Frank
Observe and follow every suggestion offered so far
it is ALL good advice.
I shoot a Savage Model 99 late EG (mfgd in 1953) in .300 Savage. My rifle has a 24 barrel and my handloads put out a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullet at an average muzzle velocity of 2680 fps (chronographed) using 41.5 grains (a maximum load) of IMR4895 sparked by a Winchester standard large rifle primer in Winchester cartridge cases which I have accurized using normal bench-rest shooters methods.
These alterations include full-length resizing, then trimming to minimum case-length specifications (1.865-inches), inside and outside chamfering of the case-mouth, regulating the primer pocket and trimming the material out of the cases powder chamber forced into it when the factory punched-out the flash-hole from the primer pocket to the cartridges powder chamber.
This combination averages ¾ inch, 3-shot groups at 100 yards. However, I work up my handloads using the 50 yard range at my clubs rifle range since my hunting scope (a 3x-9x variable Bushnell with a built-in Bullet Drop Compensator), even set on 9x, doesnt give a large enough sight-picture for maximum accuracy at 100 yards.
The smallest group Ive ever shot with my rifle is a .112-inch, 3-shot group using 41.1 grains of IMR4895 @ an average muzzle velocity of 2647 fps that has a deviation of only +6 fps and -7 fps difference in muzzle velocity .
My hunting load of 41.5 grains of the same powder has given a 50-yard, 3-shot group of .191 inches. While my individual Model 99 "likes" most all rifle powders (tried four of them including IMR3031, IMR4064, IMR4895 and Hodgdons Varget) and primers (CCI, Winchester, Remington and Federal), it prefers IMR4895 and Winchester standard large rifle primers. This doesn't necessarily mean that YOUR Model 99 will give you it's BEST ACCURACY using the same powder, primer and cartridge cases, but it's a good starting point.
By a small, but measurable margin, the above quoted handload was "THE" single best combination of the most accurate load yielding the highest muzzle velocity of all the four rifle powders and the four different primers in the loads I worked up.
You didnt say if you handload or not
but if you do
approach the 41.5 load of IMR4895 with CAUTION (try increasing each incremental powder charge increase by only 2/10ths of a grain once you pass 40.0 grains of IMR4895 powder. It IS a MAXIMUM LOAD and may NOT be SAFE in your individual rifle.
That said
I didnt notice ANY high pressure signs using 41.5 grains of IMR4895 with the Nosler 150 grain Ballistic Tip Bullet, Winchester standard large rifle primers and Winchester cases other than VERY slightly flattened primers. The action opened easily and the empty cartridge cases ejected readily. Muzzle velocity deviation from the median was only +9 fps and 10 fps for an average standard muzzle velocity deviation of only 19 fps which is relatively low.
If you dont handload, think about doing it. You can put a premium load together for about 30¢ per round compared to over $1.50 per round for a premium factory load
and you can work up a custom and very accurate load specifically for YOUR individual rifle. Handloading not only saves you money, but allows you to shoot a lot more which can only make you a better "marksman" and, therefore, a better hunter.
Strength & Honor
Ron T.
