Author Topic: Am I crazy? (Read 975 times)

Camper · « **on:** May 17, 2005, 08:53:36 AM »

I am seriously thinking about trading my .300 savage model 99e for a .308? the gun is in excellent shape except for the previous owner scribed his Social insurance Number on the bottom of the lever. I am looking for an even trade I would also look at other calibres or even another rifle . I want something with a little more selection of bullets and power as I do not reload . Am I crazy or do I just think the grass is greener on the other side?
I will be mostly deer hunting

Camper

victorcharlie · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2005, 09:47:37 AM »

You may not be crazy, but if I were you I'd think long and hard about the 99 before getting rid of it........there is almost a cult following behind those rifles..........they seem to be very popular with collectors as well as hunters......VC

handirifle · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2005, 07:23:08 PM »

Yes you are. Why did you have to mention the gun thing though??

I have read of a LOT of fellows looking for the 99 in 300 Savage. The 308's are more available.

Save your pennies and learn to reload. It's cheaper then a new rifle.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2005, 02:44:42 AM »

Camper - yep, you're off the deep end there ol buddy. I will second handirifle's suggestion that you learn to reload - the 300 Savage is an excellent whitetail and black bear cartridge and with factory duplication loads my old Lyman manual shows the 300 Savage to be on par with the 308. Both, by the way, are .308 bore diameter. I think what I am saying is that if I had a Savage lever action in Savage's 300 caliber, I sure wouldn't be looking for a 308.........

As for the SSN on the bottom of the lever - you may be able to replace that lever. Check with Numrich Arms or Sarco or Samco for parts. Also, I believe there is a Savage website you could most likely locate a new lever from. And check further here at Graybeards - there are a number of Savage collectors who visit these sites and some may have some bette suggestions for you as to where possibly locate another lever. HTH. Mikey.

Camper · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2005, 03:20:39 AM »

Thanks Fella's.
I Guess I am just looking for a change. half of me says that I will regret trading this gun and the other half has that urge to get a bigger and better calibre. I thought alot about it and I am going to see if I can hook up with someone in my area that reloads and see I buy the materials then they could reload. The problem I have is that on two deer last year I found the the 150 grain Powershok ammo (Federal Factory ammo) just fragmented and in my oppinion did not do thier job. I keep on thinking about the shot placement and what I could have done different. All I can come up with is that those deer should have dropped like a bag of rocks where I hit them and they didn't. I spent all evening looking for one and went back the next day to find that he was still alive. I ended up finishing him off but I felt horrible. I lost confidence in the 150's (factory)and find that the 180's are not ballistically up to par as I would like or need.
what would someone recommend for a type of bullet for deer in a 150gr or 165 gr? I want something that will do it's job and not blow up without framenting all to hell but also keep the minimum of 2600 +fps velocity.

Camper

leoparddog · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2005, 04:41:05 AM »

Don't Trade it Camper - you will regret it. I wanted to buy a 99, but they are scarce in my part of the woods and for the prices they bring I could get lots of other guns NEW. Your 99 will only go up in value, esp. if you replace the engraved lever.

That said, I shoot a 308 and in the 30 caliber bullet choices, you should look at the Nosler Partition (150gr,165gr Spitzer and 170gr RN - which must be new).
The Nosler Accubond also is available in 150gr. These bullets will hold together. The Nosler BT in 165gr would also do you right. Nosler are slightly higher priced than Hornady or Remington, but they are some of the best bullets out there.

If you have someone you know reload, be sure to quiz them on their safety practices and have them stay a grain or two under the maximum. You don't want to blow up that valuable 99. Some people say that they will never shoot someone else's reloads. Have that person give you the start minimum load (10-20rds) and work up in .5grs of powder (10-20 rds per weight). Find the load that is accurate and has the velocity you need and ask that person to weigh every powder charge he loads for you - for safety.

tscott · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2005, 04:57:23 AM »

YES!!! The 99 in .300 Savage is the greatest all around deer rifle.
The grandfather of the very effective .308!

savageT · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2005, 05:34:33 AM »

Camper,
Hey! Don't even go there! As you may know, Remington still makes .300Savage round in 150grain Coreloks and work great. You should be able to buy them from: Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela's, Midway, etc. As you probably know already, the earlier .300Savage M99's were superior in every respect to the post one-million serial numbered .308's. So if you absolutely need a .308 M99, hang on to the original. Sooner or later you'll come around to reloading and at that point, you will fall in love again with the best deer cartridge ever made.........Don't make me come over there!
Jim

Ron T. · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2005, 06:53:32 AM »

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 rifle 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.

Camper · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:29:10 AM »

Well I'm on the search for reloading equipment. I need the basics not all the bells and whistles. I probably should put this on the reloading form but I'll ask here anyways cause you fella's know your 99's.
What do I need to start off and how can I do this as inexpensive as possible?

Camper

victorcharlie · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2005, 10:51:15 AM »

I'd start with the RCBS basic kit.......this has everything you need to start.......but not everything you will need..........