Actually........
Savage introduced the .308 Winchester into the Savage Model 99's in 1955... and a year later, Savage introduced the .243 and .358 Winchester cartridges in most of their then current production model 99s as well.
The "C" model was designed to save costly craftsmanship and hand-work on the manufacture of the high-quality Model 99s by eliminating the rotary magazine which, while very effective, was more costly to make than a simple "clip-fed" rifle.
This is why most Savage affectionados much prefer the models having the rotary magazine... especially those rifles made prior to 1960 (pre-1,000,000 serial number) when Savage moved their manufacturing facilities from Chicopee Falls, Mass. to Westfield, Mass.
I hunt with a 1953 Model 99, "EG" in .300 Savage caliber... the single most common model & caliber made by Savage, and one of the most beautiful & elegant models of the Model 99 ever made.
My handloads put out a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet at a chronographed 2680 fps giving my rifle/cartridge combination a point-blank-range of 265 yards while averaging 3-shot groups of ¾-inch or less... more than "enough" range, accuracy and power for the vast majority of deer hunting situations. :wink:
While considered "obsolete" by some... ammo manufacturers still load and sell the .300 Savage cartridge which is easily capable of taking elk, caribou, moose or black bear using a 165 grain or a 180 grain bullet.
The 7.62 NATO (aka ".308 Winchester") cartridge is, in fact, a U.S. Army re-design of the .300 Savage cartridge. In the early 1950's, the Army was considering the .300 Savage cartridge as a replacement cartridge for the .30/06 Springfield cartridge. But rather than accept the .300 Savage cartridge as it was designed, the Army slightly changed the design and the result was the then-new 7.62 NATO cartridge which was then immediately loaded, for sporting use, by Winchester.
Of course, as is the accepted practice in the ammo manufacturing business, the first major ammunition manufacturing company to begin loading and selling a newly-introduced cartridge can name that new cartridge after themselves. Thus... the 7.62 NATO cartridge became the ".308
WINCHESTER".
The .308 Win. has a slight edge in powder capacity, but where it gets its major velocity advantage is in the fact it is factory-loaded to much higher chamber pressure than the .300 Savage cartridge... 53,000 C.U.P. vs. 46,000 C.U.P. (Copper Units of Pressure) giving the .308 a ±150 fps velocity advantage over the "parent" .300 Savage cartridge using the same weight bullet.
In truth, many "factory-loaded" .308 Winchester cartridges that are listed as having a muzzle velocity of 2800-2900 fps often won't chronograph more than 2750-2800 fps in actual conditions out of a 22-inch barrel.
As a result, the two cartridges are very close in overall ballistic performance except that the .300 Savage has a lighter, less "sharp" recoil than the .308 according to those who have fired both cartridges out of similar weight rifles.
The .300 Savage cartridge was introduced 'way back in 1920. However, the .300 Savage has the more modern 30º shoulder whereas I understand the .308 Winchester has a 20º shoulder. Kinda makes one wonder which cartridge is the more "modern", eh?
In any event, a hunter carrying a Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle in .300 Savage caliber is carrying "history" was well as "tradition"... and a VERY effective deer rifle/cartridge combination and is certainly NOT at any disadvantage in a deer woods compared to any other hunter carrying ANY other rifle/caliber combination.
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.
