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Author Topic: Savage 303 caliber  (Read 888 times)

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Offline ScoutMan

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Savage 303 caliber
« on: October 03, 2006, 11:38:49 AM »
I just ran into a deer hunter who has an old Savage model 99 in 303 caliber.

Question:
1-Does anyone have a source for commercial ammo for this caliber.
2-Can the rifle be rechambered to a "more available ' caliber.
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Offline shermbob

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2006, 01:18:12 PM »
I don't beleive there is any commercial  ammo out there any more. Be nice to be told otherwise.   
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Offline 308Win

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2006, 04:42:34 AM »
The .220 Swift case can be converted- requires annealing, etc. You may be better off to get a few boxes of the 303 Savage brass, load lightly, preserve it as long as you can. Run a Google- there are some custom loaders still making this- with .308 bullets.
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Offline gunnut69

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2006, 06:19:39 AM »
Ammo is still available though not well stocked. It is made in the same manner as the 22 WRF, that is when the supply is exaushted a maker will produce another run.
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Offline ScoutMan

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2006, 11:36:01 AM »
Gunnut69,


Where dio I get this ammo?
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If you can get closer, get closer
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A telescope helps you see; it does not help you hold and squeeze.-Jeff Cooper

Offline gunnut69

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2006, 08:45:58 PM »
Talk with your local dealer.. Mine ordered the last few boxes I bought. An ammo wholesaler is the likely place he purchased it..
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2006, 12:48:23 PM »
My stepdad had a Savage 99 in .303 Savage - one of his favorites for deer.  If I'm not mistaken it's a standard .30 bore.

Factory ammo came in 180gr standard (170gr for the 30-30).  Much preferred - hit just a little harder.

Reloading is certainly a option!

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Offline Oldtimer

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2006, 08:55:32 AM »
Old West Scrounger has it listed for $49.95 for a box of twenty, but it is back-ordered, awaiting a shipment of brass. They show it with a 180 grain RN bullet.  This would be newly made ammo.  You might find some listed as collector ammo, but it would likely be even more expensive and the quality might not be good enough to use, if you want to hunt with it.
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Offline Chuck White

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2006, 03:16:37 AM »
Looks to me like 303 Savage could easily be made from 307 Winchester brass.
The 303 has a lot longer neck, but overall the cases are the same length.
The case head of the 307 is .001 larger than the 303!

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Offline ScoutMan

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2006, 09:08:02 AM »
Quote from: Chuck White on October 23, 2006, 03:16:37 AM
Looks to me like 303 Savage could easily be made from 307 Winchester brass.
The 303 has a lot longer neck, but overall the cases are the same length.
The case head of the 307 is .001 larger than the 303!

Ya, chuck,

But isn't 307 brass getting to be as scarce as Savage  303 brass.

Someone said that British 303 brass could be used. Is this true?
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If you can get closer, get closer
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A telescope helps you see; it does not help you hold and squeeze.-Jeff Cooper

Offline gunnut69

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2006, 11:38:49 AM »
Just buy a few boxes of 303Savage from Norma. It's high but the cases should keep the old rifle working for years, just reload them.. You might also watch ebay or some of the other auction sites for brass. Even gunshows sometimes have cases for these old rifles. They're not in great demand so should be fairly cheap..
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gunnut69--
The 2nd amendment to the constitution of the United States of America-
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Offline Chuck White

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2006, 01:23:57 PM »
Scoutman wrote:
Ya, chuck,

But isn't 307 brass getting to be as scarce as Savage  303 brass.

Someone said that British 303 brass could be used. Is this true?

--------------------------

No!
Midway has 307 brass listed in their catalog for $15.29 for 50.
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just get good with it!

Offline dakotashooter2

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2006, 04:06:11 AM »
Cabelas had some listed in their catalog but I sem to recall they had some avalability problems. My dad has a 303 and I am constantly on the search for brass. You occassionally see some in the auctions but it generally goes for as much as the new brass that is occassionaly available and sometimes the condition is not that great. You also see some formed stuff on auction but I couldn't speack for quality. Supposedly  30-30 can be formed but are a bit small and will have a noticable "bump" near the web.
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Offline Siskiyou

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Re: Savage 303 caliber
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2006, 06:22:31 AM »
Huntington's has .303 Savage cases listed.

http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_norma.html
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