30-30 class gun so 150 yds. would be the outside range.  What would you recommend?

My brass seems to have a case of split necks quite frequently.  I have the same problem with my .250 -3000.  This occurs even with once fired brass at times.  It is prety subtle so you don't see it easily until after cases have been resized.  It has occured in the .303 using once fire brass with loads from a commercial reloader.  It has occured in the .250 using old WW factory loads.  The brass in this case was probably as old as me (very old) and that could be the problem.

2.  Has anyone experienced this problem with their brass in the 99?  I this an inherent problem with the 99 due to the type of action and headspace?  Do you anneal your brass?  What are you pet loads for your .303?

I guess that was six questions!

Thanks,

Blowtorch

[iiranger]

The gun is a treasure. Please continue to care for it well.

Scopes. This cartridge is in the .30/30 class. I wouldn't get to excited looking for a scope much over 4x. Many of the old, low power variables had straight front. They didn't need to collect all that much light for the low power lens system. You can mount lower and have a more handy rifle. But you have to be happy. Hit the web sites and look at the options. Many less expensive that should stand up to .30/30 cartridge and get the job done. Midway.com. Grafs.com, Wideners.com, MIdsouthshooterssupply.com, etc.

It kinda sounds like it is the age of your cases that makes for the necks cracking. One batch of surplus military was sold with cracked necks. Seems the necks were not annealed just right for that brass. I would try some new brass (yes, a bit difficult for the .303 Savage) before making this a final conclusion.

You can anneal necks. The easiest way, melt pure lead, muzzled loader balls if necessary, and take the UNPRIMED CASE by your fingers, and dip the neck into the liquid lead for the area of the neck you want annealled. When it is too hot to handle, drop into water, bucket, whatever... Luck.

[Siskiyou]

I am not aware of the .303 Savage ever being a standard military round;   if ammunition from Savages original submission survived it would a valuable collector’s item. Savage submitted the 1895 for testing and it was rejected.   I believe the Krag was the winner.  I do have a .303 British which is a different animal.  It is common to get them mixed up.

I do agree with iiranger that your older cases maybe cracking from age, or stress.  I have seen old factory loads crack at the neck after being in storage for years.  I also agree that annealing your current cases might save some.  I found that placing the empty cases in a pan of water and heating the necks to a soft red glowing and dipping them into water works.  Currently Huntingtons.com has Norma 303 Savage cases list.

27730N   .303 Savage (per 20)   24.98


      
Due to current shortages of merchandise, please call our toll
free number (1-866-735-6237) before ordering to guarantee delivery

I hunted with a Savage M99 in .303 Savage in 1956.  Hard to recall that long but I think the cases are thinly drawn in manner similar to 30-30 Winchester cases.

[mannyrock]

   Weaver started remaking the K series scopes a few years ago, calling them the "Classic K."   They come in fixed 3 power andr 4 power.  I think I paid about $150 for mine.  They are a great value, built like tanks. Lots of eye relief.  Very clear.  No bell on the front.   I would highly recommend one for this rifle.

Regards,

Mannyrock

[Blowtorch53]

Thanks to all you guys for your help.  I had heard about the torch method for annealing but not the lead pot.  I have a little Lee furnace sitting on a bottom shelf in my reloading room full of hardened lead and all I have to do is take it outside, plug it in, and wait.  My problem with the old brass was old .250 Savage brass by WW.  I got split necks in it as well as in new brass in the .303.  I bought several boxes of commercially loaded .303 from one of the commercial relaoders and it was virgin brass when he loaded it.  I don't know if it's a headspace problem but it sure could be.  I don't know if that would cause the neck splits or not.  I have a lot of brand new brass I got from Chestnut Ridge Supply on GB.  They are real nice folks.  Also got the S & B .22 High Power ammo. from them.  Bought 5 boxes of 20 for about $125 total including freight so not to shabby.  Will have plenty of brass for that after I shoot it up.  Will have to look for a K series Weaver.  I don't see them anywhere new so I guess I will have to look on some of the auctions.

Did some shooting this weekend.  Shot the .22 HP 20 times.  It has and old Weaver 4X with a very fine crosshair but I believe the adjustments are about gone.  I shot a 3 shot 3/4" group at 100 yards immediately.  The problem was I was adjusting the scope to move it to the bullseye between each of the three shots.  The group was about 8" high and 3" right but nice an tight. I guess the rifle does have some great potential.   It's a takedown and has a very slender barrel.  It gets hot in a hurry.

Shot the .303 also.  Took off the old Banner.  Had a nice Burris Mini 2x7 that I took off a contender carbine but it was too short overall to fit the Savage.  Ended up using a Tasco 4X that I took off something in the past and it was all I had, and it shot about a 3" group for 5 shots at 100 yds.  I don't know if this scope is any good and I think the gun will do better.  I have had good Tascos and bad.  I used Sierra 180 Gr. RN and less than a max. load of IMR 3031.  Good shooting load with not much kick.  I think I am going to try the .30-30 bullets since I have a lot of them.  Those 180's are as long as my Dashound.  They may not stabilize as well as the shorter bullets.  I really want to use this neat little rifle for a Texas whitetail this year.  I am over my magnum years and back to the .30-30 class.  Shot them in the right spot and it's all the same.

Bought a used Model 99F today from Collectors Firearms here in Houston today at lunch.  It's a .308 with a 20" barrel.  The metal and bore are almost perfect.  It has a cheap factory birch stock that is scratched up but I don't know if I will refinish or touch up and shoot it like it is.  They have a double buttload of 99's.  They do internet sales also.  collectorsfirearms.com  They are good folks and I have bought  a number of guns form them over the years.  I gave $400 for the 99 today which is pretty good around here but they also have some very pricey stuff if you are a collector.

So far...I have a .22 HP, .250-3000, .303, .300 & .308.  Where did all these come from???

Thanks Again!

BT
 

[Bitterroot Bob]

Blowtorch,
You have an illness that, fortunately, has no cure. I have been jonesing for a 22 HP for years, but I can never find one that doesn't look like it was run over by a truck. The best one I ever saw was a take-down with a .410 shotgun barrel along with it. A guy could live in the woods all yera with that combo!
As for a scope, I mounted a Weaver V-3 1-3x scope on a Marlin .41 Magnum. It was relatively inexpensive and the 1x setting is faster than a peep sight.
Remember that Weaver will repair any Weaver scope. The 2-1/2x on my .300 has a chipped objective, but I still haven't sent it in. They said they'd fix it, though.
So, what you really need is the elusive .358 Winchester. May the Force be with you!

Bitterroot

[Mikey]

BT:  Bitterroot Bob is right - this is a illness without cure but at least we can have fun with it.

I checked my load data for the 303 Savage and did not see any data for a 180 gn bullet.  I have load data for the 170 gn Remington bullet over 28 gn of IMR 3031 powder, a accuracy loading, for about 1950'/sec.  This may or may not be the same slug used in the 30-30....

Bob - what caliber Savage are you looking for???  We have a local shop here that has a couple on the racks - if you like I will check'm out and lock one up fer ya........

[Bitterroot Bob]

Hey Mikey,
I've just now finished repairing the chip on the Remiongton 141's stock, and the Browning T-Bolt is at the immersion graphics place, so I'm not going to look for a 99 right now, but the 22 HiPower is an interesting cartridge and one more reloading project. I have a 250 and a 300. I like the 99's with the lever-safety in particular.
I'll let you know how the T-Bolt comes out.

Bitterroot

[Oldtimer]

The original factory bullet for the .303 Savage was 190 grains, so 180 grain bullets should stabilize OK.  The difficulty is that if the 180's are designed for higher velocity cartridges, they may not expand at .303 velocities.  The .303 was noted for its deep penetration.  I  passed on buying a Model 99 in .25-35 some years ago and have kicked myself every time I think of it since.

[Blowtorch53]

Guys,

Wish I had a .25-35!  I have a Contender barrel in .25-35 and it's a keeper.  Very, very accurate.  I would like a .358.  Have a BLR but I can't coax it to shoot.  I would really like to have a 99 in .375 Winchester.  Anyone got one to trade for a BLR?  I have three.  Have a Marlin 375 but haven't gotten it to shoot either.  Not giving up on any of them though.  That's the fun part of ths stuff...to keep experimenting and shooting and getting good results.  I have noticed that some days when I go to the range I can't shoot worth a darn and some days (most of them fortunately) the gun and target is still and I shoot where I aim.  I think I will quit work and do that every day!  I will as soon as I get rich and quit my wife!

I have an old Lyman book that has a lot of loads for the .303.  I use this with a grain of salt and compare to other sources.  Some of them are very hot and I don't want to push this old gun.  That's not the purpose.  My Sierra 150 & 170 FN bullets have the cannalures in exacty the right place for the .303.  I guess this really is a .30-30 clone except for the case measurements.  That's not a bad thing because a .30-30 is a very good thing.

Thanks Guys,

BT 

[Antietamgw]

I really like the Leupold Shotguns scopes - currently I have the older Vaxi-X models. I think they are a good value and work great in low light with the heavy duplex reticle.

[dpastordan]

I would concur with the Weavers.  I have a Weaver V3 on a .270 BLR and a Weaver K2.5 on a .45/70 Handi rifle.  Either will fit your need.

[Freezer]

   Since you now have an f model in 308 I'd leave the old clasic scope on the 303!  Just clean it up!  I have a 99f in 308 it shoots great, will handle anything I want to hunt and wears a 2x7 Leupold.  The combo will handle anything from 15 yrds to 40yrds.  I think the only thing that comes close is the 300 Sav if you hand load.  The 300 Sav will approach 30-06 stats if you roll your own.