300 Savage Loads

[brasskeeper]

I have a Savage 1899 in 300 savage that I would like to hunt with some and was looking for a good load for it.  

[Lone Star]

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/300sav.php

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[Lone Star]

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/300sav.php


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[brasskeeper]

Thanks for the reply. I am aware of IMRs load data. I was hoping for some advice from sombody who has loaded for the 75 year old rifle.

[Lone Star]

I've loaded the .300 for several decades, but never used IMR powder in it.  I use either W748 or RL12 - but you wanted IMR data.  RL12 (now discontinued) gave among the highest velocities with 150-grain bullets in the .300 of any powder.  My own supply is about gone...   


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[Siskiyou]

Because of concerns regarding reloading data I must hedge on this one.  I will say that after years of loading the .300 Savage I have found that it likes most IMR powders from IMR3031 up to IMR4320.  Maximum published loads have dropped like a rock for the .300 Savage and other rounds.  My starting loads have become maximum loads in some publications.  I must state that I am loading for a Remington M722 in .300 Savage.  Fifty years ago the reloads in Dad's house had to function in a Savage 99, a Remington M81, and the M722.  I believe the powder at that time was surplus 4895.  When the M722 came into my procession I started at ground zero and worked up.  I started with a blank sheet, checked a number of resources, and purchased supplies.  My goal was to achieve reasonable velocity at safe pressures, in a fifty year-old rifle.  If another .300 Savage comes into my possession I will start at ground zero with it.  When my Dad quit hunting he gave each of us boys a .300 Savage.

As a point of interest I fired a number of lose R-P factory loads that my brother gave me.  I am not sure but I believe they were 150-grain C-L bullets.  This was from my M722 with a 24-inch barrel.  Average velocity came out as 2430 f.p.s fifteen feet from the muzzle.  As I recall published velocity was 2630 f.p.s.  Most likely from a 26-inch test barrel.

In the narrowing process or load development period I spent most of my efforts using IMR4064 and IMR4320.  Favorite bullets are150 grains and 165 grains.  Accuracy has been good with 150 grain Speer and Hornaday bullets.  But I favor 165 grain bullets because of bear encounters.  I am looking for a little deeper penetration.

After firing a number of loads I settled on IMR4064.  I was surprised that IMR4320 seemed to peak earlier then IMR4064 did in my rifle.  I was surprised because many publications show factory equivalent load using IMR4320.

I found that accuracy in a range of four grains with IMR4064, or from starting to Maximum to be very satisfactory.  I normally load groups of five rounds, and label them for range testing.  At the range I start from low to high.  Inspecting and measuring the cases for signs of abnormal pressure.  I also track what is happening on the target.  At the end of the day if everything goes good I settle on a load to mass-produce.  Mass production for me is 100 rounds at a setting. 

I have found the .300 Savage also works with powders having a faster burning rate such as AA2015.  The rifle gives bench rest accuracy with this powder. 

I recently went into a gun shop for powder to load for the .300 Savage because I had burned up most of my powder.  The shop had powder in the right burning range from a number of manufactures.  I voted with my wallet, I purchased two cans of IMR4064 with the same lot number.

[brasskeeper]

Lone Star: Thanks for the reply. You are correct my post originally stated I use IMR powder for my 308, and I edited it out.  I am looking for load suggestions and also advice from people who have loaded for the rifle in general. One concern is my rifle is 75+ years old, another is the rotary magazine. Sorry to hear about the discontinued RL12 hopefully you will run across some.

Siskiyou : Thanks for your reply. I enjoyed reading your post. I was happy to see the family tie as mine is a heirloom as well. thanks for load info and I understand the problems with powders changing over time I think that makes looking at updated manuals important.

[PaulS]

Winchester 748 is almost ideal for bullet weights in the 150 to 180 grain range. It tends to get better with heavier bullets outshining most other powders with the 180 gr bullet.
150 gr Hornady Spire point 40.5 - 45.0
165 gr Hornady Spire point 38.5 - 43.5
180 gr Sierra HPBT 36.0 - 41.0

I believe that the data is OK because when I compare it to the 7th edition of Handloader's Digest that I have it is 2 - 5 grains lighter. With your older gun you may want to find an accurate load as close to the beginning load that you can.

[brasskeeper]

Winchester 748 is almost ideal for bullet weights in the 150 to 180 grain range. It tends to get better with heavier bullets outshining most other powders with the 180 gr bullet.
150 gr Hornady Spire point 40.5 - 45.0
165 gr Hornady Spire point 38.5 - 43.5
180 gr Sierra HPBT 36.0 - 41.0

I believe that the data is OK because when I compare it to the 7th edition of Handloader's Digest that I have it is 2 - 5 grains lighter. With your older gun you may want to find an accurate load as close to the beginning load that you can.

Thanks for the reply. I agree about the starting loads, I want to take it easy. With the age of the rifle and it being a heirloom I don't want to load maximums nor do I need to, Ive never had a shot over 100 yards and If I hunted where I did I have other rifles that I would use.

[Ron T.]

For my .300 Savage (in a Model 99 Savage) whitetail deer hunting load, I use the 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullet in Winchester cartridge cases and standard Winchester primers. The load (41.5 grains of IMR4895) averages .75-inches (3/4 of an inch) firing 3-shot groups @ 100 yards off the bench rest yielding an average chronographed muzzle velocity of 2680 fps with a deviation of ± 19 fps (+9 fps/-10 fps) out of my 1953 “EG” Model 99's 24-inch barrel.

This load showed NO pressure signs in my Model 99… even though it was listed as a “maximum load” in my reloading manual.

Since this is a "MAXIMUM LOAD", it may not be safe in your rifle.  You should REDUCE this “maximum load” by 10% and use that amount of powder as your “starting load” and carefully "work up" to the maximum load for YOUR rifle.

My smallest 3-shot group using 41.5 grains of IMR4895 so far has been .1925 inches or just under 2/10th of an inch at 50 yards.

However, I did get a 3-shot group of .112 inches (just over 1/10th of an inch) at 50 yards using 41.1 grains of IMR4895 with a deviation of 13 fps (+6/-7 fps) giving a muzzle velocity of 2647 fps.

This load was the result of working up loads with four different powders (IMR3031, IMR4895, IMR4064 and Hodgdon's Varget), four different primers (Winchester, CCI, Federal and Remington) and three different bullets (Hornady & Sierra 150 grain, soft-point bullets & the 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullet).


Strength & Honor…

Ron T.