I worked up my 1953 "EG" Model 99 in .300 Savage hand-loads as my deer hunting load, using a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet @ 2680 fps in front of 41.5 grains of IMR4895 with a Winchester standard large rifle primer in once-fired Winchester cartridge cases.
This maximum load consistently shoots a ¾-inch, 3-shot groups at 100 yards off a bench rest. This kind of accuracy is common for Model 99s.
THIS IS A MAXIMUM LOAD AND SHOULD BE APPROACHED CAREFULLY. I strongly suggest you reduce this load 10% and work up to the maximum load slowly. Once you're passed 41.0 grains of IMR4895, I'd use increasing increments of .2 of a grain for each new, higher incremental test load.
Sighted in 2.8 inches high at 100 yards, this load indictates my point-blank-range is 265 yards and yields the following ballistics:
25 yards = + 0.05 inches/velocity = 2625 fps/ bullet energy = 2295 ft-lbs.
50 yards = + 1.28 inches / 2576 fps / 2210 ft-lbs.
100 yards = + 2.75 inches / 2480 fps / 2048 ft-lbs.
130 yards = + 2.98 inches / 2423 fps / 1955 ft-lbs. (high point)
150 yards = + 2.84 inches / 2385 fps / 1894 ft-lbs.
200 yards = + 1.36 inches / 2293 fps / 1751 ft-lbs.
225 yards = ± 0.00 inches / 2247 fps / 1682 ft-lbs. (zero range)
250 yards = - 1.79 inches / 2202 fps / 1615 ft-lbs.
265 yards = - 3.00 inches / 2175 fps / 1573 ft-lbs. (max. point-blank range)
Because unseen winds can move even heavy bullets several inches or even "feet" at long range, I wont take any shot at game beyond approximately 250 yards
a range at which I feel any reasonably decent marksman should be able to put a bullet in the kill zone of big game animals. If I see game beyond this range, Ill try to stalk closer and then, take my shot.
I realize some hunters might not agree with me about this limit, but thats ok. A man should be realistic about his limits and this is my self-imposed limit.
Strength & Honor
Ron T.