300 savage with Lee C312-155-2R sized to 0.309"

[FancyFred]

All,

First of all, introductions. I am new to the Savage 99, but, I have used the 300 Savage in a Remington bolt gun in the past. Sold it and the dies when I got rid of the gun.

I've used cast bullets in other rifles, 38-55 in a Win94 and 30-06 with heavy 220gr RN in my 03-A3, but not something this light.

I was wondering if I could get away with loading the 300 Savage cartridge with the Lee case bullet designed for the 7.62x39/7.62x54R and use either a reduced charge or different powder than I normally do. I would size them down to 0.309" with the gas check and use something like 4227 or 2400.

Thoughts?

If this is not the right area of the forum, I apologize, but my question is specific to the 99.

Regards...

[dolomite_supafly]

What are they dropping at now?

I shoot "as cast" bullets that are .311" through a .308" bore without issue. I would just set the gas check and then load them at whatever size they come out at.

If you are gas checking them I would load them using data for jacketed bullets.

Cast bullets are a lot more forgiving than jacketed. They will squeeze down to the bore easily without any pressure problems. I would say to start off at the minimum load then work up until you find an accurate charge.

[FancyFred]

They are coming out right around 311-312 with Lyman #2 alloy and water quench to around 22-23bhn.

Using ideal lube, blue stuff.

But they look like could work equally well in the 300. 155gr with gas checks.

[The Old Coach]

Agree with dolomite - try them at .311 first. It's more important to fill the throat than to match the groove diameter. I shoot very similar bullets to 2000+ fps in several .30 calibers using using IMR 3031 and Varget. If lower velocity is your goal, then almost any magnum pistol powder will be good. AA#9, Alliant 300MP, and 4100 are outstanding alternatives to 2400 for 1400-1600 fps loads. Blue Dot has given me amazingly consistent velocities in that range. Typical starting loads about 11 grains in the 300 Savage case.